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    Medical Diagnostics: A Surgical Approach
    Medical Diagnostics: A Surgical Approach
    Medical Diagnostics: A Surgical Approach
    Ebook241 pages1 hour

    Medical Diagnostics: A Surgical Approach

    By Barry Hicks

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    About this ebook

    The Author had years of surgical, EMST and general medical experience in non-teaching environments. Then he became involved in the development and teaching, at a professorial level, of a Tertiary level medical course in a new Medical School in southern Ethiopia. The teaching language was English, the text-books were in English; however, the students had limited English abilities with English often being their third or fourth language. The Author’s intention was to make them competent doctors, acceptable at a primary care level in any world context. The book was written to assist in those students studies with a particular emphasis on physical examination and practical medical diagnostics in a surgical context. The book contains many photographs to help explain the text. Although the book is specifically written for linguistically challenged students in educationally underdeveloped and highly populated areas of the developing world. This book is essential reading for any prospective medical student or beginning surgeon.

    P.S. There are now a goodly number of my former students whom I would allow to operate on me!

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBarry Hicks
    Release dateDec 4, 2020
    ISBN9780645022513
    Medical Diagnostics: A Surgical Approach
    Author

    Barry Hicks

    Barry Hicks is now approaching his 82nd year and thoroughly enjoyed his life. During that time he worked as a surgeon for more than 50 years in both Australia and in Ethiopia. Barry also spent time in India, and a number of other central and west African countries. In Ethiopia he was associated with a Christian mission but generally worked in government hospitals or as an Associate Professor in two Ethiopian Universities where he taught Surgery.He has been married to his wife Robin for 57 years. They have seven children (two adopted Ethiopian lads), a fair number of grandchildren and even a few great grandchildren.He retired from Arba Minch University in Ethiopia at the end of 2017 and now lives in North Queensland on a small farm raising sheep, writing and preaching.

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      Book preview

      Medical Diagnostics - Barry Hicks

      Medical Diagnostics:

      A Surgical Approach

      For my wife Robin, thank you for the years.

      For my children, Andrew, David, Timothy, Jeffery, Suzanne, Desta and Abel.

      Truth reveals itself more clearly through actions than it does through our words.

      Unknown

      MEDICAL DIAGNOSTICS 2020

      Barry L Hicks

      Copyright © 2020 by Barry L Hicks

      First Edition Published by MTS

      Ebook edition Created 2020

      This book is copyright. Apart from any fair dealings for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission. The right of Barry Hicks to be identified as the moral rights author has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright Amendment (Moral Rights) Act 2000 (Commonwealth). No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

      The information, views, opinions and visuals expressed in this publication are solely those of the author(s) and do not reflect those of the publisher. The publisher disclaims any liabilities or responsibilities whatsoever for any damages, libel or liabilities arising directly or indirectly from the contents of this publication.

      Disclaimer:

      Although this publication is designed to provide accurate information in regard to the subject matter covered, the publisher and the author assume no responsibility for errors, inaccuracies, omissions, or any other inconsistencies herein. This publication is meant as a source of valuable information for the reader, however it is not meant as a replacement for direct expert assistance. If such level of assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought."

      ISBN: 978-0-6450225-1-3

      Inquiries should be made at: -

      skcihbl@gmail.com

      OTHER BOOKS

      By the same author:

      Have Scalpel; Will Travel.

      Blog: hicks-medical.com

      ABOUT THE AUTHOR

      Barry L Hicks AM MBBS FACTM FRACS

      The author was born in Adelaide, South Australia in 1939. He graduated MBBS at the end of 1961 and obtained his FRACS in 1967. He has worked in Australia where he has been a Senior Lecturer in Surgery at the QEH in Adelaide, Director of Surgery in the Townsville General Hospital. Later while in private practice he was a visiting surgeon, initially to the TGH, and then the newly built TTH in Townsville. He visited nearby country hospitals on a regular basis.

      Between 1968 and 2017 he has spent over 25 years as a surgeon in Ethiopia, and several shorter periods in India and Benin. His time in Ethiopia was disrupted several times by health, revolution and political issues. On retirement, as he turned 78, he was Associate Professor of Surgery in Arba Mintch, Ethiopia. He initially wrote this small book at the request of the University for medical students beginning their clinical years in surgery.

      The picture above is with his friend and compatriot, Dr Melka Kinnear, with whom he worked in Arba Mintch. The photo was taken when the Ethiopian Society of Surgeons honoured him with a gold medal for his service to Ethiopia.

      He is married to Robin. They have seven children, two of whom are adopted Ethiopians.

      He is now retired living on a small farm outside Townsville.

      PREFACE

      Each department of the School of Medicine at the Arba Minch University was asked to write a mini book to help students as they commenced the study of their course. I did this for the Department of Surgery did this but advised every student to realize that this was only a helpful guide and in no way replaced the use of library facilities and internet.

      It is being more widely published in the understanding that there are situations in many countries of the world where there are deficiencies in equipment and availability of tests and medications. While applauding what is being done, I have come to understand the many difficulties under which these placed the students and their instructors in their responsibilities. It may need a little insight to transpose the thoughts harvested from an experience in Ethiopia to other lands but the effort of doing that would, I think, be worthwhile.

      This booklet should certainly encourage you to spend time in the wards taking histories and examining patients. You can quickly look up helpful hints on the spot. There are links in place which allow you to go directly to the chapter which you want to read. It does not replace the need to attend lectures, ward rounds, bedside teaching sessions and seminars.

      It is meant to be an introduction to and then a useful quick reminder resource as you travel the years of study.

      Albert Einstein said that the purpose of education is not to teach facts but to teach you to think. I hope this booklet stirs up your desire to think things through.

      I have been helped with advice by Dr John Yaxley a previous trainee of mine (and now a very senior and world renown urologist) and his son William (at that time a medical student). I had conversations with my fellow surgeons while in Arba Mintch, Ethiopia and thank them for their advice. My wife has corrected my English here and there and also advised re the complexity of some words and phraseology. She did 4 years of a six-year medical course many years ago and understood enough to ask me to add a further explanation in places. My sister-in law, Joy Hicks also read and corrected English structure. My son, Andrew, has done the work necessary to convert it into an e-book.

      I would like to thank each of these for their invaluable help.

      The pictures are all from my personal collection and are listed at the end of most Chapters. There are comments on a few of them.

      Maybe you reading this are associated to a much more modern hospital with better facilities. This booklet is, I feel, still relevant to you, as, although diseases vary in different geographical positions and the frequency of different diseases alters, having your basics well embedded in your mind are the basis of successful diagnostic practice. Remember a good history taking and clinical examination is a lot cheaper than a plethora of tests, and may reduce the number of tests performed.!

      Relevant pictures, at the end of each Chapter are labelled from left to right; top row first.

      Barry L Hicks AM MBBS FACTM FRACS

      FOREWORD

      I am pleased to commend this practical surgery help book written by Associate Professor Barry Hicks.

      Dr Hicks is a surgeon with vast surgical experience in both Australia and Ethiopia, having taught, conducted clinical work, and operated in a number of hospitals throughout Ethiopia over a 50-year period. Dr Hicks has included photos from his extensive collection accumulated over his years in Ethiopia and this is therefore unique as it included many photos of advanced pathology seen in rural Africa.

      While this is a small book written initially with Arba Minch medical students in mind, it is packed full of practical surgical tips for students and doctors alike and it may be of help to many in training.

      The format is that of a very personal but practical description of what information is common and important, as well as other lists and facts covering many areas of surgery. It takes a systematic approach to the human body and surgical conditions.

      It is small enough to sit in a medical student’s or doctor’s pocket or be loaded on to a phone so that it can act as a ready reference for both elective clinical ward work and the emergency situation. It should be read, memorised, and kept handy for refreshing knowledge as needed.

      As a surgeon working in the DR Congo, who has regarded Barry Hicks as a mentor for many years, I commend this booklet to you.

      Dr Neil Wetzig AO; FRACS; FRCS (Eng.); FCS(ECSA)

      Consultant and Advisor of Surgical Training Programs, HEAL Africa Hospital, Goma, DR Congo

      GLOSSARY OF ABBREVIATIONS

      Some abbreviations in common usage are:

      # is often used as a symbol for a fracture.

      ATLS – Acute Trauma Life Support

      EMST – Emergency Management of Severe Trauma

      FBC – full blood count; WBC – white blood cell count

      Hb – haemoglobin

      Hct – haematocrit

      IV(I) Intravenous infusion/injection

      JVP – Jugular Venous Pressure

      GCS – Glasgow Coma Score

      CSF – Cerebro Spinal Fluid

      CRT – Capillary Return Time

      CXR – Chest X-Ray

      KUB film – Kidney, Ureter, Bladder – a plain film of that area

      IVP – IntraVenous Pyelogram an X-ray of the urinary tract outlined by dye.

      US – ultrasound

      CT or CAT scan – computerised (axial) tomography

      MRI – Magnetic Resonance Imaging

      CBD – Common Bile Duct

      DU/GU – duodenal or gastric ulcer

      Ca – cancer

      ICU – Intensive Care Unit; HDU – High Dependency Unit.

      SSD cream - Silver SulfaDiazine

      TVP –Trans Vesical Prostatectomy; TURP – Trans-URethral Prostatectomy. Note in these operations only the glandular part

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