36814 - General Surgery 1

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student knows the general and essential aspects of pathophysiology as regards the need for knowledge of the surgical approach to medical practice. On the basis of the knowledge acquired, the student will have the methodological principles that will allow him to identify those aspects that identify the area of surgical interest and the pathophysiological reasons that underlie it. The student will also be able to correctly and autonomously deal with the semiological approach to the surgical patient using the principles of objective evaluation and the physical approach in relation to the knowledge of investigation procedures typical of clinical methodology. The integration between the knowledge of clinical pathophysiology and surgical semiotics makes the student able to understand and address the elementary bases of diseases in a preparatory manner for the future development of the course of study.

Course contents

•Learn how to take a medical history and do a physical examination in the surgical patient


•Learn to apply anatomical/physiological knowledge in daily clinical practice


•Learn how to make an early diagnosis of an acute abdominal condition


•Learn to make a differential diagnosis between the main pathologies of surgical interest


•Learn to exercise critical judgment and gather up-to-date scientific information


•Learn about the most frequently used diagnostic methods in daily practice


•Learn the basic rules for attendance in a surgical department


•Learn to present a clinical case

Readings/Bibliography

Educational material published on "Unibo virtuale"

Cope's Early Diagnosis of the Acute Abdomen. 22nd Edition. Revised by William Silen; Oxford University Press.

Educational material on patient physical examination (texts and videos) available on "Jove Unlimited" Online access available for medical students in Bologna on Unibo-Proxy

Teaching methods

Lectures with interactive clinical cases and dialogue with students.


Instructional video presentations.

Assessment methods

Oral examination. The final grade is the aritmetic average of the grades reported in the respective parts of the Integrated Course ("Clinical Methodology and Medical Systematics").


To pass the exam, a passing grade is required in all parts.


The "grade" varies from 18 to 30 cum laude, based on the outcome of the exam.


If the student does not demonstrate adequate preparation, he will not pass the exam.

Office hours

See the website of Giampaolo Ugolini