General Surgery at the District Hospital

Book excerpt: A richly illustrated guide to general surgical procedures suitable for use in small hospitals that are subject to constraints on personnel, equipment, and drugs. Information is addressed to the medical officer who may not have formal training in surgery, yet has gained experience under supervision of all the relevant techniques. Following an overview of basic principles, the book presents detailed information on surgical procedures for the face and neck, chest, abdomen, gastrointestinal tract, and urogenital system. Pediatric surgery is also covered. Most of the operations included are for saving life, alleviating pain, preventing the development of serious complications, or stabilizing a patient's condition pending referral. Simple but standard surgical techniques have been selected wherever possible, and procedures that require specialist skills or that could add unnecessarily to the doctor's workload have been avoided. Lists of essential surgical instruments, equipment and supplies conclude the text.