Perfect!, 10 May 2008
I used this book for finals.It's a fantastic introduction to surgery (as it assumes very little knowledge), and a great revision guide for finals (since it's orientated to exams right from the start) there's also a strong focus on what you need to know (including those rarities that are commonly asked about) and how to present information in a clinical exam. And yes there is sometimes a little waffle, since it takes a wordy "actually being talked through things by a friendly surgeon" approach, but this makes it more accessible in my opinion.

I used this in conjunction with Master Medicine: surgery 1 & 2 although this book does stand on it's own, I preferred to use a few books together to round off my understanding.

I'd also like to point out that even though it lacks as many pictures as other surgical books it makes up for it by far in text explanation.




A must have!, 14 Mar 2008
This book is one of those must have books for your collection. Perfect for students starting out on surgical attachments. The first few chapters are SO helpful. They provide you with a means of answering almost any medical question that can be thrown at you on wards and in exams.

Yes there are typos, but they are obvious. I am revising for finals just now and I am using this book and Rapid Surgery by Obi for surgical revision. Both great books.

Surgical talk has wider uses in that the infor in the early chapters will hold you in good stead for medical attachments as well. Cannot recommend this book highly enough. The authors have done a great job.

Excellent - but all those typing errors!, 08 Jan 2008
This is a great book, very readable and full of good content. If only the publishers had bothered to proof read it - just so many typos (at one point they even write former instead of latter!).

Having said this, the book is excellent and I'd still give it 5 stars.

Brilliant Book, 23 Dec 2007
You might find it difficult to believe that this book is so good but having used it extensively, along with "Browse's Introduction to the Symptoms and Signs of Surgical Diseases", on surgical attachments it has been instrumental in achieving exam success.

Its a great book to learn from as it is designed specifically for both written and clinical Finals, containing almost everything you need to know and presents it in such a concise format that it can be re-revised rapidly with exams looming (over 2 days). It doesnt matter that there are few diagrams as almost every word in the text is important. This book will arm you with the answers for any surgical question you come across.

I would recommend this whole-heartedly as a revision book and its emphasis on practical aspects will stand anyone in good stead for work.

Awesome!!!, 10 Dec 2007
I'm glad I believed the hype on amazon and bought this book. It ushered in a sea change in my confidence on ward rounds...suddenly I was the guy with the answers!

Worth your last penny.

PS Downside? a few typos but, hey! surgeons are always in a rush.

Perfect!, 10 May 2008
I used this book for finals.It's a fantastic introduction to surgery (as it assumes very little knowledge), and a great revision guide for finals (since it's orientated to exams right from the start) there's also a strong focus on what you need to know (including those rarities that are commonly asked about) and how to present information in a clinical exam. And yes there is sometimes a little waffle, since it takes a wordy "actually being talked through things by a friendly surgeon" approach, but this makes it more accessible in my opinion.

I used this in conjunction with Master Medicine: surgery 1 & 2 although this book does stand on it's own, I preferred to use a few books together to round off my understanding.

I'd also like to point out that even though it lacks as many pictures as other surgical books it makes up for it by far in text explanation.




A must have!, 14 Mar 2008
This book is one of those must have books for your collection. Perfect for students starting out on surgical attachments. The first few chapters are SO helpful. They provide you with a means of answering almost any medical question that can be thrown at you on wards and in exams.

Yes there are typos, but they are obvious. I am revising for finals just now and I am using this book and Rapid Surgery by Obi for surgical revision. Both great books.

Surgical talk has wider uses in that the infor in the early chapters will hold you in good stead for medical attachments as well. Cannot recommend this book highly enough. The authors have done a great job.

Excellent - but all those typing errors!, 08 Jan 2008
This is a great book, very readable and full of good content. If only the publishers had bothered to proof read it - just so many typos (at one point they even write former instead of latter!).

Having said this, the book is excellent and I'd still give it 5 stars.

Brilliant Book, 23 Dec 2007
You might find it difficult to believe that this book is so good but having used it extensively, along with "Browse's Introduction to the Symptoms and Signs of Surgical Diseases", on surgical attachments it has been instrumental in achieving exam success.

Its a great book to learn from as it is designed specifically for both written and clinical Finals, containing almost everything you need to know and presents it in such a concise format that it can be re-revised rapidly with exams looming (over 2 days). It doesnt matter that there are few diagrams as almost every word in the text is important. This book will arm you with the answers for any surgical question you come across.

I would recommend this whole-heartedly as a revision book and its emphasis on practical aspects will stand anyone in good stead for work.

Awesome!!!, 10 Dec 2007
I'm glad I believed the hype on amazon and bought this book. It ushered in a sea change in my confidence on ward rounds...suddenly I was the guy with the answers!

Worth your last penny.

PS Downside? a few typos but, hey! surgeons are always in a rush.

Minor flaws, but truly excellent., 19 Mar 2008
I've just passed the Intercollegiate MRCS first time (all 3 parts). I attribute part of that success to this book. I agree with the other reviews that there are some flaws and these are as follows:

1. As in the other reviews, I was a little annoyed at the lack of some page reference numbers not being filled in properly, but in all honesty, this was not that important as it's easy to know what topic elsewhere in the book the reference is to.

2. I also noticed a few minor errors in the subject matter, but these were also fairly inconsequential and fairly obvious (e.g. there is one instance when the text says 'left hypochondrium', when they clearly mean 'right'. But everyone knows that's where the liver is. If you don't, I agree that you will find the exam difficult and this book will not help you.

3. An example paragraph to describe each pathology is accompanied by an illustrative picture which does not go exactly with the description, for example, the text will describe a left facial lesion but the picture will be of a right facial lesion, but both are meant to be just an example

4. The book is fairly pricey

However, I do feel that this book is indispensible for revision for MRCS as:

1. There are quick reference cards in the back of it that detail every examination you could be asked to do in the exam. These were EXTREMELY useful and portable for spare times between clinics and examining friends etc.

2. The pictures of pathology are very, very helpful. I saw very similar things in the actual exam and would have been a bit confused had I not seen them here. For example, there is a very good station on the appearance and indications for the various stomas etc.

Saved countless hours attending clinics with the different specialties! (which I found difficult, time consuming and quite ineffectual)

3. This book is very readable. I got through it 3 times before the exam. Justified the price somewhat!

4. Divided up into sections like the exam stations. The author has surveyed candidates coming out of the MRCS clinicals and have statistically analysed the top cases (top 5 cases in each station and those which are 'very common' and 'common') so you know what you are likely to get prior to the exam.

I don't think I'd have passed without it.

all you need, 14 Jul 2007
This book contained all the information I needed to pass the exam. Sure, there are a few typos but they aren't really that big a deal. The pictures are great and in my opinion, the footnotes are actually a good thing because they help reduce the amount of text in the main passages whilst being interesting in their own right.

I would recommend this book over the others by far.

Expensive, 05 Feb 2006
Have successfully sat MRCS clinical exam but did not rely on this book very much. It has a disorganised layout, an over-relyance on footnotes and pictures that can be found in other books.

The collection of pictures is one of the books saving graces, but other than that there is not really much to commend. Would advise looking elsewhere.

Hasn't been updated for Intercollegiate MRCS., 01 Dec 2005
Maybe this book was relevant to the old MRCS, but it hasn't been updated for the new Intercollegiate exam, and contains a lot of misleading advice. There are far too many typos, and a lot of references to "see page XX", which suggest that it wasn't proof-read properly. The hundreds and hundreds of footnotes get very wearing.

A cautious recommendation, but don't rely on this book!

Prepare yourself for the Clinical, 21 Sep 2004
Things are a changing, what with intercollegiate exams and reduction in working hours and whatnot. But what is certain is that you can't change the past and Cathy Parchment-Smith has done a great job of reviewing and analysing candidates and subjects in the clinical part of the (then) MRCS England exam.
A breakdown of topics, provided presumably from exiting candidates, lets you know exactly how often "examination of inguinal hernia" came up. Summary cards for each examination are exhaustive and provided in a handy cut-out format.
Basically this text lets you know what to learn, how to remember it all and dispells fears of being asked to spot minutiae in each examination bay. Let the statistics convince you..
Much recommended.

Perfect!, 10 May 2008
I used this book for finals.It's a fantastic introduction to surgery (as it assumes very little knowledge), and a great revision guide for finals (since it's orientated to exams right from the start) there's also a strong focus on what you need to know (including those rarities that are commonly asked about) and how to present information in a clinical exam. And yes there is sometimes a little waffle, since it takes a wordy "actually being talked through things by a friendly surgeon" approach, but this makes it more accessible in my opinion.

I used this in conjunction with Master Medicine: surgery 1 & 2 although this book does stand on it's own, I preferred to use a few books together to round off my understanding.

I'd also like to point out that even though it lacks as many pictures as other surgical books it makes up for it by far in text explanation.




A must have!, 14 Mar 2008
This book is one of those must have books for your collection. Perfect for students starting out on surgical attachments. The first few chapters are SO helpful. They provide you with a means of answering almost any medical question that can be thrown at you on wards and in exams.

Yes there are typos, but they are obvious. I am revising for finals just now and I am using this book and Rapid Surgery by Obi for surgical revision. Both great books.

Surgical talk has wider uses in that the infor in the early chapters will hold you in good stead for medical attachments as well. Cannot recommend this book highly enough. The authors have done a great job.

Excellent - but all those typing errors!, 08 Jan 2008
This is a great book, very readable and full of good content. If only the publishers had bothered to proof read it - just so many typos (at one point they even write former instead of latter!).

Having said this, the book is excellent and I'd still give it 5 stars.

Brilliant Book, 23 Dec 2007
You might find it difficult to believe that this book is so good but having used it extensively, along with "Browse's Introduction to the Symptoms and Signs of Surgical Diseases", on surgical attachments it has been instrumental in achieving exam success.

Its a great book to learn from as it is designed specifically for both written and clinical Finals, containing almost everything you need to know and presents it in such a concise format that it can be re-revised rapidly with exams looming (over 2 days). It doesnt matter that there are few diagrams as almost every word in the text is important. This book will arm you with the answers for any surgical question you come across.

I would recommend this whole-heartedly as a revision book and its emphasis on practical aspects will stand anyone in good stead for work.

Awesome!!!, 10 Dec 2007
I'm glad I believed the hype on amazon and bought this book. It ushered in a sea change in my confidence on ward rounds...suddenly I was the guy with the answers!

Worth your last penny.

PS Downside? a few typos but, hey! surgeons are always in a rush.

Minor flaws, but truly excellent., 19 Mar 2008
I've just passed the Intercollegiate MRCS first time (all 3 parts). I attribute part of that success to this book. I agree with the other reviews that there are some flaws and these are as follows:

1. As in the other reviews, I was a little annoyed at the lack of some page reference numbers not being filled in properly, but in all honesty, this was not that important as it's easy to know what topic elsewhere in the book the reference is to.

2. I also noticed a few minor errors in the subject matter, but these were also fairly inconsequential and fairly obvious (e.g. there is one instance when the text says 'left hypochondrium', when they clearly mean 'right'. But everyone knows that's where the liver is. If you don't, I agree that you will find the exam difficult and this book will not help you.

3. An example paragraph to describe each pathology is accompanied by an illustrative picture which does not go exactly with the description, for example, the text will describe a left facial lesion but the picture will be of a right facial lesion, but both are meant to be just an example

4. The book is fairly pricey

However, I do feel that this book is indispensible for revision for MRCS as:

1. There are quick reference cards in the back of it that detail every examination you could be asked to do in the exam. These were EXTREMELY useful and portable for spare times between clinics and examining friends etc.

2. The pictures of pathology are very, very helpful. I saw very similar things in the actual exam and would have been a bit confused had I not seen them here. For example, there is a very good station on the appearance and indications for the various stomas etc.

Saved countless hours attending clinics with the different specialties! (which I found difficult, time consuming and quite ineffectual)

3. This book is very readable. I got through it 3 times before the exam. Justified the price somewhat!

4. Divided up into sections like the exam stations. The author has surveyed candidates coming out of the MRCS clinicals and have statistically analysed the top cases (top 5 cases in each station and those which are 'very common' and 'common') so you know what you are likely to get prior to the exam.

I don't think I'd have passed without it.

all you need, 14 Jul 2007
This book contained all the information I needed to pass the exam. Sure, there are a few typos but they aren't really that big a deal. The pictures are great and in my opinion, the footnotes are actually a good thing because they help reduce the amount of text in the main passages whilst being interesting in their own right.

I would recommend this book over the others by far.

Expensive, 05 Feb 2006
Have successfully sat MRCS clinical exam but did not rely on this book very much. It has a disorganised layout, an over-relyance on footnotes and pictures that can be found in other books.

The collection of pictures is one of the books saving graces, but other than that there is not really much to commend. Would advise looking elsewhere.

Hasn't been updated for Intercollegiate MRCS., 01 Dec 2005
Maybe this book was relevant to the old MRCS, but it hasn't been updated for the new Intercollegiate exam, and contains a lot of misleading advice. There are far too many typos, and a lot of references to "see page XX", which suggest that it wasn't proof-read properly. The hundreds and hundreds of footnotes get very wearing.

A cautious recommendation, but don't rely on this book!

Prepare yourself for the Clinical, 21 Sep 2004
Things are a changing, what with intercollegiate exams and reduction in working hours and whatnot. But what is certain is that you can't change the past and Cathy Parchment-Smith has done a great job of reviewing and analysing candidates and subjects in the clinical part of the (then) MRCS England exam.
A breakdown of topics, provided presumably from exiting candidates, lets you know exactly how often "examination of inguinal hernia" came up. Summary cards for each examination are exhaustive and provided in a handy cut-out format.
Basically this text lets you know what to learn, how to remember it all and dispells fears of being asked to spot minutiae in each examination bay. Let the statistics convince you..
Much recommended.

recommended, 14 Jul 2007
Yes, this is definitely required to pass the pathology part of the MRCS viva. But like the Kanani physiology/critical care books, there is a fair amount of information which is a little small print and irrelevant. It is exactly these little bits of information that stresses you out during revision. Highy recommended overall though.

Easy to read. What examiners want, in the way they want it., 31 May 2007
This question and answer book greatly helps to rapidly assimilate surgeon-specific knowledge on an otherwise vast and tedius subject in a way which encourages clear classification of your answers, in the format the MRCS examiners love.
Although I would never describe any book on pathology as riveting, I was surprised at how easy this book was to read and how few cups of tea I needed to consume to stay awake reading it. The only problem with this book (and all books that follow this format) is the lack of an index - a major oversight - now I'll never be able to find which trematode infects watercress! Definately my favourite MRCS preparation book - a must buy.

Perfect!, 10 May 2008
I used this book for finals.It's a fantastic introduction to surgery (as it assumes very little knowledge), and a great revision guide for finals (since it's orientated to exams right from the start) there's also a strong focus on what you need to know (including those rarities that are commonly asked about) and how to present information in a clinical exam. And yes there is sometimes a little waffle, since it takes a wordy "actually being talked through things by a friendly surgeon" approach, but this makes it more accessible in my opinion.

I used this in conjunction with Master Medicine: surgery 1 & 2 although this book does stand on it's own, I preferred to use a few books together to round off my understanding.

I'd also like to point out that even though it lacks as many pictures as other surgical books it makes up for it by far in text explanation.




A must have!, 14 Mar 2008
This book is one of those must have books for your collection. Perfect for students starting out on surgical attachments. The first few chapters are SO helpful. They provide you with a means of answering almost any medical question that can be thrown at you on wards and in exams.

Yes there are typos, but they are obvious. I am revising for finals just now and I am using this book and Rapid Surgery by Obi for surgical revision. Both great books.

Surgical talk has wider uses in that the infor in the early chapters will hold you in good stead for medical attachments as well. Cannot recommend this book highly enough. The authors have done a great job.

Excellent - but all those typing errors!, 08 Jan 2008
This is a great book, very readable and full of good content. If only the publishers had bothered to proof read it - just so many typos (at one point they even write former instead of latter!).

Having said this, the book is excellent and I'd still give it 5 stars.

Brilliant Book, 23 Dec 2007
You might find it difficult to believe that this book is so good but having used it extensively, along with "Browse's Introduction to the Symptoms and Signs of Surgical Diseases", on surgical attachments it has been instrumental in achieving exam success.

Its a great book to learn from as it is designed specifically for both written and clinical Finals, containing almost everything you need to know and presents it in such a concise format that it can be re-revised rapidly with exams looming (over 2 days). It doesnt matter that there are few diagrams as almost every word in the text is important. This book will arm you with the answers for any surgical question you come across.

I would recommend this whole-heartedly as a revision book and its emphasis on practical aspects will stand anyone in good stead for work.

Awesome!!!, 10 Dec 2007
I'm glad I believed the hype on amazon and bought this book. It ushered in a sea change in my confidence on ward rounds...suddenly I was the guy with the answers!

Worth your last penny.

PS Downside? a few typos but, hey! surgeons are always in a rush.

Minor flaws, but truly excellent., 19 Mar 2008
I've just passed the Intercollegiate MRCS first time (all 3 parts). I attribute part of that success to this book. I agree with the other reviews that there are some flaws and these are as follows:

1. As in the other reviews, I was a little annoyed at the lack of some page reference numbers not being filled in properly, but in all honesty, this was not that important as it's easy to know what topic elsewhere in the book the reference is to.

2. I also noticed a few minor errors in the subject matter, but these were also fairly inconsequential and fairly obvious (e.g. there is one instance when the text says 'left hypochondrium', when they clearly mean 'right'. But everyone knows that's where the liver is. If you don't, I agree that you will find the exam difficult and this book will not help you.

3. An example paragraph to describe each pathology is accompanied by an illustrative picture which does not go exactly with the description, for example, the text will describe a left facial lesion but the picture will be of a right facial lesion, but both are meant to be just an example

4. The book is fairly pricey

However, I do feel that this book is indispensible for revision for MRCS as:

1. There are quick reference cards in the back of it that detail every examination you could be asked to do in the exam. These were EXTREMELY useful and portable for spare times between clinics and examining friends etc.

2. The pictures of pathology are very, very helpful. I saw very similar things in the actual exam and would have been a bit confused had I not seen them here. For example, there is a very good station on the appearance and indications for the various stomas etc.

Saved countless hours attending clinics with the different specialties! (which I found difficult, time consuming and quite ineffectual)

3. This book is very readable. I got through it 3 times before the exam. Justified the price somewhat!

4. Divided up into sections like the exam stations. The author has surveyed candidates coming out of the MRCS clinicals and have statistically analysed the top cases (top 5 cases in each station and those which are 'very common' and 'common') so you know what you are likely to get prior to the exam.

I don't think I'd have passed without it.

all you need, 14 Jul 2007
This book contained all the information I needed to pass the exam. Sure, there are a few typos but they aren't really that big a deal. The pictures are great and in my opinion, the footnotes are actually a good thing because they help reduce the amount of text in the main passages whilst being interesting in their own right.

I would recommend this book over the others by far.

Expensive, 05 Feb 2006
Have successfully sat MRCS clinical exam but did not rely on this book very much. It has a disorganised layout, an over-relyance on footnotes and pictures that can be found in other books.

The collection of pictures is one of the books saving graces, but other than that there is not really much to commend. Would advise looking elsewhere.

Hasn't been updated for Intercollegiate MRCS., 01 Dec 2005
Maybe this book was relevant to the old MRCS, but it hasn't been updated for the new Intercollegiate exam, and contains a lot of misleading advice. There are far too many typos, and a lot of references to "see page XX", which suggest that it wasn't proof-read properly. The hundreds and hundreds of footnotes get very wearing.

A cautious recommendation, but don't rely on this book!

Prepare yourself for the Clinical, 21 Sep 2004
Things are a changing, what with intercollegiate exams and reduction in working hours and whatnot. But what is certain is that you can't change the past and Cathy Parchment-Smith has done a great job of reviewing and analysing candidates and subjects in the clinical part of the (then) MRCS England exam.
A breakdown of topics, provided presumably from exiting candidates, lets you know exactly how often "examination of inguinal hernia" came up. Summary cards for each examination are exhaustive and provided in a handy cut-out format.
Basically this text lets you know what to learn, how to remember it all and dispells fears of being asked to spot minutiae in each examination bay. Let the statistics convince you..
Much recommended.

recommended, 14 Jul 2007
Yes, this is definitely required to pass the pathology part of the MRCS viva. But like the Kanani physiology/critical care books, there is a fair amount of information which is a little small print and irrelevant. It is exactly these little bits of information that stresses you out during revision. Highy recommended overall though.

Easy to read. What examiners want, in the way they want it., 31 May 2007
This question and answer book greatly helps to rapidly assimilate surgeon-specific knowledge on an otherwise vast and tedius subject in a way which encourages clear classification of your answers, in the format the MRCS examiners love.
Although I would never describe any book on pathology as riveting, I was surprised at how easy this book was to read and how few cups of tea I needed to consume to stay awake reading it. The only problem with this book (and all books that follow this format) is the lack of an index - a major oversight - now I'll never be able to find which trematode infects watercress! Definately my favourite MRCS preparation book - a must buy.

An excellent book for those who plan to take up mrcs part 1, 25 Jan 2006
This book offers an excellent guide and revision for the new intercollegiete mrcs part one. It is very comprehensive and covers almost all aspects of the basic sciences. If you want to read a single book to pass the mrcs part one this is it. It will also help you to get throught your mrcs part 3 anatomy and physiology vivas.I would highly recommend this book, especially it is ideal to start with.

Pretty good book but only that, 13 Sep 2005
I think some of this book is excellent. However, some sections are awful, like the orthopaedic section. As a previous reviewer has said, this particular section is almost a very long winded way of saying "ensure you know your anatomy well" without actually giving the core facts - well worth £50 or so to be told that! Some of the immunology section is overboard in my view as a trainee surgeon. Sadly that is why I have only given it three stars. I hope the next edition will be improved as I am sure it would absolutely fantastic.

Don't bother with this, 29 May 2005
Just passed the viva and used this book (amongst others). All I can say is don't bother. It is a valiant attempt at including all the science you need for the MRCS but it fails. It covers nothing in sufficient detail and most of the time you find yourself referring to standard texts (like Guyton for physiology, Last's for anatomy) - for example, most of the section on orthopaedics is little more than a recommendation to know musculoskeletal anatomy well, without actually covering the anatomy - well thanks!

ALL YOU NEED, 28 Feb 2004
in my experience, and after attending the MRCS Viva course, I believe this is all that one needs to pass the MRCS vivas, it has simply got everything, you dont need more details than that.. it may not go smoothly all the way through, but hey.. can't complain, thanks prof. for a lovely all-in-one book

Vital for making membership exams approachable, 14 Nov 2000
What a brilliant book! I am in the second year of my basic surgical training and this is THE best book I have ever used. I have read many MRCS books but this is the only one that integrates basic sciences with clinical practice in a well-written, relevant and sensible manner, saving the need to be constantly flipping between piles of textbooks to try and piece together all those facts and figures. The text also highlights the most commonly made mistakes,giving you extra preparation for the exams and providing the material in a format specially devised for the MRCS.

As if that were not sufficient, the presentation and quality of writing and diagrams make studying much more of a pleasure and not a chore (and I never thought I would say that!).If you are only going to buy one book for the MRCS, this has to be the one. It is the ultimate in core MRCS texts!

Perfect!, 10 May 2008
I used this book for finals.It's a fantastic introduction to surgery (as it assumes very little knowledge), and a great revision guide for finals (since it's orientated to exams right from the start) there's also a strong focus on what you need to know (including those rarities that are commonly asked about) and how to present information in a clinical exam. And yes there is sometimes a little waffle, since it takes a wordy "actually being talked through things by a friendly surgeon" approach, but this makes it more accessible in my opinion.

I used this in conjunction with Master Medicine: surgery 1 & 2 although this book does stand on it's own, I preferred to use a few books together to round off my understanding.

I'd also like to point out that even though it lacks as many pictures as other surgical books it makes up for it by far in text explanation.




A must have!, 14 Mar 2008
This book is one of those must have books for your collection. Perfect for students starting out on surgical attachments. The first few chapters are SO helpful. They provide you with a means of answering almost any medical question that can be thrown at you on wards and in exams.

Yes there are typos, but they are obvious. I am revising for finals just now and I am using this book and Rapid Surgery by Obi for surgical revision. Both great books.

Surgical talk has wider uses in that the infor in the early chapters will hold you in good stead for medical attachments as well. Cannot recommend this book highly enough. The authors have done a great job.

Excellent - but all those typing errors!, 08 Jan 2008
This is a great book, very readable and full of good content. If only the publishers had bothered to proof read it - just so many typos (at one point they even write former instead of latter!).

Having said this, the book is excellent and I'd still give it 5 stars.

Brilliant Book, 23 Dec 2007
You might find it difficult to believe that this book is so good but having used it extensively, along with "Browse's Introduction to the Symptoms and Signs of Surgical Diseases", on surgical attachments it has been instrumental in achieving exam success.

Its a great book to learn from as it is designed specifically for both written and clinical Finals, containing almost everything you need to know and presents it in such a concise format that it can be re-revised rapidly with exams looming (over 2 days). It doesnt matter that there are few diagrams as almost every word in the text is important. This book will arm you with the answers for any surgical question you come across.

I would recommend this whole-heartedly as a revision book and its emphasis on practical aspects will stand anyone in good stead for work.

Awesome!!!, 10 Dec 2007
I'm glad I believed the hype on amazon and bought this book. It ushered in a sea change in my confidence on ward rounds...suddenly I was the guy with the answers!

Worth your last penny.

PS Downside? a few typos but, hey! surgeons are always in a rush.

Minor flaws, but truly excellent., 19 Mar 2008
I've just passed the Intercollegiate MRCS first time (all 3 parts). I attribute part of that success to this book. I agree with the other reviews that there are some flaws and these are as follows:

1. As in the other reviews, I was a little annoyed at the lack of some page reference numbers not being filled in properly, but in all honesty, this was not that important as it's easy to know what topic elsewhere in the book the reference is to.

2. I also noticed a few minor errors in the subject matter, but these were also fairly inconsequential and fairly obvious (e.g. there is one instance when the text says 'left hypochondrium', when they clearly mean 'right'. But everyone knows that's where the liver is. If you don't, I agree that you will find the exam difficult and this book will not help you.

3. An example paragraph to describe each pathology is accompanied by an illustrative picture which does not go exactly with the description, for example, the text will describe a left facial lesion but the picture will be of a right facial lesion, but both are meant to be just an example

4. The book is fairly pricey

However, I do feel that this book is indispensible for revision for MRCS as:

1. There are quick reference cards in the back of it that detail every examination you could be asked to do in the exam. These were EXTREMELY useful and portable for spare times between clinics and examining friends etc.

2. The pictures of pathology are very, very helpful. I saw very similar things in the actual exam and would have been a bit confused had I not seen them here. For example, there is a very good station on the appearance and indications for the various stomas etc.

Saved countless hours attending clinics with the different specialties! (which I found difficult, time consuming and quite ineffectual)

3. This book is very readable. I got through it 3 times before the exam. Justified the price somewhat!

4. Divided up into sections like the exam stations. The author has surveyed candidates coming out of the MRCS clinicals and have statistically analysed the top cases (top 5 cases in each station and those which are 'very common' and 'common') so you know what you are likely to get prior to the exam.

I don't think I'd have passed without it.

all you need, 14 Jul 2007
This book contained all the information I needed to pass the exam. Sure, there are a few typos but they aren't really that big a deal. The pictures are great and in my opinion, the footnotes are actually a good thing because they help reduce the amount of text in the main passages whilst being interesting in their own right.

I would recommend this book over the others by far.

Expensive, 05 Feb 2006
Have successfully sat MRCS clinical exam but did not rely on this book very much. It has a disorganised layout, an over-relyance on footnotes and pictures that can be found in other books.

The collection of pictures is one of the books saving graces, but other than that there is not really much to commend. Would advise looking elsewhere.

Hasn't been updated for Intercollegiate MRCS., 01 Dec 2005
Maybe this book was relevant to the old MRCS, but it hasn't been updated for the new Intercollegiate exam, and contains a lot of misleading advice. There are far too many typos, and a lot of references to "see page XX", which suggest that it wasn't proof-read properly. The hundreds and hundreds of footnotes get very wearing.

A cautious recommendation, but don't rely on this book!

Prepare yourself for the Clinical, 21 Sep 2004
Things are a changing, what with intercollegiate exams and reduction in working hours and whatnot. But what is certain is that you can't change the past and Cathy Parchment-Smith has done a great job of reviewing and analysing candidates and subjects in the clinical part of the (then) MRCS England exam.
A breakdown of topics, provided presumably from exiting candidates, lets you know exactly how often "examination of inguinal hernia" came up. Summary cards for each examination are exhaustive and provided in a handy cut-out format.
Basically this text lets you know what to learn, how to remember it all and dispells fears of being asked to spot minutiae in each examination bay. Let the statistics convince you..
Much recommended.

recommended, 14 Jul 2007
Yes, this is definitely required to pass the pathology part of the MRCS viva. But like the Kanani physiology/critical care books, there is a fair amount of information which is a little small print and irrelevant. It is exactly these little bits of information that stresses you out during revision. Highy recommended overall though.

Easy to read. What examiners want, in the way they want it., 31 May 2007
This question and answer book greatly helps to rapidly assimilate surgeon-specific knowledge on an otherwise vast and tedius subject in a way which encourages clear classification of your answers, in the format the MRCS examiners love.
Although I would never describe any book on pathology as riveting, I was surprised at how easy this book was to read and how few cups of tea I needed to consume to stay awake reading it. The only problem with this book (and all books that follow this format) is the lack of an index - a major oversight - now I'll never be able to find which trematode infects watercress! Definately my favourite MRCS preparation book - a must buy.

An excellent book for those who plan to take up mrcs part 1, 25 Jan 2006
This book offers an excellent guide and revision for the new intercollegiete mrcs part one. It is very comprehensive and covers almost all aspects of the basic sciences. If you want to read a single book to pass the mrcs part one this is it. It will also help you to get throught your mrcs part 3 anatomy and physiology vivas.I would highly recommend this book, especially it is ideal to start with.

Pretty good book but only that, 13 Sep 2005
I think some of this book is excellent. However, some sections are awful, like the orthopaedic section. As a previous reviewer has said, this particular section is almost a very long winded way of saying "ensure you know your anatomy well" without actually giving the core facts - well worth £50 or so to be told that! Some of the immunology section is overboard in my view as a trainee surgeon. Sadly that is why I have only given it three stars. I hope the next edition will be improved as I am sure it would absolutely fantastic.

Don't bother with this, 29 May 2005
Just passed the viva and used this book (amongst others). All I can say is don't bother. It is a valiant attempt at including all the science you need for the MRCS but it fails. It covers nothing in sufficient detail and most of the time you find yourself referring to standard texts (like Guyton for physiology, Last's for anatomy) - for example, most of the section on orthopaedics is little more than a recommendation to know musculoskeletal anatomy well, without actually covering the anatomy - well thanks!

ALL YOU NEED, 28 Feb 2004
in my experience, and after attending the MRCS Viva course, I believe this is all that one needs to pass the MRCS vivas, it has simply got everything, you dont need more details than that.. it may not go smoothly all the way through, but hey.. can't complain, thanks prof. for a lovely all-in-one book

Vital for making membership exams approachable, 14 Nov 2000
What a brilliant book! I am in the second year of my basic surgical training and this is THE best book I have ever used. I have read many MRCS books but this is the only one that integrates basic sciences with clinical practice in a well-written, relevant and sensible manner, saving the need to be constantly flipping between piles of textbooks to try and piece together all those facts and figures. The text also highlights the most commonly made mistakes,giving you extra preparation for the exams and providing the material in a format specially devised for the MRCS.

As if that were not sufficient, the presentation and quality of writing and diagrams make studying much more of a pleasure and not a chore (and I never thought I would say that!).If you are only going to buy one book for the MRCS, this has to be the one. It is the ultimate in core MRCS texts!

MCQ's for Applied Basic Science for Basic Surgical Training (MRCS Study Guides), 03 Sep 2006
This is an excellent book,my HO'S SHO'S read it before attempting the MRCS EXAM.Easy to read,conise.We recommend it to all young surgeons in trainig.

Perfect!, 10 May 2008
I used this book for finals.It's a fantastic introduction to surgery (as it assumes very little knowledge), and a great revision guide for finals (since it's orientated to exams right from the start) there's also a strong focus on what you need to know (including those rarities that are commonly asked about) and how to present information in a clinical exam. And yes there is sometimes a little waffle, since it takes a wordy "actually being talked through things by a friendly surgeon" approach, but this makes it more accessible in my opinion.

I used this in conjunction with Master Medicine: surgery 1 & 2 although this book does stand on it's own, I preferred to use a few books together to round off my understanding.

I'd also like to point out that even though it lacks as many pictures as other surgical books it makes up for it by far in text explanation.




A must have!, 14 Mar 2008
This book is one of those must have books for your collection. Perfect for students starting out on surgical attachments. The first few chapters are SO helpful. They provide you with a means of answering almost any medical question that can be thrown at you on wards and in exams.

Yes there are typos, but they are obvious. I am revising for finals just now and I am using this book and Rapid Surgery by Obi for surgical revision. Both great books.

Surgical talk has wider uses in that the infor in the early chapters will hold you in good stead for medical attachments as well. Cannot recommend this book highly enough. The authors have done a great job.

Excellent - but all those typing errors!, 08 Jan 2008
This is a great book, very readable and full of good content. If only the publishers had bothered to proof read it - just so many typos (at one point they even write former instead of latter!).

Having said this, the book is excellent and I'd still give it 5 stars.

Brilliant Book, 23 Dec 2007
You might find it difficult to believe that this book is so good but having used it extensively, along with "Browse's Introduction to the Symptoms and Signs of Surgical Diseases", on surgical attachments it has been instrumental in achieving exam success.

Its a great book to learn from as it is designed specifically for both written and clinical Finals, containing almost everything you need to know and presents it in such a concise format that it can be re-revised rapidly with exams looming (over 2 days). It doesnt matter that there are few diagrams as almost every word in the text is important. This book will arm you with the answers for any surgical question you come across.

I would recommend this whole-heartedly as a revision book and its emphasis on practical aspects will stand anyone in good stead for work.

Awesome!!!, 10 Dec 2007
I'm glad I believed the hype on amazon and bought this book. It ushered in a sea change in my confidence on ward rounds...suddenly I was the guy with the answers!

Worth your last penny.

PS Downside? a few typos but, hey! surgeons are always in a rush.

Minor flaws, but truly excellent., 19 Mar 2008
I've just passed the Intercollegiate MRCS first time (all 3 parts). I attribute part of that success to this book. I agree with the other reviews that there are some flaws and these are as follows:

1. As in the other reviews, I was a little annoyed at the lack of some page reference numbers not being filled in properly, but in all honesty, this was not that important as it's easy to know what topic elsewhere in the book the reference is to.

2. I also noticed a few minor errors in the subject matter, but these were also fairly inconsequential and fairly obvious (e.g. there is one instance when the text says 'left hypochondrium', when they clearly mean 'right'. But everyone knows that's where the liver is. If you don't, I agree that you will find the exam difficult and this book will not help you.

3. An example paragraph to describe each pathology is accompanied by an illustrative picture which does not go exactly with the description, for example, the text will describe a left facial lesion but the picture will be of a right facial lesion, but both are meant to be just an example

4. The book is fairly pricey

However, I do feel that this book is indispensible for revision for MRCS as:

1. There are quick reference cards in the back of it that detail every examination you could be asked to do in the exam. These were EXTREMELY useful and portable for spare times between clinics and examining friends etc.

2. The pictures of pathology are very, very helpful. I saw very similar things in the actual exam and would have been a bit confused had I not seen them here. For example, there is a very good station on the appearance and indications for the various stomas etc.

Saved countless hours attending clinics with the different specialties! (which I found difficult, time consuming and quite ineffectual)

3. This book is very readable. I got through it 3 times before the exam. Justified the price somewhat!

4. Divided up into sections like the exam stations. The author has surveyed candidates coming out of the MRCS clinicals and have statistically analysed the top cases (top 5 cases in each station and those which are 'very common' and 'common') so you know what you are likely to get prior to the exam.

I don't think I'd have passed without it.

all you need, 14 Jul 2007
This book contained all the information I needed to pass the exam. Sure, there are a few typos but they aren't really that big a deal. The pictures are great and in my opinion, the footnotes are actually a good thing because they help reduce the amount of text in the main passages whilst being interesting in their own right.

I would recommend this book over the others by far.

Expensive, 05 Feb 2006
Have successfully sat MRCS clinical exam but did not rely on this book very much. It has a disorganised layout, an over-relyance on footnotes and pictures that can be found in other books.

The collection of pictures is one of the books saving graces, but other than that there is not really much to commend. Would advise looking elsewhere.

Hasn't been updated for Intercollegiate MRCS., 01 Dec 2005
Maybe this book was relevant to the old MRCS, but it hasn't been updated for the new Intercollegiate exam, and contains a lot of misleading advice. There are far too many typos, and a lot of references to "see page XX", which suggest that it wasn't proof-read properly. The hundreds and hundreds of footnotes get very wearing.

A cautious recommendation, but don't rely on this book!

Prepare yourself for the Clinical, 21 Sep 2004
Things are a changing, what with intercollegiate exams and reduction in working hours and whatnot. But what is certain is that you can't change the past and Cathy Parchment-Smith has done a great job of reviewing and analysing candidates and subjects in the clinical part of the (then) MRCS England exam.
A breakdown of topics, provided presumably from exiting candidates, lets you know exactly how often "examination of inguinal hernia" came up. Summary cards for each examination are exhaustive and provided in a handy cut-out format.
Basically this text lets you know what to learn, how to remember it all and dispells fears of being asked to spot minutiae in each examination bay. Let the statistics convince you..
Much recommended.

recommended, 14 Jul 2007
Yes, this is definitely required to pass the pathology part of the MRCS viva. But like the Kanani physiology/critical care books, there is a fair amount of information which is a little small print and irrelevant. It is exactly these little bits of information that stresses you out during revision. Highy recommended overall though.

Easy to read. What examiners want, in the way they want it., 31 May 2007
This question and answer book greatly helps to rapidly assimilate surgeon-specific knowledge on an otherwise vast and tedius subject in a way which encourages clear classification of your answers, in the format the MRCS examiners love.
Although I would never describe any book on pathology as riveting, I was surprised at how easy this book was to read and how few cups of tea I needed to consume to stay awake reading it. The only problem with this book (and all books that follow this format) is the lack of an index - a major oversight - now I'll never be able to find which trematode infects watercress! Definately my favourite MRCS preparation book - a must buy.

An excellent book for those who plan to take up mrcs part 1, 25 Jan 2006
This book offers an excellent guide and revision for the new intercollegiete mrcs part one. It is very comprehensive and covers almost all aspects of the basic sciences. If you want to read a single book to pass the mrcs part one this is it. It will also help you to get throught your mrcs part 3 anatomy and physiology vivas.I would highly recommend this book, especially it is ideal to start with.

Pretty good book but only that, 13 Sep 2005
I think some of this book is excellent. However, some sections are awful, like the orthopaedic section. As a previous reviewer has said, this particular section is almost a very long winded way of saying "ensure you know your anatomy well" without actually giving the core facts - well worth £50 or so to be told that! Some of the immunology section is overboard in my view as a trainee surgeon. Sadly that is why I have only given it three stars. I hope the next edition will be improved as I am sure it would absolutely fantastic.

Don't bother with this, 29 May 2005
Just passed the viva and used this book (amongst others). All I can say is don't bother. It is a valiant attempt at including all the science you need for the MRCS but it fails. It covers nothing in sufficient detail and most of the time you find yourself referring to standard texts (like Guyton for physiology, Last's for anatomy) - for example, most of the section on orthopaedics is little more than a recommendation to know musculoskeletal anatomy well, without actually covering the anatomy - well thanks!

ALL YOU NEED, 28 Feb 2004
in my experience, and after attending the MRCS Viva course, I believe this is all that one needs to pass the MRCS vivas, it has simply got everything, you dont need more details than that.. it may not go smoothly all the way through, but hey.. can't complain, thanks prof. for a lovely all-in-one book

Vital for making membership exams approachable, 14 Nov 2000
What a brilliant book! I am in the second year of my basic surgical training and this is THE best book I have ever used. I have read many MRCS books but this is the only one that integrates basic sciences with clinical practice in a well-written, relevant and sensible manner, saving the need to be constantly flipping between piles of textbooks to try and piece together all those facts and figures. The text also highlights the most commonly made mistakes,giving you extra preparation for the exams and providing the material in a format specially devised for the MRCS.

As if that were not sufficient, the presentation and quality of writing and diagrams make studying much more of a pleasure and not a chore (and I never thought I would say that!).If you are only going to buy one book for the MRCS, this has to be the one. It is the ultimate in core MRCS texts!

MCQ's for Applied Basic Science for Basic Surgical Training (MRCS Study Guides), 03 Sep 2006
This is an excellent book,my HO'S SHO'S read it before attempting the MRCS EXAM.Easy to read,conise.We recommend it to all young surgeons in trainig.

Basic Surgical Operations, 18 Mar 2003
This book is an ideal companion for the general surgery SHO & for the MRCS Viva. It summarises common general surgical, vascular & urology procedures which one would be expected see in the day to day life of an SHO.It also provides a straightfoward format to discuss operations in the viva component of the exam.

Perfect for the pre MRCS SHO

Perfect!, 10 May 2008
I used this book for finals.It's a fantastic introduction to surgery (as it assumes very little knowledge), and a great revision guide for finals (since it's orientated to exams right from the start) there's also a strong focus on what you need to know (including those rarities that are commonly asked about) and how to present information in a clinical exam. And yes there is sometimes a little waffle, since it takes a wordy "actually being talked through things by a friendly surgeon" approach, but this makes it more accessible in my opinion.

I used this in conjunction with Master Medicine: surgery 1 & 2 although this book does stand on it's own, I preferred to use a few books together to round off my understanding.

I'd also like to point out that even though it lacks as many pictures as other surgical books it makes up for it by far in text explanation.




A must have!, 14 Mar 2008
This book is one of those must have books for your collection. Perfect for students starting out on surgical attachments. The first few chapters are SO helpful. They provide you with a means of answering almost any medical question that can be thrown at you on wards and in exams.

Yes there are typos, but they are obvious. I am revising for finals just now and I am using this book and Rapid Surgery by Obi for surgical revision. Both great books.

Surgical talk has wider uses in that the infor in the early chapters will hold you in good stead for medical attachments as well. Cannot recommend this book highly enough. The authors have done a great job.

Excellent - but all those typing errors!, 08 Jan 2008
This is a great book, very readable and full of good content. If only the publishers had bothered to proof read it - just so many typos (at one point they even write former instead of latter!).

Having said this, the book is excellent and I'd still give it 5 stars.

Brilliant Book, 23 Dec 2007
You might find it difficult to believe that this book is so good but having used it extensively, along with "Browse's Introduction to the Symptoms and Signs of Surgical Diseases", on surgical attachments it has been instrumental in achieving exam success.

Its a great book to learn from as it is designed specifically for both written and clinical Finals, containing almost everything you need to know and presents it in such a concise format that it can be re-revised rapidly with exams looming (over 2 days). It doesnt matter that there are few diagrams as almost every word in the text is important. This book will arm you with the answers for any surgical question you come across.

I would recommend this whole-heartedly as a revision book and its emphasis on practical aspects will stand anyone in good stead for work.

Awesome!!!, 10 Dec 2007
I'm glad I believed the hype on amazon and bought this book. It ushered in a sea change in my confidence on ward rounds...suddenly I was the guy with the answers!

Worth your last penny.

PS Downside? a few typos but, hey! surgeons are always in a rush.

Minor flaws, but truly excellent., 19 Mar 2008
I've just passed the Intercollegiate MRCS first time (all 3 parts). I attribute part of that success to this book. I agree with the other reviews that there are some flaws and these are as follows:

1. As in the other reviews, I was a little annoyed at the lack of some page reference numbers not being filled in properly, but in all honesty, this was not that important as it's easy to know what topic elsewhere in the book the reference is to.

2. I also noticed a few minor errors in the subject matter, but these were also fairly inconsequential and fairly obvious (e.g. there is one instance when the text says 'left hypochondrium', when they clearly mean 'right'. But everyone knows that's where the liver is. If you don't, I agree that you will find the exam difficult and this book will not help you.

3. An example paragraph to describe each pathology is accompanied by an illustrative picture which does not go exactly with the description, for example, the text will describe a left facial lesion but the picture will be of a right facial lesion, but both are meant to be just an example

4. The book is fairly pricey

However, I do feel that this book is indispensible for revision for MRCS as:

1. There are quick reference cards in the back of it that detail every examination you could be asked to do in the exam. These were EXTREMELY useful and portable for spare times between clinics and examining friends etc.

2. The pictures of pathology are very, very helpful. I saw very similar things in the actual exam and would have been a bit confused had I not seen them here. For example, there is a very good station on the appearance and indications for the various stomas etc.

Saved countless hours attending clinics with the different specialties! (which I found difficult, time consuming and quite ineffectual)

3. This book is very readable. I got through it 3 times before the exam. Justified the price somewhat!

4. Divided up into sections like the exam stations. The author has surveyed candidates coming out of the MRCS clinicals and have statistically analysed the top cases (top 5 cases in each station and those which are 'very common' and 'common') so you know what you are likely to get prior to the exam.

I don't think I'd have passed without it.

all you need, 14 Jul 2007
This book contained all the information I needed to pass the exam. Sure, there are a few typos but they aren't really that big a deal. The pictures are great and in my opinion, the footnotes are actually a good thing because they help reduce the amount of text in the main passages whilst being interesting in their own right.

I would recommend this book over the others by far.

Expensive, 05 Feb 2006
Have successfully sat MRCS clinical exam but did not rely on this book very much. It has a disorganised layout, an over-relyance on footnotes and pictures that can be found in other books.

The collection of pictures is one of the books saving graces, but other than that there is not really much to commend. Would advise looking elsewhere.

Hasn't been updated for Intercollegiate MRCS., 01 Dec 2005
Maybe this book was relevant to the old MRCS, but it hasn't been updated for the new Intercollegiate exam, and contains a lot of misleading advice. There are far too many typos, and a lot of references to "see page XX", which suggest that it wasn't proof-read properly. The hundreds and hundreds of footnotes get very wearing.

A cautious recommendation, but don't rely on this book!

Prepare yourself for the Clinical, 21 Sep 2004
Things are a changing, what with intercollegiate exams and reduction in working hours and whatnot. But what is certain is that you can't change the past and Cathy Parchment-Smith has done a great job of reviewing and analysing candidates and subjects in the clinical part of the (then) MRCS England exam.
A breakdown of topics, provided presumably from exiting candidates, lets you know exactly how often "examination of inguinal hernia" came up. Summary cards for each examination are exhaustive and provided in a handy cut-out format.
Basically this text lets you know what to learn, how to remember it all and dispells fears of being asked to spot minutiae in each examination bay. Let the statistics convince you..
Much recommended.

recommended, 14 Jul 2007
Yes, this is definitely required to pass the pathology part of the MRCS viva. But like the Kanani physiology/critical care books, there is a fair amount of information which is a little small print and irrelevant. It is exactly these little bits of information that stresses you out during revision. Highy recommended overall though.

Easy to read. What examiners want, in the way they want it., 31 May 2007
This question and answer book greatly helps to rapidly assimilate surgeon-specific knowledge on an otherwise vast and tedius subject in a way which encourages clear classification of your answers, in the format the MRCS examiners love.
Although I would never describe any book on pathology as riveting, I was surprised at how easy this book was to read and how few cups of tea I needed to consume to stay awake reading it. The only problem with this book (and all books that follow this format) is the lack of an index - a major oversight - now I'll never be able to find which trematode infects watercress! Definately my favourite MRCS preparation book - a must buy.

An excellent book for those who plan to take up mrcs part 1, 25 Jan 2006
This book offers an excellent guide and revision for the new intercollegiete mrcs part one. It is very comprehensive and covers almost all aspects of the basic sciences. If you want to read a single book to pass the mrcs part one this is it. It will also help you to get throught your mrcs part 3 anatomy and physiology vivas.I would highly recommend this book, especially it is ideal to start with.

Pretty good book but only that, 13 Sep 2005
I think some of this book is excellent. However, some sections are awful, like the orthopaedic section. As a previous reviewer has said, this particular section is almost a very long winded way of saying "ensure you know your anatomy well" without actually giving the core facts - well worth £50 or so to be told that! Some of the immunology section is overboard in my view as a trainee surgeon. Sadly that is why I have only given it three stars. I hope the next edition will be improved as I am sure it would absolutely fantastic.

Don't bother with this, 29 May 2005
Just passed the viva and used this book (amongst others). All I can say is don't bother. It is a valiant attempt at including all the science you need for the MRCS but it fails. It covers nothing in sufficient detail and most of the time you find yourself referring to standard texts (like Guyton for physiology, Last's for anatomy) - for example, most of the section on orthopaedics is little more than a recommendation to know musculoskeletal anatomy well, without actually covering the anatomy - well thanks!

ALL YOU NEED, 28 Feb 2004
in my experience, and after attending the MRCS Viva course, I believe this is all that one needs to pass the MRCS vivas, it has simply got everything, you dont need more details than that.. it may not go smoothly all the way through, but hey.. can't complain, thanks prof. for a lovely all-in-one book

Vital for making membership exams approachable, 14 Nov 2000
What a brilliant book! I am in the second year of my basic surgical training and this is THE best book I have ever used. I have read many MRCS books but this is the only one that integrates basic sciences with clinical practice in a well-written, relevant and sensible manner, saving the need to be constantly flipping between piles of textbooks to try and piece together all those facts and figures. The text also highlights the most commonly made mistakes,giving you extra preparation for the exams and providing the material in a format specially devised for the MRCS.

As if that were not sufficient, the presentation and quality of writing and diagrams make studying much more of a pleasure and not a chore (and I never thought I would say that!).If you are only going to buy one book for the MRCS, this has to be the one. It is the ultimate in core MRCS texts!

MCQ's for Applied Basic Science for Basic Surgical Training (MRCS Study Guides), 03 Sep 2006
This is an excellent book,my HO'S SHO'S read it before attempting the MRCS EXAM.Easy to read,conise.We recommend it to all young surgeons in trainig.

Basic Surgical Operations, 18 Mar 2003
This book is an ideal companion for the general surgery SHO & for the MRCS Viva. It summarises common general surgical, vascular & urology procedures which one would be expected see in the day to day life of an SHO.It also provides a straightfoward format to discuss operations in the viva component of the exam.

Perfect for the pre MRCS SHO

General Surgical Anatomy and Examination (Illustrated Colour Text S.), 21 Aug 2006
This an outstanding book for all surgeons in training,excellent anatomy is demonstrated and explained ,makes clinical diagnisis an easy task.The SHO'S and registrars in training posts found essential for passing their MRCS exams.I highly recommend it.