The Concise Surgery
Review Manual
FOR THE ABSITE & BOARDS
2ND EDITION
Tommy Alan Brown, II
MD | GENERAL SURGERY iii
, The Concise Surgery Review Manual
for the ABSITE & Boards
The purpose of this text is to have one unified source for reference during surgical
rotations & to serve as a base text to prepare for the surgery in-service & board
exams. It has been compiled over the course of seven years & represents notes
taken during academic lectures & various readings in preparation for the surgery
in-service examination as well as the written & oral boards. The information
contained herein should serve as a reference only & is not a substitute for clinic
judgement. Italicized content is considered very high-yield for examination
purposes. Text in purple denotes potentially helpful mneumonics. Commonly
quoted oral board topics are listed in maroon. While this review follows the
SCORE curriculum in general, the author has no direct affiliation with SCORE,
the American Board of Surgery, or the American College of Surgeons.
This book is dedicated to my wonderful wife, son, parents, and all of those who
have taught me the way I should go. None of this would be possible without you.
Thank you for your wisdom, patience, and love.
i
,Contents
1. Cell Biology & Hematology........................................................................................... 1
2. Immunology, Inflammation, & Cytokines ..................................................................... 8
3. Infection & Antibiotics ............................................................................................... 10
4. Anesthesia, Medications, & Pharmacology................................................................. 17
5. Fluids, Electrolytes, & Nutrition ................................................................................. 22
6. Oncology ................................................................................................................... 28
7. Transplantation ......................................................................................................... 31
8. Wound Healing .......................................................................................................... 35
9. Trauma...................................................................................................................... 36
10. Critical Care ............................................................................................................... 55
11. Burns......................................................................................................................... 62
12. Plastics, Skin, & Soft Tissues....................................................................................... 67
13. Head & Neck.............................................................................................................. 72
14. Pituitary .................................................................................................................... 78
15. Adrenal ..................................................................................................................... 79
16. Thyroid ...................................................................................................................... 83
17. Parathyroid ............................................................................................................... 89
18. Breast........................................................................................................................ 92
19. Thoracic................................................................................................................... 100
20. Cardiac .................................................................................................................... 106
21. Vascular .................................................................................................................. 108
22. GI Hormones ........................................................................................................... 118
23. Esophagus ............................................................................................................... 120
24. Stomach .................................................................................................................. 125
25. Liver ........................................................................................................................ 135
26. Biliary System .......................................................................................................... 143
27. Pancreas.................................................................................................................. 150
28. Spleen ..................................................................................................................... 157
29. Small Bowel............................................................................................................. 160
30. Colorectal ................................................................................................................ 166
31. Anal & Rectal........................................................................................................... 175
32. Herniae, Abdomen, & Surgical Tech ......................................................................... 180
33. Urology ................................................................................................................... 188
34. Gynecology.............................................................................................................. 192
35. Neurosurgery .......................................................................................................... 196
36. Orthopaedics ........................................................................................................... 197
37. Pediatric Surgery ..................................................................................................... 201
38. Statistics & Pt Safety ................................................................................................ 210
39. MIS ......................................................................................................................... 213
40. Abbreviations .......................................................................................................... 214
ii
, iii 0
Review Manual
FOR THE ABSITE & BOARDS
2ND EDITION
Tommy Alan Brown, II
MD | GENERAL SURGERY iii
, The Concise Surgery Review Manual
for the ABSITE & Boards
The purpose of this text is to have one unified source for reference during surgical
rotations & to serve as a base text to prepare for the surgery in-service & board
exams. It has been compiled over the course of seven years & represents notes
taken during academic lectures & various readings in preparation for the surgery
in-service examination as well as the written & oral boards. The information
contained herein should serve as a reference only & is not a substitute for clinic
judgement. Italicized content is considered very high-yield for examination
purposes. Text in purple denotes potentially helpful mneumonics. Commonly
quoted oral board topics are listed in maroon. While this review follows the
SCORE curriculum in general, the author has no direct affiliation with SCORE,
the American Board of Surgery, or the American College of Surgeons.
This book is dedicated to my wonderful wife, son, parents, and all of those who
have taught me the way I should go. None of this would be possible without you.
Thank you for your wisdom, patience, and love.
i
,Contents
1. Cell Biology & Hematology........................................................................................... 1
2. Immunology, Inflammation, & Cytokines ..................................................................... 8
3. Infection & Antibiotics ............................................................................................... 10
4. Anesthesia, Medications, & Pharmacology................................................................. 17
5. Fluids, Electrolytes, & Nutrition ................................................................................. 22
6. Oncology ................................................................................................................... 28
7. Transplantation ......................................................................................................... 31
8. Wound Healing .......................................................................................................... 35
9. Trauma...................................................................................................................... 36
10. Critical Care ............................................................................................................... 55
11. Burns......................................................................................................................... 62
12. Plastics, Skin, & Soft Tissues....................................................................................... 67
13. Head & Neck.............................................................................................................. 72
14. Pituitary .................................................................................................................... 78
15. Adrenal ..................................................................................................................... 79
16. Thyroid ...................................................................................................................... 83
17. Parathyroid ............................................................................................................... 89
18. Breast........................................................................................................................ 92
19. Thoracic................................................................................................................... 100
20. Cardiac .................................................................................................................... 106
21. Vascular .................................................................................................................. 108
22. GI Hormones ........................................................................................................... 118
23. Esophagus ............................................................................................................... 120
24. Stomach .................................................................................................................. 125
25. Liver ........................................................................................................................ 135
26. Biliary System .......................................................................................................... 143
27. Pancreas.................................................................................................................. 150
28. Spleen ..................................................................................................................... 157
29. Small Bowel............................................................................................................. 160
30. Colorectal ................................................................................................................ 166
31. Anal & Rectal........................................................................................................... 175
32. Herniae, Abdomen, & Surgical Tech ......................................................................... 180
33. Urology ................................................................................................................... 188
34. Gynecology.............................................................................................................. 192
35. Neurosurgery .......................................................................................................... 196
36. Orthopaedics ........................................................................................................... 197
37. Pediatric Surgery ..................................................................................................... 201
38. Statistics & Pt Safety ................................................................................................ 210
39. MIS ......................................................................................................................... 213
40. Abbreviations .......................................................................................................... 214
ii
, iii 0
