- Written in an easy-to-read tone, concise and to the point.

- Assembled during 20 years of intensive involvement, both clinical and academic, in emergency abdominal surgery. 

- An extensive list of international contributors, including surgeons from Mount Sinai (NY) and Albert Einstein (NY). 

- The first edition was translated into both Spanish and Russian. 

Moshe Schein:

Previously Professsor of surgery at the Cornell Universiy Medical College, NY. A general surgeon who trained and practiced in South Africa, Isreal and currently in the USA.

Paul Rogers:

General and vascular surgeon in Glasgow, Scotland who trained and practiced in the UK, South Africa, Australia and Scotland.

1;Editors' Note;6 2;Preface to the Second Edition;7 3;Contents;10 4;Contributors;14 5;Background ;17 5.1;General Philosophy ;18 5.2;A Brief History of Emergency Abdominal Surgery;24 6;Before the Operation ;30 6.1;The Acute Abdomen;31 6.2;Rational Diagnostic Procedures;40 6.3;Abdominal Imaging;46 6.4;Optimizing the Patient;68 6.5;Pre- operative Antibiotics;79 6.6;Family, Ethics, Informed Consent and Medicolegal Issues;82 6.7;Before the Flight: Pre- op Checklist;87 7;The Operation;90 7.1;The Incision;91 7.2;Abdominal Exploration: Finding What is Wrong;95 7.3;Peritonitis: Contamination and Infection, Principles of Treatment;103 7.4;The Intestinal Anastomosis;110 7.5;Esophageal Emergencies;116 7.6;Diaphragmatic Emergencies;125 7.7;Upper Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ( and Portal Hypertension);131 7.8;Perforated Peptic Ulcer;148 7.9;Acute Pancreatitis ;156 7.10;Acute Cholecystitis;167 7.11;Acute Cholangitis ;176 7.12;Small Bowel Obstruction;181 7.13;Acute Abdominal Wall Hernias ;193 7.14;Acute Mesenteric Ischemia ;199 7.15;Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Other Types of Colitis;207 7.16;Colonic Obstruction ;218 7.17;Acute Diverticulitis;230 7.18;Massive Lower Gastrointestinal Bleeding;239 7.19;Acute Appendicitis ;245 7.20;Anorectal Emergencies;255 7.21;Surgical Complications of Endoscopy;265 7.22;Gynecological Emergencies ;275 7.23;Abdominal Emergencies in Infancy and Childhood;283 7.24;The AIDS Patient;291 7.25;Penetrating Abdominal Trauma;297 7.26;Blunt Abdominal Trauma;305 7.27;The Abdominal Compartment Syndrome ;320 7.28;Abdominal Aortic Emergencies ;327 7.29;Abdominal Closure ;335 7.30;Before Landing ;340 8;After the Operation ;342 8.1;Postoperative Care;343 8.2;Nutrition ;350 8.3;Postoperative Antibiotics ;358 8.4;Postoperative Ileus vs Intestinal Obstruction;363 8.5;Intra- abdominal Abscesses;371 8.6;Anastomotic Leaks and Fistulas;380 8.7;Re- laparotomies and Laparostomy for Infection ;387 8.8;Abdominal Wall Dehiscence;403 8.9;LIRS, SIRS, Sepsis, MODS and Tertiary Peritonitis;407 8.10;Wound Management;416 8.11;Postoperative Bleeding ;422 8.12;The Role of Laparoscopy ;429 8.13;In the Aftermath and the M & M Meeting ;439 9;Subject Index;446