2014 BMA Medical Book Awards Highly Commended in Surgery category! General Surgical Operations is a highly-praised and comprehensive textbook of operative surgery. It is a practical manual aimed at the surgeon who is about to carry out an operation, rather than just a description of the principles suitable for an examiner. Kirk’s General Surgical Operations continues to be aimed at a broad readership: the candidate preparing for the Intercollegiate FRCS in General Surgery or international equivalents; the trained surgeon faced, through necessity, with undertaking an infrequently performed procedure; and the many surgeons working in hospitals throughout the world without access to specialist services. It remains above all a practical text which will guide the surgeon in training, or one unfamiliar with a procedure, on how to perform it, but more importantly on how to manage the uncertainties which so often arise. This is a ‘What to do’ book. Using it the reader can aspire to gain diagnostic, decision making and operative surgical competence with confidence. The book is written in a clear and direct style and providing explicit instructions using descriptive headings for easy referenceThe contents covers standard routine operations in full; non-routine and rarely performed operations are included only where appropriate and in lesser detailThe text includes advice on topics such as patient selection; preparation and access to the site of operation; how to accomplish the procedure; closing and aftercareDifficulties are highlighted and advice given on how to respond to unexpected findingsEach procedure is fully described thus avoiding repetitions and cutting cross-references to a minimumRegular summaries of key points in the decision making process are included
