This book is for all those entering general surgical training. It explains the reasoning involved in recognizing and dealing with general surgical conditions and pays special attention to managing surgical emergencies and trauma patients. It is also intended to serve as a practical guide to safe and effective day-to-day surgical practice. The content is laid out logically so that a patient can be followed from a working diagnosis, through investigation and assessment, preparation for surgery, care in the operating theatre and afterwards, including the prevention and treatment of complications. Throughout, factors are identified which affect surgical outcome and which are important in surgical audit and quality control. It is not meant as a textbook of diagnosis, or an atlas of operative surgery; however, it does cover the principles of both, as well as details of the common operations trainees are likely to have to perform. Each chapter concludes with a few key references to classic papers, books and review articles. Philip Deakin, a medical artist and GP, has illustrated the book throughout. Clive Quick and Paul Thomas are recent past members of the Court of Examiners for the Royal College of Surgeons of England and have planned the book to meet the requirements of the new syllabus for the higher general surgical qualification. Their team of contributing authors is made up of senior trainees and recently appointed consultants who provide a clear and focused perspective, reflecting their recent experience of the training process.