Introduction to the surgical patient

The surgical patient undergoes operative procedures to remove or replace diseased organs/tissue. Specific aspects of the surgical patient’s care are different to those of a medical patient’s care; these include the treatment and prevention of post-operative complications. The surgical nurse should have a good understanding of anatomy and physiology, and this chapter provides a basic overview of the anatomy of the body. This chapter also discusses the surgical patient, the role of the surgical nurse, the different members of the surgical team, the classification of surgery, and the terminology used.