Anaesthesia – general
Definitions Anaesthesia (αυαισθεσια = Without Perception): 1. a partial or complete loss of all forms of sensation caused by pathology in the nervous system; 2. a technique using drugs (inhalational, intravenous or…
Paediatric ‘general’ surgery/1
Infantile Hypertrophic Pyloric Stenosis Definition This is a condition characterized by hypertrophy of the circular muscle of the gastric pylorus that obstructs gastric outflow. Aetiology The aetiology is unknown but…
Benign prostatic hypertrophy
Definition Benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) is a condition of unknown aetiology characterized by an increase in size of the inner zone (periurethral glands) of the prostate gland. Lower urinary tract…
Carcinoma of the prostate
Definition Malignant lesion of the prostate gland. Key Points Prostate cancer is commonly found in older men. Variable clinical course. Increasingly found (asymptomatic) by screening using PSA and digital rectal…
Breast cancer
Definition Malignant lesion of (predominantly) the female breast. Key Points Breast lump: triple assessment, clinical, radiology, cytology. Early breast cancer treatment intent is curative. Late breast cancer treatment intent is…
2: Surgical diseases at a glance
Definitions Anaesthesia (αυαισθεσια = Without Perception): 1. a partial or complete loss of all forms of sensation caused by pathology in the nervous system; 2. a technique using drugs (inhalational, intravenous or…
Thyroid malignancies
Definition Malignant lesions of the thyroid gland. Papillary and follicular are known as differentiated carcinomas. Anaplastic and medullary are poorly or undifferentiated carcinomas. Key Points Many thyroid cancers found in…
Gastrointestinal bleeding/1
Definitions GI bleeding is any blood loss from the GI tract (anywhere from the mouth to the anus), which may present with haematemesis, melaena, rectal bleeding or anaemia. Haematemesis is…
Traumatic brain injury (head injury)/1
Definitions A traumatic brain injury (TBI) or head injury is the process whereby trauma to the head results in skull and/or brain inury. Primary brain injury is the damage that…
