Animal Physiologic Surgery

Animal Physiologic Surgery presents an integrated approach to the study of surgery for first-year medical students and graduate students in physiology. The primary emphasis is on the interrela­ tionships between surgical techniques and physiologic phenomena observed before, during, and after surgery. All procedures described in the book are designed so that the student with a limited knowledge of surgery can successfully assume responsibility for pre- and postoperative care, as well as for the operation. Therefore, the attitude reflected in this work shows the student his obligation, and his privilege, to find the best method of treatment for the patient and to work at his highest capacity. The text begins with an introduction to operating-room proce­ dures, sutures and instruments, wound healing, anesthesia, and water and electrolyte balance. The second part deals with step-by­ step surgical instructions and clinical consideration in techniques, such as laparotomy, splenectomy, nephrectomy, and laminectomy. This part is followed by a section on laboratory techniques neces­ sary for following and evaluating the course of the patient and on postmortem techniques. The text strikes a balance between exacting detail and discussion of basic principles; it is easily adaptable to any curriculum. I am grateful to the contributors for their close cooperation, especially Dr. William J. White for sharing much of the responsi­ bilities. I am also very appreciative to Catherine Jackson and Anne Kupstas for their valuable editorial assistance, and to Joyce Greene vii Preface and Becky Robertson for their assistance in preparing the manu­ script.