Surgical Pathophysiology

Providing an overview of the essence of surgical pathophysiology, this book begins with a report on fundamental problems in septicaemia and trauma. It goes on to discuss the metabolic alterations in cancer, post-hypoxic oxygenation tissue injury and thromoembolic problems in cancer patients. Other topics include prophylactic use of antibiotics in gastro-intestinal surgery and the application of different scoring systems in critically ill patients. In the second part of the book, recent discoveries concerning the development of organ failure, in particular adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and multiple organ failure (MOF) are reviewed. Attention is given to research on the generation of mediator substances, the role of plasma casade systems, and the prophylactic and therapeutic aspects. Finally, chapters on radiation injury of the small intestine and recent pathophysiological developments on acute pancreatitis are presented.