Assisting at Surgical Operations: A Practical Guide (Cambridge Clinical Guides) (Paperback)

~ Comus Whalan (Author) "In the United States, the term 'operating room' or 'OR' is used, while in Australia and the United Kingdom, it is referred to as an..." (more)
Key Phrases: elasticated cap, blade diathermy, incise drape, South Australia, Universal Precautions, Flinders Medical Centre (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

' ... describes general operating theatre conduct with the overall aim of teaching you how to be a good surgical assistant ... focuses on the immediate aftermath of the operation, advising on drugs to prescribe post-operatively and how to write a comprehensive but succinct operation note ...This book is aimed at medical students and foundation year doctors. It is a valuable read for anyone at this level. A knowledgeable surgical assistant is a delight to a surgeon and will gain a lot of kudos. I would thoroughly recommend it to this group of students and doctors ... a good easy read that sets out its information in a clear and logical way with good diagrams and photos.' British Medical Journal

'Assisting at Surgical Operations deals with all those things you ever wanted to know in the operating theatre but were too afraid to ask. It is an easy to read, humorous guide to the practicalities of surgical assisting - something that is not taught routinely to the undergraduate and often taken for granted in junior surgeons.' British Journal of Surgery

'This book takes a unique approach to discussing assisting at surgical operations. It makes you feel as though you are there. The 'you' in the book, by the way, is likely to be a junior scrub practitioner, inexperienced medical student or junior surgeon ... this book could make an impact on your book shelves and provide much scope for discussion in the coffee rooms (and scrub rooms) up and down the country.' Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology

Product Description

There are many superb books on how to do operations but there are few or none on how to assist at them, and none written either by or for medical students or doctors. Therefore, the skills that make an expert surgical assistant are difficult to acquire. Normally, they can only learn in a haphazard way, by spending years in the operating theater. This book describes those skills in a concise and systematic way, in surgery in general, and in ten different speciality areas. Although intended mainly for clinical-level medical students and junior doctors, other people who assist at surgical operations, including general practitioners, nurse assistants and surgical technologists, will also find it useful. Whether planning a career in surgery, or simply aiming for high marks in a surgical rotation, there are few better ways to impress a surgeon than by skilfully assisting at surgical operations.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press; 1 edition (September 4, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521680816
• ISBN-13: 978-0521680813
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #632,436 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good starter book for medical students, October 21, 2007

By	Amy Weierman (Lockport, IL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

If the realm of the OR is completely foreign to you, this book is a good jumping-off point before you start your surgical rotation. It covers all of the basics and gives some info on assisting in different surgical specialties. The only drawback is that it's an "English" medicine text, not a "U.S." medicine text, so some of the terminology is not the same as is used in the U.S., e.g. "scout nurse" vs. "circulating nurse." It may seem a bit simplistic for those who have some OR experience, but if you don't this will acclimate you to a decent level of comfort before that first day.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Should have read closer before ordering, February 9, 2008

By	Mary Ann Eck - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The book is thorough on the topic, and helpful. However, I wish I had realized the authors were either English or Australian, discussing British style operating theatres before I purchased the book. Most of the topics can be applied to American OR's, however. I should have guessed that Cambridge Publishing would not be using American authors.