| CODE | MDS3015 | ||||||||
| TITLE | General Surgery and ENT | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 6 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 6 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Faculty of Medicine and Surgery | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit covers the surgical pathophysiology, clinical presentation, investigation, and management of common surgical conditions. The study-unit further covers the surgical aspects of breast disease and the surgical aspects of common ear, nose and throat problems including hearing loss and common malignancies of the head and neck. Study-Unit Aims: This study-unit aims to: - Provide fundamental knowledge and skills for identifying indications and administering intravenous (IV) fluids, including a basic understanding of the different types of fluids used; - Develop skills in recognising and diagnosing common surgical skin conditions and infections; - Equip students with the knowledge to diagnose and manage surgical conditions, including breast diseases, groin and scrotal lumps, and ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) surgical conditions, such as neck lumps; - Introduce the different types of burn injuries and their management; - Provide knowledge of the different types of shock, their clinical manifestations, and their management; - Develop an understanding of the concept of acute abdomen, including the use of imaging as a diagnostic aid; - Emphasize the importance of multiprofessional teams, effective teamwork, and communication in clinical management; - Enhance patient communication skills and patient relationships; - Instill appropriate attitudes and behaviours necessary for the safe and effective management of surgical conditions through clinical practice. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Describe their common underlying causes of surgical and ENT conditions and explain their pathophysiological process; - Relate the visible pathology and the clinical scenarios to basic anatomical and physiological principles; - List the investigative procedures used in diagnosing common surgical conditions, including ENT problems; - Identify pathological prognostic features in malignancy; - Explain the treatment modalities available for the management of common surgical conditions; - Identify serious complications associated with various treatment options; - Understand the metabolic response to shock, recognise its signs, and outline appropriate management, including the administration of IV fluids; - Recognise and manage common surgical infections, with particular knowledge of uncommon but critical infections such as tetanus and gas gangrene; - Describe the symptoms and signs of common ENT surgical conditions; - Explain the basic pharmacological principles relevant to ENT, focusing on antimicrobial drugs and other drugs used in ENT management; - Describe the scientific and clinical principles underlying the action and use of these drug classes in clinical settings. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Elicit a clear, systematic patient history relevant to surgical conditions; - Perform thorough and systematic clinical examinations of affected patients; - Present clinical findings clearly and accurately; - Interpret basic biochemical, laboratory, and imaging studies used in the diagnosis of surgical conditions; - Develop a logical plan for investigations, prioritizing prioritising less invasive and cost-effective approaches where appropriate; - Demonstrate respect for patient dignity and empathy in clinical practice; - Apply pharmacological knowledge to specific clinical scenarios, demonstrating understanding of drug actions and uses. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: - Bull P.D., (1988), 鈥淒iseases of the Ear Nose and Throat鈥�. - Ronan O鈥� Connell P., Mc Casckie A. W., and Sayers R.D. (2023) 鈥楤ailey & Love Short Practice of Surgery鈥�. Supplementary Readings: - Burkitt HG, Quick CRG, Deakin PJ, (2007), 鈥楨ssential Surgery: Problems, Diagnosis and Management鈥�. - Lumley JSP, (2016), 鈥楬amilton Bailey鈥檚 Physical Signs Lumley'. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture, Independent Study, Placement & Tutorial | ||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Adrian Mark Agius Gordon Caruana Dingli Reuben Grech Godfrey La Ferla (Co-ord.) Kenneth Muscat |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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