ALEXANDER'S CARE OF THE PATIENT IN SURGERY, considered the standard in perioperative care for over 50 years, is a comprehensive reference for students and practitioners alike. Unit I covers basic principles and patient care requisites. Unit II details step-by-step procedures for over 400 general and specialty surgical interventions. The unique needs of ambulatory, pediatric, geriatric, and trauma surgery patients are discussed in Unit III. New features include highlighted patient education and discharge planning, sample critical pathways, expanded coverage of endoscopic/minimally invasive procedures, and internet resources. A new chapter, Surgical Modalities, addresses today's technologically advanced perioperative environment. * Offers completely updated chapters to furnish students and practitioners with the latest advancements in perioperative care: * The updated Chapter 7, Anesthesia, covers new agents, local anesthesia, and conscious sedation/analgesia used in minimally invasive procedures. * The completely revised and updated Chapter 4, Infection Prevention and Control, addresses emerging and antibiotic-resistant pathogens, and the newest sterilization and disinfection techniques to combat them. * Uses the six-step nursing process and Sample Care Plans to link interventions to clearly identified outcomes to ensure quality patient care. * Highlights technological advancements in the perioperative field with research boxes in each chapter.