The surgeon's role in treating acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
P. Nugent and T. X. O'Connell
The ever-increasing number of patients with acquired immunodeficiency
syndrome (AIDS) will involve more surgeons in their diagnosis and
treatment. The surgeon should be aware of the cause of AIDS, mode of
transmission, method of diagnosis, usual cutaneous and abdominal
manifestations, complications needing operative procedures, and precautions
needed during surgery and the postoperative period. The gravity of AIDS
requires the surgeon to be aware of the potential risks to other surgical
patients by contaminated blood transfusions. From 110 cases of AIDS, we
analyzed the indications, types of surgical procedures, and effect on final
outcome in patients with AIDS.
