ACE: Emergency General Surgery

School of Medicine

The Advanced Clinical Experience (ACE) in Emergency General Surgery offers students a broad exposure to many of the core operative and clinical pathologies encountered within general surgery. Students will be active participants in the evaluation and management of patients presenting with a wide variety of surgically urgent pathologies including appendicitis, acute cholecystitis, small and large bowel obstructions, perforated viscus, necrotizing soft tissue infections, and complications of prior surgical interventions. Students will assist in the initial consultation and evaluation of acute surgical patients, grow procedural skills in the operating room, and evaluate postoperative progress and complications in the inpatient and outpatient settings. They will be introduced to common bedside procedures relevant to acute care surgery such as incision and drainage, bedside tracheostomy, PEG placement, placement of enteral access and management of surgical drains. Emphasis will be placed on the multidisciplinary management of these patients, involving collaboration with critical care, interventional radiology, and subspecialty surgical services. Educational opportunities include participation in daily rounds and other teaching conferences with the surgery residents. Students will be expected to spend two weeks primarily in the operating room, one week evaluating consults with the PGY2 resident, and one week on nights. They will also have designated “pager” days. By the end of the rotation, students should demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the principles of emergency general surgery, resuscitation, preoperative, perioperative, and postoperative decision-making.