The topics in this book represent the presentations given at the First and Second Annual Meetings entitled "Critical Issues in Surgery" held at the Frenchman's Reef Beach Resort, st. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, November 1992 and 1993. This symposium was sponsored by the Department of Surgery, and the Department of Nursing Education and Quality Assurance of Cooper Hospital/University Medical Center, the University of Medicine and Den tistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Camden, New Jersey, as well as the Academy of Medicine of New Jersey. Chapter authors were charged with the task of writing brief overviews of major issues related to the field of general surgery and critical care medicine. The book is specifically tailored to the needs of general surgeons, allied health professionals and nursing personnel involved in all phases of caring for the surgical patient. Although intended as a reference source with emphasis on up-dated approaches applied in general surgery, it is hoped that the discussion of these topics will compliment other texts and manuscripts. Obviously, a book of this length cannot cover the whole multidiSCiplinary and complex field of surgery. However, the co-editors are certain that the annual appearance of this text will highlight comprehensive, new and interesting approaches to the field of surgery.

Acute Care Surgery is a comprehensive textbook covering the related fields of trauma, critical care, and emergency general surgery. The full spectrum of Acute Care Surgery is expertly addressed, with each chapter highlighting cutting-edge advances in the field and underscoring state-of-the-art management paradigms. In an effort to create the most definitive reference on Acute Care Surgery, an evidence-based approach is emphasized for all content included. Also, notable controversies are discussed in detail often accompanied by data-driven resolutions.

Complications in Surgery, Second Edition offers authoritative recommendations for preventing and managing complications in all current general surgery procedures. The opening sections discuss institutional risk management issues and risks common to all operations, such as wound healing problems, infection, shock, and complications in immunosuppressed patients. Subsequent sections focus on complications of specific procedures in thoracic, vascular, gastric, endocrine, breast, and oncologic surgery, as well as organ transplantation and pediatric surgery. This edition includes new information on surgical quality assessment and patient safety and updated information in the organ-specific chapters.

The current medical literature contains ample text addressing the topics of trauma and critical care. However, there are few texts existing that specifically address the common surgical problems encountered by practicing acute care surgeons. Common Problems in Acute Care Surgery provides a comprehensive, evidence-based review of the most common clinical problems encountered by acute care surgeons. Focusing on the clinical care of the patient, this volume explores the general principles of acute care surgery and the specific disease states that are commonly encountered by acute care surgeons. The work also touches upon the ethical issues and systems development behind acute care surgery, including practical considerations for establishing an acute care surgery program, ethical considerations in acute care surgery, and the role of palliative care. Authored by respected experts in the field and illustrated throughout with detailed photographs, Common Problems in Acute Care Surgery is of great value to resident surgeons in training, fellows, and practicing surgeons in acute care surgery.