With continued advances in the field of surgery, a comprehensive textbook covering all aspects of surgery, though important as a reference guide, can be overwhelming to the medical student or junior resident seeking a general review of the entire field. BRS General Surgery represents a concerted effort on the part of the faculty and resident staff at the University of Virginia and Southern Illinois University to provide a concise review of surgery for medical students and junior residents, specifically for the surgical section of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE Step 2).
This text covers the background principles of surgery, in addition to major topics in general surgery, with essential information on epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment. It is designed to provide an understanding of the details of each disease process, but intentionally focuses on the practical clinical approach to diagnosis and management of surgical problems. To this end, we have heavily relied on outlines, tables, figures, and clinical questions with explanations, instead of depending solely on standard text.
This book incorporates input from a large number of faculty and residents from two separate institutions. Recognizing that no one style of presentation is appropriate for all students or all topics, we hope to have combined the best aspects of the teaching skills from this diverse group of “experts.” We are hopeful that this text will provide an interesting, effective, and enjoyable clinical review for students of surgery at this critical and exciting point in their careers.
Eugene F. Foley M.D.