Review of general surgery 1977 HAROLD ELLIS

Introduction This year the emphasis is on the interaction of different disciplines on Surgery. The search for more accurate 'non-invasive' investigations of abdominal disease has led to interesting advances in the use of ultrasound and computerized axial tomography, rivalled only by the developments in sophisticated radiology. As more and more drugs come on the market, the surgeon encounters more and more strange surgical syndromes entering into his differential diagnosis and often requiring operative intervention. Antibiotics in surgical practice continue to require careful assessment in order to enjoy their benefits and avoid their disadvantages. In gastroenterology, some important aspects of peptic ulceration and of Crohn's disease are discussed. No apology need be made for once again riding the author's hobby horse of wound healing -perhaps the public will be relieved to realize that surgeons are taking a keen interest in the safe healing of surgical wounds! As usual, the review ends with a selection of interesting publications which appeared in 1977.