Customer Reviews

Surgical Recall

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is *the* book to have during your surgery rotation. It is surprisingly thorough for its size. It covers all the questions you will get on rounds, in the OR, and in your exams. It even has some pictures and diagrams.

They'll tell you that you need to read a surgery textbook in addition to Recall, but I (who am generally a reader) found that to be flat out untrue. I was skeptical of Recall, but I am a convert. I checked out Lawrence, Sabiston, and NMS, and found them all to be too 'wordy'. When you only have a few minutes to spare here and there, you don't want to waste precious reading time on pretty prose, you need the facts, unadorned. That's what Recall will give you. I really meant to be good and read an actual text, but ran out of time. So I can tell you from experience that if you know Surgical Recall well, it will be enough (with a little sleep the night before) to kick butt on the NBME shelf exam, or whatever exam y'all use. Reduce the pain (and expense) of your surgery rotation -- buy this book. It's all you really need.

Surgical Recall is great for those "pimp" questions at rounds and actually not bad for oral and written exams. However, to truly get the most out of a surgery rotation (even if you're not a surgical hopeful), you should read a unified text rather than a handbook of tidbits and pearls. That said, make sure you get this book because the authors knows how to zero you in on the important HIGHLIGHTS. Fill in the blanks with a great text (Not Lawerance! I used Sabiston and the baby Sabiston) and you'll shine.

Your attendings will want you to read some fat surgery text, but honestly you just don't have the time. Luckily, almost everything that you as a 3rd year medical student ought to know about surgery is in this book, in a concise and enjoyable format. Carry it with you, read it every chance you get, especially the couple of pages relevant to your patient's case before you scrub in. If you master this book, particularly the 300 pages or so on general (as opposed to specialty) surgery, you will be well prepared for the National Board and any oral exam you school may have you take. Good luck!

It's nice and concise, but not comprehensive by any means. I would suggest the Niederhuber textbook on general surgery (it's much easier reading than the Lawrence book, in my opinion, but a bit longer) and then use this as a pocket reference, especially if you need to find just a line on something fast. Nice section on practical stuff, e.g., the various retractors, sutures, etc.

Just finished my 3rd year surgical clerkship, the first of the year. I am one of those middle-of-the-pack medical students, and this little gem of a book earned me Honors in arguably the most difficult clerkship. Read it front to back and know it well. You will shine.

If you read this + the surgery blueprints book, all you need for a medical school surgery rotation shelf exam. If you want more detail, the next step up is the "Essentials of General Surgery" book.

This book is awesome. It is clear and concise and covers about every need to know tidbit for a student doing surgery. I can all but assure you that you will be asked some of the very same questions worded the EXACT same way by your attendings and residents. Everyone gets it and everyone carries it like a bible for the 6-12+weeks you are on surgery. Covers all subspecialties as well. Perfect for the clerkship. However, do not use it as your only source for the Shelf exam as there is quite a bit of general medicine and management not covered in recall.

This book is GREAT! It reviews the terminology, SOAP pre-op and post-op notes, instruments, and the most important info you should know. The questions in this book are the questions you will be asked on rounds and in the OR. GREAT! Well worth the price, and it will fit in the pocket of your lab coat. :)

This is an excellent book for medical students in their surgical rotation. The author focuses on the most common diseases in basic surgery and focuses on the most important facts on each one. Plus, the mnemonic devices and question and answer format make reviewing easier and faster. Surgical specialities are also included. This is definitely a 5 star book!