Dr. Pestana's Surgery Notes: Top 180 Vignettes for the Surgical Wards

by Carlos Pestana

Surgical clerkship allows senior medical students to develop clinical skills and gain a better understanding of surgical disease while caring for patients. But time in the wards is limited, and clerkship covers only a tiny sample of the surgical universe. Dr. Pestana's Surgery Notes , by distinguished surgery instructor Dr. Carlos Pestana, is a proven guide to ensure your surgical knowledge. With a concise, comprehensive review and 180 high-yield surgical vignettes for self-testing, it contains the surgery knowledge you need to excel on the Surgery shelf exam and USMLE Step 2 CK.


— Concise high-yield review of core surgery material
— 180 vignettes for self-testing
— Used by med students for over a decade
— Fully up-to-date
— Pocket-sized to carry with you in the wards

Genres: Medicine, Medical, Nonfiction, Textbooks, School, Reference

240 pages, Paperback

First published March 5, 2013

Reviews

[India M. Clamp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok this review is unlike the others as Carlos Pestana, MD, PhD, is the stuff of legend---whether you are in medical school or a PA this is mandatory reading. Medical school class rank is number one. His 5-year surgical residency garnered at the Mayo Clinic. This book delivers a surgical soup most will find delicious and piquant.

Of your many achievements, of which are you most proud of?

“My interaction with, and recognition from my medical students.”

“It’s not a challenge it’s an opportunity.”
---Dr. Carlos Pestana

If you are lucky enough to be rolling in a sweet-smelling ER as a surgical intern, and some attending verbally stabs you with question bombs, you will have no problem and will be able to fire it right back (with passion and confidence and hopefully some style). Great little book that is big on knowledge by legend Dr. Pestana. Buy, absorb and verbalize!

[hadyeh | هَدیه · Rating 4 out of 5]

hahahahaha good read s more like good read-ance i am so happy to be done w this book + shelf
very high yield though 10/10. would recommend annotating throughout clerkship with uworld and with emma ramahi surgery + divine intervention ep 24 content

[Mayrose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank u Dr. Pestana I did not kill it on my shelf but I did slightly maim it

[Danny Cairns]

Counting it

[Christopher Pritting · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solid review for people looking to prepare for a surgery rotation

[Oliver · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is great for reviewing basic and relevant facts for surgery wards and tests. I thought it was a little too bare-bones to be the only reference for studying, but if you are looking to refresh your memory on the basics of general surgery, trauma, or any of several sub specialties then this is an excellent read. Also pretty quick to get through!

[Amelia Bitonte · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like information that is presented in the context of a story/scenario or as small digestable paragraphs rather than bullet points like many medical education books use. I also learn a great deal from questions/quizzes which this book supplies an ample amount of.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book goes along with the Kaplan videos perfectly. Read and watch together :)

[Erin]

This is a helpful base for the third year surgery clerkship, but you will find you need more to prepare for the OR and the shelf exam.

[Ladli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great for the Surgery clerkship. Quick read and easy to stuff into your scrub pocket when you're on the go.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A staple of the surgery clerkship. It's clear, concise, and informative.

[Tai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential for surgery rotation! Read it twice and know all the details. Saved me multiple times.

[Kevin Vinokur · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shallow

[Rosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent source of review for usmle step 2ck

It's easy , precise,well oriented ,the approach of the topic in the test questions review are alike to real test.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrible if it's your only resource, but an absolutely fantastic quick review for surgery shelf prep. The questions at the end were good, if more basic than the questions on the shelf. Definitely useful if you're trying to review something short between surgeries, and convenient to carry around in a white coat pocket.

[Ethan Gerdts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great 30,000ft view of surgery. Useful for shelf as it covers most topics except colorectal cancer. Easy to get through during down time on rotation (AKA while birddogging). Downside: the questions suck and it’s not nearly in depth enough. Should only be used as an adjunct.

[Malik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helps a lot with the general surgery rotation, the whole general surgery is oversimplified and over summarized in this book which is the kind of book I’m looking for when I’m studying for med school.

[Yomna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very dense book despite its small size. It feels like mentoring you on what you must know in surgical wards without overcrowding your head with less necessary or advanced info. The qbank is well-written and provides a great means of revision.

[Dustin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice high-yield points with excellent questions at the end. I found myself loving his candor at times and absolutely hating it at others. Take with a grain of salt.

[Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great summary book for surgery rotation.

[sarah farah · Rating 3 out of 5]

my brother gave this to me when i was 14 and i think it may have changed my life? maybe

[amit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

This book can clear your concepts like none other.highly recommended.Carlos Pestanan is a great teacher.Although dated i liked his other book on fluid management as well hope he soon updates that book as well.