State of the Art of Surgery 1979/80: Summaries of the Breakfast and Luncheon Panels of the 28th Congress of the Société Internationale de Chirurgie in San Francisco

International surgical meetings with thousands of participants speaking a dozen different languages tend to be frustrating for the individual who comes with the hope of learning about progress in his fields, but who additionally would like to be able to ex­ change ideas on controversial topics and to meet competent people with whom to discuss specific problems. In the "one-way" ses­ sions in which long papers are presented, details or specific points may be missed. Differing views often are not adequately discussed, because the meeting and its participants are pressed for time. The 44 breakfast and luncheon sessions, covering different topics of interest to the practicing surgeon, were mainly planned to overcome these classical "congress handicaps" and also to do away with the anonymous atmosphere of such a large congress. Slides and formal papers were banished from these sessions. The outcome of these very lively and pleasant discussions taking place around small well-dressed tables was unexpected by most participants. A chairman and several panel members shared their repast, caloric and intellectual, with some 10-30 congress par­ ticipants. The result was in each instance a lively, informative intimate discussion, very different from the anonymous atmo­ sphere of a large meeting. In the hope of preserving these ex­ changes, the chairmen were requested immediately the session finished to "distill the essence" of the 90-minute exchange into a summary captured on tape. Front Matter....Pages I-IX Front Matter....Pages 1-1 How to Define General Surgery?....Pages 2-12 Trauma Surgery, a Speciality — if Yes, Whose?....Pages 13-15 Transplantation — a Full-Time Job?....Pages 16-17 Surgical Oncology — a Speciality?....Pages 18-19 How to Teach Surgical Skills and How to Qualify a Surgeon in Training?....Pages 20-21 When, How, and How Much Research During Surgical Training?....Pages 22-24 Aequanimitas and “Autosabotage” as a Challenge in Self-Education....Pages 25-27 How Can We Solve the Language Problem at International Medical Meetings?....Pages 28-29 Motivation of the Surgeon — What Incentives Make Him Function “Optimally” in the Interest of the Community He Serves?....Pages 30-31 Front Matter....Pages 33-33 Optimal Procedure in Peptic Esophageal Stenosis....Pages 34-35 Optimal Method of Replacement of the Esophagus in Cancer....Pages 36-38 Operative Tactics in Gastric Cancer — Problems of Gastric Replacement....Pages 39-40 Dealing with the Perforated Gastroduodenal Ulcer....Pages 41-44 Is Intraoperative Testing for Completeness of Vagotomy Any Good?....Pages 45-46 Modern Approach to the Diagnosis of Prolonged Jaundice....Pages 47-48 Total Pancreatectomy: Indication and Early and Late Postoperative Problems....Pages 49-51 Hemobilia: Diagnostic Procedures and Surgical Strategy....Pages 52-53 Tactical Steps in Liver Resection — Use of Laser....Pages 54-56 When and How to Plan Operations in Crohn’s Disease....Pages 57-58 How Extensive Should Surgery of Colon Malignancies Be?....Pages 59-60 Front Matter....Pages 33-33 Dealing with the Perforated Colon....Pages 61-62 Local Procedures for Anorectal Malignancies....Pages 63-64 Stoma Problems....Pages 65-67 Sphincterotomy in Benign Anal Diseases — When and How?....Pages 68-69 Abdominal Drainage Procedures After Operation — When, Where, and by What Means?....Pages 70-72 Front Matter....Pages 73-73 Evaluation and Decisions During Surgery of “Cold Nodules” in Thyroid Surgery....Pages 74-75 Evaluation and Decisions During Parathyroid Surgery....Pages 76-77 What Approach to Use and What Pitfalls to Avoid in Surgery of the Suprarenals?....Pages 78-79 How Do You Get a Diabetic Patient Ready for Emergency Surgery?....Pages 80-81 Criteria for Evaluating Acute Shock States....Pages 82-83 Colloids or Not for Resuscitation?....Pages 84-85 Front Matter....Pages 87-87 What is Left of Mediastinoscopy?....Pages 88-88 Principles of Radicality in Resection of Bronchial Carcinoma....Pages 89-90 Front Matter....Pages 91-91 Preservation of the Breast in the Treatment of Breast Cancer....Pages 92-92 Front Matter....Pages 93-93 Reconstructive Microsurgery....Pages 94-96 Front Matter....Pages 97-97 How to Stabilize the Crushed Thorax....Pages 98-99 Priorities in Preoperative Treatment and Timing of Operation in the Patient with Fracture of the Proximal Femur....Pages 100-101 Strategy in Approaching and Dealing with the Abdomen After Blunt Trauma....Pages 102-103 Is There Any Merit in Different Treatment in the Acutely Burned?....Pages 104-105 How to Avoid Ugly Scars — How to Treat Keloids?....Pages 106-106 Front Matter....Pages 107-107 What Suture Material Do You Use for What Tissue?....Pages 108-109 Skin Preparation for Surgery....Pages 110-111 Prevention of Postoperative Infection in Major Surgery — Recent Advances....Pages 112-114 What Should I Do for Prevention of Thromboembolic Complications?....Pages 115-116 Back Matter....Pages 117-118