Surgical Philosophy

Treating disease can be considered a combat between curative therapies and pathological afflictions. As such, the action of achieving a cure can be likened to successfully waging war on sickness and bodily disorders. Surgical Philosophy applies the core principles derived from Sun Tzu's timeless book Art of War to combating disease through surgery.

Hutan Ashrafian, MBBS, PhD, MRCS, is a clinical lecturer in surgery based at Imperial College London in the UK. His work focuses on the surgical resolution of metabolic syndrome- and obesity-related diseases ranging from cardiac dysfunction to diabetes and cancer. His PhD on the global metabolic signature of bariatric surgery received several prizes including an Academy of Medical Sciences award. Dr. Ashrafian's research interests include the development of state-of-the-art approaches for bio-inspired regenerative technologies, the application of artificial intelligence and robotics to modern surgical practice, the enhancement of evidence synthesis in healthcare and the development of novel models of innovation and economics in health policy. He has authored over 200 peer-reviewed publications and been awarded various research fellowships.

The Aims of Operative Surgery. Performing Surgery. Surgical Strategies. Surgical Decision Making. Operative Methodology. Civilization. Approaches and Leadership. Anatomy. The Nine Elements of the Surgical Sieve and Surgical Specialities. Firesticks and Haemostasis. Imaging.