Minor Surgery: A Text and Atlas

This latest edition of Minor Surgery carries on the tradition of the first three editions in providing a superbly illustrated step-by-step guide to minor surgery. As previously, the book begins by placing minor surgery into context with a description of the setting up, equipping and running a minor operations facility in general practice. Methods of anaesthesia follow. The book then goes on to describe over 40 surgical procedures in step-by-step detail, usually accompanied by colour photographs and line drawings. The authority and clarity of the text owes much to the author's own experience of over 20,000 minor operations.

All sections have been revised to take account of changes since the last (1996) edition. Some reflect improved techniques and some take into account the wises of those doctors who undertake more complex minor surgical procedures. The latter are incorporated in the section on Advanced Minor Surgery. Radio-surgery which is gaining in popularity is described in detail.

A new chapter on the role of the Practice Nurse/Operating Theatre Assistant is included - this acknowledges the vital role these colleagues play in the day-to-day running of a Minor Surgical Service. There is also a new chapter on biopsy techniques - this is becoming increasingly important with the rising incidence of skin malignancies where a prompt, accurate histological diagnosis of a skin lesion may accelerate treatment and improve overall prognosis. There is a new departure from previous editions in a section entitled Specialist Minor Surgery where specialists in their field have been invited to write a chapter giving additional information on how to improve still further the results of minor surgery. Thus there are sections by a consultant plastic surgeon, a consultant ophthalmologist, and a dental surgeon - the last being particularly important if a doctor is in an isolated situation where there are no dental facilities.