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Surgical OSCE module

Surgery & Perioperative Care

Recognition of surgical emergencies, perioperative complications, trauma and informed consent.

Module objectives

By the end of this module, you should be able to gather focused information, identify the most likely and most dangerous diagnoses, choose appropriate investigations, begin safe management and communicate the plan clearly.

Core presentations

Complete topic guide

Acute abdomen and appendicitis

Open the focused 11-minute framework with red flags, targeted assessment, investigations, management, related stations and safety-netting.

Open guide →Complete topic guide

Bowel obstruction and perforation

Open the focused 11-minute framework with red flags, targeted assessment, investigations, management, related stations and safety-netting.

Open guide →Complete topic guide

Hernia and biliary disease

Open the focused 11-minute framework with red flags, targeted assessment, investigations, management, related stations and safety-netting.

Open guide →Complete topic guide

Trauma primary survey

Open the focused 11-minute framework with red flags, targeted assessment, investigations, management, related stations and safety-netting.

Open guide →Complete topic guide

Wound and postoperative infection

Open the focused 11-minute framework with red flags, targeted assessment, investigations, management, related stations and safety-netting.

Open guide →Complete topic guide

Postoperative fever, DVT and PE

Open the focused 11-minute framework with red flags, targeted assessment, investigations, management, related stations and safety-netting.

Open guide →Complete topic guide

Breast and colorectal presentations

Open the focused 11-minute framework with red flags, targeted assessment, investigations, management, related stations and safety-netting.

Open guide →Complete topic guide

Procedure consent and postoperative counselling

Open the focused 11-minute framework with red flags, targeted assessment, investigations, management, related stations and safety-netting.

Open guide →

Expected station skills

  • Surgical history and focused examination
  • ABCDE approach
  • Analgesia, fluids and early consultation
  • Consent including risks, benefits and alternatives
  • Postoperative complication recognition
Module drill: For each presentation, state the leading diagnosis, the dangerous alternative, one discriminating question, one discriminating examination finding and the first action if the patient is unstable.

Red flags and escalation

  • Peritonitis
  • Shock
  • Compartment syndrome
  • Tension pneumothorax
  • Ischemic limb
  • Postoperative sepsis

Station rehearsal template

  1. Read the task and identify the required output.
  2. Open professionally and establish the agenda.
  3. Gather focused positive and negative findings.
  4. Summarize and prioritize the differential.
  5. State investigations and management in a safe sequence.
  6. Address the patient’s concerns and understanding.
  7. Close with disposition, follow-up and safety-netting.

Suggested complete 11-minute stations

History + focused examination11 minutes

Acute right-lower-quadrant abdominal pain

Recognize appendicitis and exclude gynecologic emergencies.

Clinical reasoning11 minutes

Fever on postoperative day five

Identify postoperative infection and need for source control.

Focused assessment + emergency management11 minutes

Severe leg pain after tibial fracture

Recognize acute compartment syndrome and escalate without delay.