Overview

(A) GOAL

The broad goal of the teaching of undergraduate students in Surgery is to produce graduates capable of delivering efficient first contact surgical care.

(B) OBJECTIVES

(i) KNOWLEDGE

At the end of the course the student should be able to:

• describe aetiology, pathophysiology, principles of diagnosis and management of common surgical problems including emergencies, in adults and children.

• define indications and methods for fluid and electrolyte replacement therapy including blood transfusion.

• define asepsis, disinfection and sterilization and recommended judicious use of antibiotics.

• describe common malignancies in the country and their management including prevention.

• enumerate different types of anesthetic agents, their indications, and mode of administration, contraindications and side effects.

(ii) SKILLS

At the end of the course, the student should be able to:

• diagnose common surgical conditions both acute and chronic, in adult and children.
• plan various laboratory tests for surgical conditions and interpret the results.
• identify and manage patients of hemorrhagic, septicemic and other types of shock.
• be able to maintain patent air-way and resuscitate

(i) a critically injured patient

(ii) patient with cardio-respiratory failure

(iii) a drowning case

• monitor patients of head, chest, spinal and abdominal injuries, both in adults and children.
• provide primary care for a patient of burns.
• acquire principles of operative surgery, including pre-operative, operative and post-operative care and monitoring.
• treat open wounds including preventive measures against tetanus and gas gangrene.
• diagnose neonatal and pediatric surgical emergencies and provide sound primary care before referring the patient to secondary/tertiary centers.
• identify congenital anomalies and refer them for appropriate management.

In addition to these he should have observed/assisted/ performed the following:

• Incision and drainage of abscess
• Debridement and suturing open wound
• Venesection
• Excision of simple cyst and tumors
• Biopsy of surface malignancy
• Catheterization and nasogastric intubation
• Circumcision
• Meatotomy
• Vasectomy
• Peritoneal and pleural aspirations
• Diagnostic proctoscopy
• Hydrocele operation
• Endotracheal intubation
• Tracheostomy and cricothyreidotomy
• Chest tube insertion.

(iii) INTEGRATION

The undergraduate teaching in surgery should be integrated at various stages with different pre and para and other clinical departments.