Landmark Papers in General Surgery

Landmark Papers in General Surgery will give surgeons, surgical trainees and other healthcare professionals an expert appraisal of key papers, and fast access to the evidence base behind current clinical practice in General Surgery. Each chapter draws together a fascinating selection of the most important clinical trials across every subspecialty within General Surgery, as selected and appraised by a panel of experts.

Organised according to a common format, each discussion offers a clear structure by which to appraise the medical literature. Following a background summary of each trial, experts discuss the impact of the research and critique the methods used, giving the reader rapid understanding of the paper's place within the wider field of research. This emphasis on the tools of critical appraisal is enhanced by an introductory chapter equipping the reader with the skills required to knowledgeably appraise a research paper.

For clinicians needing to keep abreast of the vast scope of medical research, this book will prove an interesting and timesaving resource, but it will also appeal to allied health professionals keen to improve the depth of their understanding of surgery. By bringing together the evidence base with expert guidance on critical appraisal, higher surgical trainees preparing for the academic and specialty sections of the FRCS exit examination will also find the text invaluable as a means of consolidating and nuancing their knowledge.

Graham MacKay is a consultant colorectal surgeon at Glasgow Royal Infirmary with an interest in minimally invasive surgical techniques. He qualified from Glasgow University where he also undertook a postgraduate MD degree in the field of perioperative care. During his training he carried out an Ethicon laparoscopic fellowship in advanced laparoscopic colorectal surgery as well as spending time at the Lahey Clinic in Boston and the Cleveland Clinic, Ohio. He has a keen interest in academic surgery and is an Honorary Senior Lecturer at Glasgow University. He is also the Director of Surgical Education at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow.

Professor Patrick O'Dwyer qualified from the University College Cork, Ireland in 1979. He subsequently worked at Cork University Hospital before travelling to Columbus, Ohio to work as a Clinical Fellow in Ohio State Hospital.
Thereafter he trained in a number of hospitals in Dublin before taking up his current NHS post in Glasgow.
His major interests include laparoscopic and hernia surgery and surgical oncology including colorectal and sarcoma surgery. He also has a major interest in ongoing clinical research.


Mr Richard Molloy qualified from the University College Cork, Ireland in 1986. He commenced his training at Cork University Hospital prior to travelling to Boston to work in surgical research at Harvard University.
He subsequently trained in Glasgow and Edinburgh before travelling again to the United Sates to work as a Clinical Fellow at The Cleveland Clinic before taking up his current NHS post in Glasgow.
His major interests include hernia surgery, laparoscopic surgery and open and laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery.