General surgery covers a wide arrange of clinical presentations and pathologies. Ranging from abdominal pain to PR bleeding, the spectrum of disease is large and involves numerous viscera
The core conditions run from the oesophagus and stomach to the small bowel, large bowel, and rectum. Start by learning how to approach the acute abdomen and the investigations request, as well as common abdominal incisions you may encounter. Ensure to learn in detail about bowel obstruction and bowel perforation, as these are important presentations to identify and manage
In the oesophagus, the disease presentations range from reflux disease to oesophageal cancer, each of which need a nuanced management. Gastric presentations are of a similar ilk.
The small and large bowel can present with a variety of presentations, including inflammatory and malignant. Hernia can present both acutely and electively, from reducible to obstructed or strangulated.
At the end of the alimentary tract, the anorectum can also develop a range of pathology, from anal fissures and haemorrhoids, to malignancy and perianal fistula.
