The Pregnant Patient
In the 19th century, surgeons provided the foundations of operative obstetrics and gynecology. Today, these fields have specialized and are distinct, however there is crossover with diagnoses in a shared…
Read MoreSurgical Site Infection
Surgical site infection (SSI) is a complication seen after surgery or an invasive procedure. Around half of all SSIs are potentially preventable if evidence-based best practices are followed, however it…
Read MoreGastrostomy Tube
Gastrostomy tubes are placed through the skin into the stomach in order for patients to receive feeds and medications they are unable to obtain through the oral route, which can…
Read MoreSpleen Anatomy
The spleen derives its named from the ancient Greek word splēn, used for the organ itself and also as a metaphor for melancholy and ill-tempered. This figurative use of the…
Read MoreNutrition Assessment
Body mass index (BMI) was introduced asa concept by Adolphe Quetelet in the 1830s in order to study average values of the population. However, the term “BMI” and its use…
Read MoreAbdominal Wall Anatomy
Ephraim McDowell performed the first successful laparotomy on December 25, 1809. The patient was Jane Todd Crawford, a distant cousin of Abraham Lincoln’s wife, Mary Todd Lincoln. Abdominal Wall Layers…
Read MoreAcute Wound Failure
Acute wound failure encompasses several postoperative complications that all result from partial or total disruption of the surgical wound. Wound Failures Risk Factors Presentation Treatment Relevant Information
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Big Concepts
Breast
Diagnosis Scripts
General Surgery
Hernias
Skin and Soft Tissue
Surgical Complications
Wound Complications
Hematoma
Hematomas are collections of blood in subcutaneous tissue or deeper tissues at site of surgery (in post-operative setting). They are named according to location (e.g. abdominal wall, parathyroid, retroperitoneal) and…
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Big Concepts
Breast
Diagnosis Scripts
General Surgery
Hernias
Skin and Soft Tissue
Surgical Complications
Wound Complications
Seroma
A seroma is a collection of fluid composed of fat, serum, and lymph. Seromas commonly develop following surgery as the body tries to fill in the dead space created during…
Read MoreBreast Anatomy and FAQs
Ambroise Paré (1510-1590) never described a specific surgery for breast cancer, but he wrote about the importance lymphatics play in the spread of breast cancer. The precedence for the first…
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