A podcast about preparing for the General Surgery Fellowship Exam. Each year, Australian and New Zealand surgical trainees sit this exam in order to gain a 'fellowship' in General Surgery. This podcast follows one trainee doctor on her journey towards FRACS (Fellowship Royal Australian College of Surgeons). The series correspond to the different modules from the surgical curriculum. Series 1-Breast Surgery, 2-Exam Specific Episodes; 3-Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery; 4-Colorectal Surgery; 5-Hepatobiliary Surgery; 6-Endocrine Surgery; 7-Trauma; 8-Skin and Soft Tissue; 9-Vascular; 10-Anatomy (Limb); 11-Surgical Oncology; 12-Critically Ill Surgical Patient
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This episode picks up where episode 4 ((introduction to colorectal cancer) left off - delving into the treatment of rectal cancer. This is a fun topic with lots of nuances and 'it depends' management decisions. We cover: - neoadjuvant treatment - adjuvant treatment - total neoadjuvant treatment - the 'watch and wait' approach - surgery for rectal cancer - surgery for obstructing rectal cancer and more. Disclaimer The information in this podcast is intended as a revision aid for the purposes of t...
This episode continues from our last - 'introduction to colorectal cancer'. We are exploring the treatment of colon cancer, and specifically the differences in the management of: - resectable non-metastatic - resectable metastatic; and - non-resectable metastatic disease Some of the topics touched upon include chemotherapy, different types of resections, peri-operative management strategies, and palliative options. Disclaimer The information in this podcast is intended as a revision aid for the ...
This episode covers everything else you need to know about colorectal cancer (see last 2 episodes!) without talking about treatment options. This includes epidemiology, risk factors, presentation, investigation, diagnosis, staging and more! Disclaimer The information in this podcast is intended as a revision aid for the purposes of the General Surgery Fellowship Exam. This information is not to be considered to include any recommendations or medical advice by the author or publisher or any other...
Be prepared for some knowledge in this episode exploring the different genetic syndromes associated with colorectal cancer. Great episode to cram before the exam! We will cover: Polyposis syndromes: - FAP (Familial Adenomatous Polyposis) - MAP (MUTYH-Associated Polyposis) - Peutz-Jegher's syndrome - Familial juvenile polyposis - Serrated polyposis - PTEN tumour syndromes Non-polyposis syndromes - HNPCC and Lynch Syndrome Disclaimer The information in this podcast is intended as a revision aid fo...
Let's dip our toes into the topic of colorectal cancer by taking a look at different types of colorectal polyps. This includes neoplastic and non-neoplastic types, as well as what to do with malignant polyps (I'm looking at you Haggitt and Kikuchi classification). Next we take a dive into genetic pathways in colorectal cancer. This includes the CIN, serrated and MSI pathways. This episode gives us all the basics we need before heading into genetic syndromes in colorectal cancer next week. Discla...
We are launching into the colorectal module from the curriculum this week - and starting off with some anatomy! There is a little bit of physiology and surgical anatomy thrown in there for good measure! Happy Studying :D Disclaimer The information in this podcast is intended as a revision aid for the purposes of the General Surgery Fellowship Exam. This information is not to be considered to include any recommendations or medical advice by the author or publisher or any other person. The listene...
This episode covers approaches to the workup and management of oesophageal perforation, plus everything you need to know about corrosive and caustic ingestions Disclaimer The information in this podcast is intended as a revision aid for the purposes of the General Surgery Fellowship Exam. This information is not to be considered to include any recommendations or medical advice by the author or publisher or any other person. The listener should conduct and rely upon their own independent analysis...
Today's episode covers a few smaller topics in oesophageal surgery including: - oesophageal foreign bodies - oesophageal diverticulum - benign oesophageal tumours References/Resources: - World Journal of Gastroenterology, 2015, Benign esophageal lesions: endoscopic and pathologic features. Tsai et al. - Surgical clinics of North America Vol 95, issue 3. benign esophageal tumours. Ha eg al. 2015 Disclaimer The information in this podcast is intended as a revision aid for the purposes of the Gener...
Everything you need to know about peptic ulcer disease you will find right here in this episode. We cover how to manage uncomplicated presentations, what the go is with helicobacter pylori, and how to approach complications such as perforated ulcers and bleeding. Disclaimer The information in this podcast is intended as a revision aid for the purposes of the General Surgery Fellowship Exam. This information is not to be considered to include any recommendations or medical advice by the author or...
This episode covers gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), gastric lymphoma, neuroendocrine tumors, Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, and gastric polyps. The discussion includes diagnosis, staging, histopathology, and treatment options for each condition, emphasizing the importance of multidisciplinary team management. Surgical and targeted therapies are explained along with post-surgery surveillance guidelines and diagnostic tests.
This episode features upper GI surgeon Dr. Mary Ann Johnson discussing various aspects of esophageal and gastric cancer management. Topics include the role of EUS, different esophagectomy types, SCC chemotherapy protocols, and palliative care options. Dr. Johnson also clarifies gastric cancer classifications, restaging post-neoadjuvant treatment, and provides in-depth explanations of gastrectomy types, lymph node dissection, and techniques for managing difficult duodenal stumps, all with a focus on fellowship exam relevance.
Explore oesophageal cancer in depth, focusing on adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, including their distinct etiologies, global incidence, and clinical features. The discussion covers the diagnostic process from initial workup and endoscopy to advanced staging using CT, PET, and laparoscopy. Learn about current multimodal treatment strategies, such as endoscopic resection, esophagectomy, and neoadjuvant therapies, alongside considerations for patient selection, surgical techniques, and management of complications. The episode concludes with insights into palliative care and prognosis for this challenging malignancy.
On this episode, we discuss gastric cancer. Everything from workup, to risk factors, pathophysiology, and various treatments. This bigger picture episode will give you the tools you need to answer questions about gastric cancer for the exam. Disclaimer The information in this podcast is intended as a revision aid for the purposes of the General Surgery Fellowship Exam. This information is not to be considered to include any recommendations or medical advice by the author or publisher or any othe...
Dr. Alex Craven and Dr. Steven Kunz join host Amanda Nikolic to explore effective exam preparation strategies. They emphasize identifying "weak links" in content areas like anatomy and oncology, as well as recognizing challenging question types. The discussion introduces deliberate practice methods, including recording answers for self-critique and the "It Depends" game, which trains candidates to structure complex answers around key decision points, transforming daunting scenarios into manageable problems. The episode offers valuable tools for maximizing study group efficiency and personal preparation.
In this episode, disorders of the oesophagus (or esophagus for those Northern American listeners) takes centre stage. We talk about Barrett' Oesophagus, including the diagnosis, classification, seattle protocol of biopsies, and what to do with different histopathological types of Barrett's. Next is a quick summary of Eosinophilic Oesophagitis, before we dive into benign oesophageal strictures and talk a little more about A and B rings, Schatzki rings, and peptic strictures. Disclaimer The inform...
This week's episode explores oesophageal motility disorders. We are covering the topics of: - Achalasia - Hypertensive lower oesophageal sphincter - Diffuse oesophageal spasm - Nutcracker oesophagus - Ineffective oesophageal motility How they present, how to diagnose them, and their different treatments. We also talk a little about POEM (per-oral endoscopic myotomy) and the surgical principles of heller's myotomy, as well as the risks and benefits of these procedures. Disclaimer The information ...
Join us this week for our first deep dive into upper gastrointestinal surgery and the oesophagogastric module. Everything you ever wanted to know and more about gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), hiatus hernia and gastric volvulus Disclaimer The information in this podcast is intended as a revision aid for the purposes of the General Surgery Fellowship Exam. This information is not to be considered to include any recommendations or medical advice by the author or publisher or any other pe...
Get ready for a new topic on First Incision! We are going to tackle the massive topic of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery. To kick it off, lets ease into it by going through the anatomy and embryology of the oesophagus and stomach. Disclaimer The information in this podcast is intended as a revision aid for the purposes of the General Surgery Fellowship Exam. This information is not to be considered to include any recommendations or medical advice by the author or publisher or any other person. Th...
Dr. Alex Craven offers crucial insights into preparing for the General Surgery Fellowship VIVA exam, covering both clinical and non-clinical sections. He details what to expect, how to approach different question types, and practical strategies for effective study and practice. The episode emphasizes adapting to exam conditions, leveraging study groups, and understanding the core examinable aspects of complex topics, including top tips for exam day.
This episode features Dr. Alex Craven, who offers invaluable advice on tackling the General Surgery Fellowship written exam. He stresses the importance of understanding the exam's "satisfactory" pass criteria, advocating for goal-directed study that prioritizes weak areas. Craven provides practical tips on deliberate practice, including how to answer questions precisely and manage exam-day stress through simulation and mental strategies.
This weeks' episode explores everything you need to know about the subtypes, classification, workup and management of Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS). Disclaimer The information in this podcast is intended as a revision aid for the purposes of the General Surgery Fellowship Exam. This information is not to be considered to include any recommendations or medical advice by the author or publisher or any other person. The listener should conduct and rely upon their own independent analysis of the i...
Join us today for a discussion about special populations in breast cancer. This includes: - pregnancy associated breast cancer - considering fertility in breast cancer treatment, and - what to do if you encounter a positive axillary node but an unknown primary. Disclaimer The information in this podcast is intended as a revision aid for the purposes of the General Surgery Fellowship Exam. This information is not to be considered to include any recommendations or medical advice by the author or p...
Caroline Baker is the director of Breast Surgery at St Vincent's Hospital in Melbourne. She has taken the time to talk about operative breast surgery with us, going over the four core operations for the Breast Curriculum: - Wide Local Excision - Mastectomy - Axillary Lymph Node Dissection, and - Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy We cover not only the operative steps, but key information to consider in your approach, and some common pitfalls and how to avoid them. VCCC education program mentioned by Car...
For our lucky number SEVEN episode this week we talk about male breast diseases, including: - gynaecomastia: the various causes, who to workup, and how to treat it. - and male breast cancer Disclaimer The information in this podcast is intended as a revision aid for the purposes of the General Surgery Fellowship Exam. This information is not to be considered to include any recommendations or medical advice by the author or publisher or any other person. The listener should conduct and rely upon ...
This episode covers everything you need to know about three high-yield breast topics. - Nipple Discharge - Breast Infections - Galactocele Reference: https://www.aafp.org/afp/2012/0601/p1073.html Evaluation and Management of Galactorrhea. Huang et al. Am Fam Physician. 2012. Jun 1;85(11): 1073-1080 Disclaimer The information in this podcast is intended as a revision aid for the purposes of the General Surgery Fellowship Exam. This information is not to be considered to include any recommendation...
This guest episode with Dr Jocelyn Lippey answers all of the questions we had about breast cancer, as well as covers some practical tips for preparing for the fellowship exam. Jocelyn is an incredible breast surgeon who is passionate about providing expert care to her patients. She is also a fantastic teacher, researcher and all-around lovely person, and we are so grateful to her for giving up her time and expertise for this episode. Disclaimer The information in this podcast is intended as a re...
Let's talk about the treatment of early breast cancer. This episode covers: - the importance of the MDT in breast cancer treatment - surgery - what to do with the axilla - radiotherapy - the MDT approach - chemotherapy - endocrine therapy - neoadjuvant versus adjuvant treatment And the importance of the MDT approach in breast cancer treatment This area is super complex - but this episode aims to cover the key concepts and themes, with the more complex decision making left for the specialists. Di...
This week we're staying with the theme of 'Breast Pathology' with an introduction to Early Breast Cancer. We cover the epidemiology, presentation, workup, hormone expression, classification, staging, gene expression profiling, and genetic breast cancers. This episode is content heavy for the study-lovers! And is a great introduction to the next episode where we'll delve deeper into treatment. Disclaimer The information in this podcast is intended as a revision aid for the purposes of the General...
Continuing the 'breast' module from the general surgical curriculum, this episode takes a deep dive into benign breast diseases. We talk about non-proliferative, proliferative and atypical proliferative lesions, exploring what they are, and what to do about them. Special mention at the end about papillomas and phyllodes tumours. Disclaimer The information in this podcast is intended as a revision aid for the purposes of the General Surgery Fellowship Exam. This information is not to be considere...
We're kicking off our study with the 'breast' module from the general surgical curriculum. Our first episode gives us an introduction to this topic by covering clinically relevant breast anatomy and embryology. This episode also introduces me, why I'm doing this podcast and what to expect in the future. References Last's Anatomy Ninth Edition. R. McMinn. Churchill Livingstone 1998. Gray's Anatomy for Students Second Edition. R Drake et al. Churchill Livingstone 2010. Disclaimer The information i...
