Cope's Early Diagnosis of the Acute Abdomen

by Zachary Cope, William Silen (Primary Contributor)

This famous text is much beloved by medical students and physicians-in-training throughout the English-speaking world, as its many editions indicate. Despite its relatively narrow focus, it is chock full of the pearls of clinical wisdom that students and practitioners treasure, and many of
these lessons apply to medicine in general. The book was well characterized by a reviewer of an earlier edition for The New England Journal of "If only one book about surgery could be made available to physicians from all specialties, it should probably be Silen's recent revision of
Cope's Early Diagnosis of the Acute Abdomen . Since the book first appeared more than 30 years ago, it has remained the classic treatise on the initial approach to abdominal pain." Because acute, severe abdominal pain is still a common problem whose misdiagnosis can result in quick death, each
generation of beginning physicians is faced with the urgency of learning to make a diagnosis in this high anxiety situation and they appreciate the wise, humane, precisely detailed guidance offered by Cope and Silen. For the 21st Edition , Dr. Silen has again updated the text in a respectful but
significant way. He has strengthened its emphasis on pitfalls in the interpretation of CT and ultrasound scans, on misadventures caused by over-reliance on blood tests and radiographs, and on careful history-taking to avoid the costs of inappropriate lab tests. He has also reviewed the data from a
randomized clinical trial indicating that patients should receive adequate analgesia while awaiting a definitive diagnosis, a dictum that is contrary to traditional teaching.

Genres: Medicine, Medical, Science, Textbooks

644 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1972

About the author

Sir Vincent Zachary Cope (1881-1974) was an English physician and surgeon perhaps best known for authoring "Cope's Early Diagnosis of the Acute Abdomen" by him from 1921 until 1971.[1] New editions continue being published by editors long after his death.

Reviews

[Jeremy · Rating 3 out of 5]

best abdominal exam book ever written. for those non-medical people, this is an ENTIRE book on how to "read" someone's belly by looking at it, listening to it, and feeling it.

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of those lovely volumes wherein someone tries to distil their experience into a digestible format. Well written, interesting, and practical. Well worth reading, especially for Acute and Emergency Medics as well as surgeons. A classic for a reason.

[Erika Schmitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the common diagnosis in General Surgery. Great for the medical student before starting residency!

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is no silver bullet to "getting" the very complicated abdomen, but this is a good book. Cope/Silen focus on clinical presentation and physical diagnosis almost exclusively, giving the book a helpfully delimited scope. Plus, just watching Cope's thought processes was instructive in of itself. The first third on general presentation of abdominal diseases was very good. The latter two thirds was a "parade of diseases" which was fine.

[TheAmusingAce · Rating 4 out of 5]

(For context, I'm a 3rd year medical student at a Canadian University)

I hated the abdominal exam in first and second year medical school. It felt so imprecise and useless now most centres have access to CT scans.

This book instilled in me a great love for this exam now, and an appreciation for this unique part of the art of medicine. I read it after several months of an integrated clerkship, and dozens of half-assed abdo exams. Now I jump at the chance to do the exam, because I get to practice what this book taught me. This appreciation for the art of medicine also extends beyond what this book actually covers.

Will it adequately prepare you for surgery exams by itself? Not at all. Will it be very practically useful in clerkship and beyond -> definitely. It's a relatively quick read, and a text I will probably re-read before I start my residency in 18 months or so.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The passage of stool and gas is not a guarantee that all is well within the peritoneal cavity!"

[Kyla · Rating 5 out of 5]

a timeless classic in physical diagnosis

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A medical classic.

[Jimmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book, I've read it twice now, and may go back and read it again every few years.

[James Herrington · Rating 5 out of 5]

This should be required reading in medical school and residency.

[J]

First two chapters on clinical Dx recommended by http://www.medrants.com/archives/6642.
http://books.google.ca/books?id=etcqH...

[Julian T · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classic! The compassionate and competent surgeons guide to the acute abdomen. History is key to guide you through the long differential diagnoses

[Auriel · Rating 4 out of 5]

#surgery

[Fariborz · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent book for any surgeon