General Surgery is a discipline that requires knowledge of and responsibility for the preoperative, operative, and postoperative management of patients with a broad spectrum of diseases, including those which may require nonoperative, elective, or emergency surgical treatment. The breadth and depth of this knowledge may vary by disease category. Surgical management requires skill in complex decision making; general surgeons should be competent in diagnosis as well as treatment and management, including operative intervention.

• The field of General Surgery as a specialty comprises, but is not limited to, the performance of operations and procedures relevant to the content areas listed above. It is expected that the Certified Surgeon will also have additional knowledge and experience relevant to the above areas in the following categories:

• Related disciplines, including anatomy, physiology, epidemiology, immunology, and pathology (including neoplasia).
• Clinical care domains, including wound healing; infection and antibiotic usage; fluid and electrolyte management; transfusion and disorders of coagulation; shock and resuscitation; metabolism and nutrition; minimally invasive and endoscopic intervention (including colonoscopy and upper endoscopy); appropriate use and interpretation of radiologic diagnostic and therapeutic imaging; and pain management.