Surgery 101

In this episode, Aaron Banmann discusses the diagnosis and management of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). After listening to this episode, learners will be able to: Define what an aneurysm is Describe how an aneurysm develops and list the risk factors for aneurysmal disease Describe how a patient with an AAA can present Outline how the diagnosis of AAA is made Describe the surgical treatment of an AAA Running time: 15:30  

  In this episode, Dr. Art Plewes discusses the management of fecal incontinence.   After listening to this episode, learners will be able to:   Describe non-surgical measures used to treat the patient with fecal incontinence Describe the operations used to treat the patient with fecal incontinence Running time 14:46

  In this episode, Dr. Art Plewes discusses fecal incontinence.   After listening to this episode, learners will be able to:   Describe the important elements of the history and physical examination in the patient with fecal incontinence, focusing particularly on the impact on the patient’s life Outline the investigations which are used to assess the patient with fecal incontinence   Running time 14:56

  In this episode, Dr. Art Plewes discusses the basics of rectal prolapse.   After listening to this episode, learners will be able to:   Describe the common symptoms associated with rectal prolapse Outline how to recognize a rectal prolapse on physical examination Discriminate between the different operations for the repair of rectal prolapse and describe how an operative approach is decided upon Running time 13:11

In this episode, Dr David Al-Adra discusses the role of islet cell transplantation in the treatment of diabetes. After listening to this episode, learners should be able to: list the complications of diabetes outline the indications for alternative (non insulin replacement) treatment of diabetes describe islet cell transplanation outine the advantages and disadvantages of islet cell transplanation Running time 14:54

In this episode, Alexis Ford discusses the anatomy of the thyroid gland. After listening to this episode, learners should be able to: describe the anatomy and embryology of the thyroid gland describe the blood supply and nervous supply of the thyroid gland explain the relationship between the thryoid and parathyroid glands Running time 14:24

In this episode, Dr Jonathan White considers what he learned from leading two surgery clerkships for 5 years, and offers tips to others starting out as clerkship directors. Running time 18:14

In this episode, Dr Jeff Harris and Dr Peter Dziegielewski discuss the emergency complications of thyroid surgery. After listening to this podcast, learners will be able to:  list three serious complications of thyroid surgery describe the diagnosis and initial management of severe hypercalcemia, neck hematoma and bilateral vocal cord paralysis Running time 26:41  

Dr Jonathan White makes a special announcment about the new Surgery 101 app for the iPhone and Android phones, and about Surgery 101 Notes. Please support Surgery 101! Our new website can be accessed at and

  In this episode, Dr Jonathan White provides tips on how medical students can most effectively demonstrate their knowledge on a multiple choice examination.   Topics covered include: Stems, items and distractors Clinical vignettes Tips for doing well on the MCQ Running time: 8:25      

  In this episode, Dr Jonathan White describes how multiple choice examinations for medical students are constructed.   Topics covered include: Learning objectives and exam blueprints Item difficulty Principles of exam construction   Running time: 8:21

  In this episode, Dr Jonathan White considers the various techniques used in assessing medical students.   Topics covered include: The ideal assessment technique The multiple choice examination The objective structured clinical examination Workplace-based assessment Running time: 8:55

In this episode, Dr Jonathan White considers the principles used in assessing medical students.   Topics covered include: "Assessment drives learning" Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes Learning Objectives Examination blueprints Standard-setting   Running time: 8:51

 In this episode, Dr Jonathan White considers: “what is Surgery 101?” and “what is the best way to use Surgery 101?”   Running time: 5:57

In this episode, patient Kelvin tells us about his experiences of being diagnosed with and treated for cancer. Running time 18:27

In this episode, patient Shelly tells us about her experiences of being diagnosed with and treated for cancer.

  In this episode Dr Jonathan White discusses the diagnosis and management of recurrent cancer. After listening to this episode, learners will be able to: explain the concepts of cancer cure and recurrence explain the concept of 5-year survival list the tests that can be used to re-stage disease recurrence describe how a patient with a cancer recurrence is managed Running time 15:39

In this episode Dr Jonathan White discusses follow-up care for patients who have had cancer surgery. After listening to this episode, learners will be able to: explain the purpose of follow-up for the cancer patient list four main methods of cancer follow-up and describe how each is used Running time 13:18

    In this episode Dr Jonathan White discusses the post-operative pathology report and adjuvant treatment After listening to this episode, learners will be able to: explain how definitive staging information is obtained, and describe synoptic reporting interpret the key elements of a pathology report and explain them to a patient explain the purpose of adjuvant treatment for cancer, and describe the factors considered when deciding to give adjuvant treatment outline the role of the Tumour Board in planning adjuvant treatment for cancer differentiate between the morphology of a tumour and its biological behaviour Running time 17:51

In this episode Dr Jonathan White discusses the cancer operation. After listening to this episode, learners will be able to: explain the importance of deciding on resectability and goals of surgery list the key parts of a cancer operation explain the use of frozen section and outline the concept of R0, R1 and R2 resection describe a typical post-operative discussion with the patient having cancer surgery Running time 13:15