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Dr. Pestana's Surgery Notes: Pocket-Sized Review for the Surgical Clerkship and Shelf Exams (USMLE Prep)
Celebrated by medical students for over a decade, Kaplan's pocket-sized Dr. Pestana's Surgery Notes is the highest-yield surgery review for the shelf and USMLE Step 2 CK exams. Designed for portable prep, Dr. Pestana's Surgery Notes fits perfectly in your lab coat so you can refresh your knowledge in between cases. The Best Review Concise high-yield review of core surgery material 180 up-to-date vignettes for self-testing 16 brief essays examining selected diagnostic and therapeutic tools from a surgical perspective NEW essay topic: nutritional support of the surgical patient EXPANDED and enhanced bariatric surgery chapter Revised content review throughout, including: therapies for childhood leukemia, ARDS, non-small cell lung cancer, aortoenteric fistula, gout, BPH, prolapsed hemorrhoids, rectal prolapse, and anal fissures, and trends in whole blood availability and use Expert Guidance Revised and fully up-to-date content from distinguished surgery instructor Dr. Carlos Pestana For over a decade, Dr. Pestana's Surgery Notes has helped med students excel on the surgery shelf exam and USMLE Step 2 CK Read more
About This Book
Celebrated by medical students for over a decade, Kaplan's pocket-sized Dr. Pestana's Surgery Notes is the highest-yield surgery review for the shelf and USMLE Step 2 CK exams. Designed for portable prep, Dr. Pestana's Surgery Notes fits perfectly in your lab coat so you can refresh your knowledge in between cases. The Best Review Concise high-yield review of core surgery material 180 up-to-date vignettes for self-testing 16 brief essays examining selected diagnostic and therapeutic tools from a surgical perspective NEW essay topic: nutritional support of the surgical patient EXPANDED and enhanced bariatric surgery chapter Revised content review throughout, including: therapies for childhood leukemia, ARDS, non-small cell lung cancer, aortoenteric fistula, gout, BPH, prolapsed hemorrhoids, rectal prolapse, and anal fissures, and trends in whole blood availability and use Expert Guidance Revised and fully up-to-date content from distinguished surgery instructor Dr. Carlos Pestana For over a decade, Dr. Pestana's Surgery Notes has helped med students excel on the surgery shelf exam and USMLE Step 2 CK Read more
| ISBN-13 | 9781506276434 |
| Publisher | Kaplan Test Prep |
| Publication Date | November 2021 |
| Edition | 7 |
| Pages | 272 |
| Language | English |
Expert Analysis & Insights
In-depth editorial assessment across key dimensions
The 180 vignette-based questions at the end provide active self-testing, and the preface's discussion of exam question design enhances test-taking skills. The concise format encourages repeated reading and quick recall.
Great for active recall and shelf exam prep, especially when used with question banks like UWorld or Anki for more comprehensive practice.
Explicitly designed for the surgery shelf exam and USMLE Step 2 CK, with content aligned to common clerkship topics. The practice questions mimic exam format and the preface offers test-taking strategies specific to NBME-style questions.
Excellent for medical students during their surgery clerkship; residents may find it too basic and should use it only for quick review.
The book is designed for portability and quick access, with concise chapters and practice questions that help reinforce key facts. The preface's advice on interpreting exam questions is practical for test-taking.
Effective for reinforcing didactic knowledge and exam prep, but not for learning procedures or managing complex cases at the bedside.
Provides practical, high-yield information for common surgical diseases, including when to operate and which procedure is indicated, as emphasized in the preface. The pocket size and organization by system (e.g., trauma, GI, vascular) make it useful for quick reference on rounds.
Useful for medical students preparing for rounds and shelf exams, but not as a standalone clinical guide for residents or practicing surgeons.
The preface explicitly outlines the book's purpose and provides a clear rationale for its content, using the example of question 53 to teach test-taking strategy. The structure is logical, moving from trauma through organ systems to practice questions, and the inclusion of 180 vignette-based questions supports active learning.
Best used as a supplementary review during a surgery clerkship, paired with a standard textbook or question bank like UWorld to fill in the gaps in pathophysiology and procedural detail.
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