Trauma Surgery

Aims

• To become familiar with the recognition, natural history, and general and specific treatment of those trauma conditions that one would expect to encounter in a general surgery practice in a community.
• To familiarize oneself with the pathophysiology of trauma, and the response of a patient to injury.

Educational Objectives

Clinical Skills

Given a trauma patient the clerk will be able to do the following to the satisfaction of his/her supervisor(s):

• Take a relevant history in the trauma bay
• Perform an acceptable physical exam concentrating on the relevant areas.
• Arrive at an appropriate differential diagnosis.

Cognitive Knowledge

Clinical Objectives

• Understand the importance of and reasons for the trauma admission check list. Complete at least one history and physical examination form including collection of all appropriate laboratory and radiological data.
• Be able to list and discuss the four phases and principles of Advanced Trauma Life Support, to include:
  1. Primary Survey (ABC's)
  2. Resuscitation
  3. Secondary Survey
  4. Definitive Care.
• Be able to verbally present clinical cases concisely and accurately during daily faculty rounds.
• Be able to write thorough, concise and appropriate daily progress notes.
• Participate actively in the surgical outpatient specialty clinic.Understand the pathophysiology and diagnostic work up of patients reviewed in the clinic.

Technical Skills

• Be able to perform all technical aspects related to performing a physical examination, to include: Glasgow Coma Scale determination, auditory canal examination, palpation, rectal and pelvic examinations, and thorough body evaluation.
• Be able to perform placement- of indwelling catheters, to include: naso and orogastric tubes, Foley catheters, venipuncture, and arterial puncture.
• Be able to close simple lacerations with staples, stitches or subcuticular closure.
• Be able to 2nd assist at operations.
• Be able to care and treat wounds, indwelling catheters and drains.

You will participate in all aspects of the service to include: AM work rounds, daily sit-down rounds with attending faculty, assisting with both major and minor operative surgical procedures, outpatient clinic activity and, of course, responding to both general surgery and trauma emergencies. During the course of the brief two week rotation you will be expected to assume primary responsibility for at least two to three patients who you will follow on a daily basis, write progress notes, present at daily teaching rounds, etc. Both resident and attending staff must countersign all medical documentation made on your part. No significant change in management or action should be made on any given patient without the approval of more senior level house staff.