AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the course the student will be required to know the following:

1) Recognize and frame a clinical and instrumental diagnostic opinion of an acute abdomen in its various manifestations and be able to effectively present the case for more intensive medical followup and/or intervention.

2) Recognize and differentiate among photographic images of three medical emergencies, including a)  intra-abdominal infection (peritonitis); b)  intestinal obstruction; and, c) acute intestinal ischemia. The student will understand how to make a differential diagnosis among the three foregoing emergencies and provide appropriate treatment modalities for each emergency.  Following this analysis, the student will suggest appropriate treatment for each emergency, according to approved modern guidelines and standards of care

3) Recognize the difference between simple and complex trauma according to approved stadard-of-care models – and, with whatever emergency tools are available be aware of how to manage the first phases of open and closed abdominal and thoracic trauma according to accepted and approved emergency medical standards.

4) Manage a trauma, with the student knowing which elements of emergency First Aid will provide optimal outcomes for the subsequent management of a medical emergency. In particular, the student will know how to recognize and treat pneumothorax and a ruptured spleen.

TEACHING METHODS

Plenary lessons in the classroom, seminar teaching and professionalizing teaching at the University simulation center (discussion of clinical cases, simulation of the most common events in the emergency/ surgical urgency). Attendance is compulsory with hours distributed according to a calendar that is integrated with the other courses of the Integrated Course. Some of the Skills will be taught and commented through special recordings

In case of continuation of the health emergency, the course will be organized electronically on the Teams platform according to a calendar that will be shared.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Acute abdomen (general concepts, peritonitis, intestinal obstruction and intestinal mesenteric ischemia)

General concepts and organization of trauma

Thoracic trauma (with particular attention to pneumothorax)

Open and closed abdominal trauma (with attention to spleen rupture)

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Chiaranda E. Urgenze ed Emergenze.Istituzioni

Guidelines and articles provided or suggested during the course