Ebook: Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1011 1 2 Surgical practice and training are undergoing a worldwide revolution, with increased 3 super-specialisation, at the expense of the generalist, giving rise to much heated debate. 4 The pathway towards specialisation has been accompanied by an increase in inter- 5 disciplinary care, with the development of the multidisciplinary team approach. This 6 has included expansion of diagnostic imaging, and of medical, chemotherapy and radio 7 therapeutic regimes. The introduction of minimally invasive techniques and image 8 guidance, have increased surgical precision and re?nement, while in other areas 9 interventional radiology has become the treatment of choice. 2011 Training and assessment have followed these trends, but often in a disorganised 1 fashion, without due concern for curricular development and adequate integration of 2 basic and advanced educational requirements. 3 Regardless of these arguments, all surgeons working in a ?eld require appropriate 4 skills and the best available information to deliver optimal care; the Springer Specialist 5 Surgical Series addresses these needs. 6 This volume considers the upper gastrointestinal tract, from the oesophagus to the 7 small bowel. The liver, biliary tree and pancreas make up a separate volume, but 8 the spleen, that orphan of the upper abdomen, is expertly covered, providing the reader 9 with an added bonus.

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Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery reflects the overwhelming need for such a book as this specialisation proceeds apace. The book covers all the foregut except the liver, bile duct and pancreas, looking at the diverse anatomy and physiology, the functions and the disease processes. The book reflects a significant change in the management of certain conditions, as our understanding of disease has improved. Technical developments have moved surgery forward; minimally invasive surgery being the treatment of choice for most upper GI operations for benign disease. With cancers of the upper GI tract being common, and with our understanding more of the genetic profile of tumours, we have identified premalignant lesions and cancer surgery is now targeted to allow stage appropriate therapies. This book gives a current and concise summary of all key topics within the specialty and concentrates on recent developments. Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery brings together an international group of contributors, all experts in their field, to provide a text for specialists and trainees.