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Subrat SaurabhAuthor of Kuch Woh PalIn those days, general surgeons were doing all surgeries, including Ortho, Neuro, Thoracic and Gynec cases. The surgeons depend on their clinical experiences in making the diagnosis. Surgical technique is never static. It changes for newer techniques to improve the quality of the outcome. Some of the cases where I had a dilemma in diagnosis are discussed. How scabies was eradicated in hostel inmates and how major surgeries were done in the district headquarter hospital without proper blood bank may be interesting for the readers.
Sometimes, the surgeon must have some humanitarian considerations in treating the cases, for example, surgery for congenital pyloric stenosis, volvulus sigmoid and a patient who had gastrojejunostomy kept in the ward for more than one month for hospital food. With a full team sprite, 40 cases of injury in a fire accident in a cracker shop were treated. Emergency tracheostomy, Burr hole in head injury, intercostals drain in thoracic injury and even bilateral thoracotomy done in chest injuries by general surgeons are discussed. Appendicular abscess was drained with calculated risks. Duodenal perforation in situs inverses totalis and enteric perforations are discussed. The topics are arranged as per organ pathology for easy reading.
Dilemma in Surgical Practice is documentary evidence that surgeons in those days were real general surgeons dealing with all sorts of cases to save the life of the patients. The senior surgeons who read this book will recollect with their experiences.
Prof. P. Sivalingam
The author Prof. P. Sivalingam MS, MNAMS; is a retired Professor and Head of the Department of Surgery Madurai Medical College and Colorectal surgeon Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai. He has served in the medical field for 40 years, of that, 31 years were in teaching institutions. He underwent one-year training in Colorectal surgery under Common Wealth Medical Fellowship in Leeds General Infirmary and St Marks Hospital London and started Colorectal department in 1982 in Government Rajaji Hospital.
He served as a Governing Council Member of The Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University for 3 years and as Director of Surgical Studies in Association of Surgeons of India for 3 years. He has published 24 articles in national and international journals. He has contributed topics in 8 medical books, published a book on Topics in Colorectal Surgery and also 3 books in Tamil. He has travelled throughout India, attended conferences, presented papers, has delivered lectures in CME and as a member in panel discussions, seminars and symposia. He has attended conferences and presented papers in Singapore, Katmandu, Kyoto, London, San Diego and Fort Laundendale.
He has received a Lifetime Achievement Award from The Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University Association of Colon and Rectal Surgeons of India and Asian Federation of Coloproctology.
