This volume seeks to equip the learner with a solid foundation of surgical principles and skills, while maintaining the fundamental focus of perioperative skills - the care of the surgical patient as a unique individual. This ninth edition has been reorganized into 12 sections, building the knowledge of surgical principles and techniques into a logical sequence from fundamental concepts to implementation during surgical intervention to enable the perioperative caregiver to apply theory to practice. The first 11 sections cover the foundations of surgical principles and techniques, including perioperative practice, the perioperative health care team, the surgical environment, surgical asepsis, instrumentation and equipment, anaesthesia, and surgical site maintenance. Care of the surgical patient is emphasized in chapters covering patients with special needs, special patient populations, and pre-, intra- and postoperative care. The twelfth section reviews the most commonly performed surgical interventions in all of the surgical specialities. The purpose and sequence of each procedure is described, together with any special considerations regarding instruments, equipment, patient positioning, and potential complications.