Postgraduate School of General Surgery

Common training objectives (or common core)

Students must acquire adequate theoretical knowledge and professional skill in the clinical and instrumental diagnosis and the treatment, also in emergency-critical situations, of the most common diseases requiring surgery. Students must acquire core competencies in the physiopathology of organs and apparatus, theoretical and practical knowledge required to identify diseases affecting the body's organ systems, theoretical and practical knowledge of the main sectors of instrumental and laboratory diagnostics pertaining to said diseases, the ability to assess links with, and the impact of, internal and specialist medicine. They must therefore be able to recognize the symptoms and clinical-functional signs of disease in organs and systems, having acquired core competencies in diagnostics, therapy, psychology and ethics for a comprehensive patient workup. To this end they must: develop the ability to clinically assess patients based on the anamnesis and objective examination; develop critical and analytical diagnostic skills; gain familiarity with the main diagnostic procedures and laboratory-instrumental analyses; recognize and be able to address the main medical emergencies; acquaint themselves with therapeutic resources to programme their best use and understand their indications and contraindications, as well as possible interactions and iatrogenic effects; acquire core competencies relating to clinical research methodologies and drug testing; understand the basic issues in prevention, public healthcare and social medicine. The student must acquire sufficient theoretical knowledge and professional skills in recognizing and treating the most common pathologies in emergency-critical situations.
Lastly, the student must also have knowledge of the clinical presentation and treatment of the most common pathologies pertaining to the other class types.

Core training objectives

Students must acquire: in-depth knowledge of physiopathology, surgical anatomy and medical surgery; competencies to complete epidemiological evaluations and the workup of clinical cases, also through the use of information systems; knowledge of the organization and management of healthcare services in accordance with the latest directives.
Students must acquire: the ability to organize and manage their own surgical activity in relation to the characteristics of the facility and area in which they will be operating; knowledge of the medical-legal aspects of their profession and of the laws, norms and regulations governing healthcare.

School-specific training objectives

Students must acquire: core competencies in topographical anatomy relevant to clinical objective examinations and medical surgery, the principles of asepsis and antisepsis, problems relating to organization and environmental hygiene in the operating room; knowledge of surgical instruments and of suture materials, and of traditional and alternative surgical methods and techniques; in-depth knowledge and related practical experience for personally assessing the overall condition of patients on the basis of clinical pathology, anatomical pathology and surgical physiopathology, clinical methodologies, instrumental diagnostics and medical imaging, and for identifying the most effective medical or surgical treatment as a function of risks, benefits and expected outcome for each single patient. They must: be able to choose the most appropriate surgical solution (the technique and its indication) to treat diseases requiring surgery; adequate knowledge to address and solve issues pertaining to the definition and management of postoperative care and aftercare; acquire the necessary multidisciplinary skills to manage a clinical case correctly, going beyond their particular field of technical-surgical competence so that they may form part of a team responsible for the pre- and post-operative phases as a whole.

Mandatory professionalizing activities for achieving the educational objectives of the type are:
- at least 30 major surgery procedures, of which 10% as first operator. The rest as second operator;
- at least 80 medium surgery procedures, of which 25% as first operator. The rest as second operator;
- at least 325 minor surgery procedures, of which 40% as first operator. (Outpatient and D.H. surgery procedures are included). The rest as second operator.
- having provided direct and responsible assistance with related diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in an adequate number of elective, critical and emergency/urgent patients.

The Resident must have provided direct assistance for at least 2 semesters in total in emergency surgery, first aid and trauma, in anesthesia and resuscitation and in the specialist surgeries provided for by the regulations according to the methods defined by the School Council.

He/she may compete for the diploma after completing the surgical activity.

In the technical preparation it is advisable, where possible, to study surgical medicine on the cadaver. A training course with virtual simulators and boxes for practicing laparoscopic techniques is also useful. The basic technique of experimental micro surgery must be learned in the laboratory with a preparatory course.

The trainee may compete for the diploma after completing the professionalizing activities.