DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL SURGERY
The overall responsibility for trauma care falls under the auspices of general surgery. Some general
surgeons obtain advanced training in this field (most commonly surgical critical care) and specialty
certification surgical critical care. General surgeons must be able to deal initially with almost any
surgical emergency. Often, they are the first port of call to critically ill or gravely injured patients and
must perform a variety of procedures to stabilize such patients. such as thoracostomy,
cricothyroidotomy, compartment fasciotomies and emergency laparotomy or thoracotomy to stanch
bleeding. They are also called upon to staff surgical intensive care units or trauma intensive care units.
All general surgeons are trained in emergency surgery. Bleeding, infections, bowel obstructions and
organ perforations are the main problems they deal with. Cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the
gallbladder. is one of the most common surgical procedures done worldwide. This is most often done
electively, but the gallbladder can become acutely inflamed and require an emergency operation.
Ruptures of the appendix and small bowel obstructions are other common emergencies.