Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE SUR5505

 
TITLE Sepsis and Soft Skills in Surgery

 
UM LEVEL 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course

 
MQF LEVEL 7

 
ECTS CREDITS 5

 
DEPARTMENT Surgery

 
DESCRIPTION This study-unit gives a broad overview of the operative management of the surgical patient and complications arising therefrom. It details pre-operative management, prevention, identification and control of surgical sepsis and causes and management of bowel anastomotic failure. It also prepares students with the soft skills required for managing patients.

Study-unit Aims:

The aim of this study-unit is to give the student a comprehensive overview of potential surgical infection, their identification and subsequent management. It also aims to make the student recognize sepsis with a view to undertaking early management. The soft skills required for surgical leadership and patient communications will also be introduced.

Learning Outcomes:

Knowledge & Understanding
By the end of the course of studies the student will be able to:

a. Describe the principles of pre-operative care;
b. Discuss the measures to prevent infection in surgical procedures and surgical wounds;
c. Distinguish between the different types of bacterial infections;
d. Explain how to manage sepsis appropriately;
e. Describe how to make the surgical experience a safe procedure.

Skills
By the end of the course of studies the student will be able to:

a) Identify the different types of bacterial infections;
b) Manage sepsis appropriately;
c) Make the surgical experience a safe procedure;
d) Identify lack of anastomotic integrity;
e) Lead the surgical team; and
f) Communicate effectively with the team and with patients.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

MAIN TEXTS
- Damani, N. and Damani, N. (2012). Manual of infection prevention and control. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Jarvis, W. (2014). Bennett & Brachman's hospital infections. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
- Flin, R., Youngson, G. and Yule, S. (2015). Enhancing Surgical Performance. Boca Raton: CRC Press.

STRONGLY RECOMMENDED GENERAL READING
- Gawande, A. (2011). The checklist manifesto. London: Profile.

SUPPLEMENTARY TEXTS
- Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (2012). The Non-technical Skills for Surgeons (NOTTS) System Handbook v1.2: NHS Education Scotland, University of Aberdeen.

 
ADDITIONAL NOTES Pre-requisite qualifications: MD or Allied Health Sciences degree

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Independent Study, Lecture & Webinar

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Oral Examination (10 Minutes) Yes 30%
Multiple Choice Questions Examination (1 Hour) Yes 70%

 
LECTURER/S

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit