Concise Exam Notes: Surgery and Related Topics

Surgery

A branch of medicine involving operative interventions to diagnose, cure, or prevent disease, injury, or deformity, often entailing physical intervention on tissues.

Scope of Modern Surgery Development

The significant development of modern surgical techniques, principles, and understanding has largely occurred within the last 100-150 years.

Ambroise Paré

A French barber-surgeon (1510-1590) who advocated for humane and rational treatment of wounds, moving away from cauterization to ligatures.

Andreas Vesalius

A Flemish anatomist (1514-1564) whose detailed anatomical studies revolutionized the understanding of human anatomy and challenged Galen's teachings.

John Hunter

A Scottish surgeon and anatomist (1728-1793) considered a founder of modern scientific surgery due to his emphasis on observation and experimentation.

Joseph Lister

A British surgeon (1827-1912) who pioneered antiseptic surgery, significantly reducing postoperative infection rates.

William Stewart Halsted

An American surgeon (1852-1922) known for meticulous surgical technique, the introduction of rubber gloves, and the radical mastectomy.

Early Views on Surgery (Ackerknecht)

Ackerknecht posited that surgery was often seen as a form of practical, physical care rather than a scholarly medical discipline in ancient times.

Hippocrates

Often called the 'Father of Medicine' (c. 460–c. 370 BC), who, along with ancient