Objectives of the course: The course offers knowledge on the basic principles of general surgery. The students are also trained in taking medical history and performing physical examination in patients with problems in the spectrum of general surgery. The lectures are focused on the pathogenesis, pathophysiology, clinical picture, diagnosis and management of the surgical diseases.

Contents of the course: History of Surgery. Metabolic response to trauma. Principles of preoperative and operative surgery. Postoperative care. Surgical complications. Shock, electrolytes and Fluids. Pain management. Blood transfusion. Hematological disorders in surgical patients. Nutritional assessment and support. Surgical Infections and Antibiotics. Trauma. Burns. Basic principles of solid organ Transplantation. Wound healing and skin disorders. Soft tissue sarcomas. Tumors of head and neck. Diseases of the Breast. Diseases of lung, chest wall, pleura and mediastinum. Clinical signs of gastrointestinal tract diseases. Diseases of esophagus and diaphragm. Diseases of abdominal wall, mesentery and retroperitoneum. Hernia. Basic principles of surgical oncology.

Mode and outcomes of teaching: The course is taught in combination with clinical practice. The teaching (lectures) is four hours/week. The clinical practice takes places in patient's wards, in the department of General Surgery of the University Ηospital of Ioannina. The students are divided in 6 groups (20-22 in each group). Every group has 4 weeks of clinical practice(40 hrs in total). The students are trained in history taking, physical examination, preoperative assessment of a surgical patient and differential diagnosis. The student are also exposed in the basic principles of general surgery: a. infection control and rational use of antiseptic solutions b. wound and trauma management c. parenteral administration of medication, fluids and electrolytes. At the end of the course the students should be able to take effectively medical history and to communicate efficiently with the patients. They should be also able to perform a complete physical examination and to make differential diagnosis for diseases in the spectrum of general surgery.

Hours of training per student: 52

Semester: 7th

ECTS: 4