Foreword

Article Outline

• Copyright

Nothing can be more disconcerting to the operating surgeon than the finding of disease pathology that was not identified preoperatively. Such is the subject of this issue of Current Problems in Surgery, so well written by Dr. W. Scott Melvin and his colleagues at The Ohio State University School of Medicine. The authors primarily address those unsuspected diseases that one happens upon during operations of the upper gastrointestinal tract, the liver and the gall bladder. They also discuss gynecological diseases that may be noticed during abdominal explorations and devote sections to the important considerations of unexpected infectious complications and metabolic and cardiopulmonary conditions. This monograph has great practical importance and will especially provide the young surgeon with a healthful respect for potential pitfalls that may occur during “routine” operations.