Disclaimer

This project started as a way for me to study, and is now being developed as a way for me to easily refer to things. I cannot guarantee absolute accuracy, but every effort is being taken to be up to date and correct.

Acknowledgements

Information in this book has been compiled from a number of sources including (but not limited to)

BMJ Best Practice
Pass Medicine
Stat Pearls
Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine & Clinical Specialities
NICE guidelines
Geeky Medics

All errors in this book belong to me, and I would be grateful if you reached out to me at joan.loo [at] doctors.org.uk to let me know, so I can keep updating the notes :)

As I continue to compile notes and develop the website I hope to add in references slowly to ensure that everything is as evidence based as possible. This is a massive work in progress!

Last updated April 2025

THANK YOU

This book is dedicated to my mother Mrs Josephine Loo: I thank God every day for you, and thank you for paying to put me through medical school!! And thank you also Dad, Jie and Brosh!

To my church family at East Birmingham Baptist Chapel, who have been my home away from home. I will miss you all very much when I have to return back to Singapore T_T

To my friends and housemates, Dr Erica Z, Dr Charlotte L, and Dr Callum H (and our frequent guests Dr Maddie G, Dr Ben D, and Dr Alex W) – thanks for allowing me to sit at the dining table for hours on end

To all my mentors in medical school

To Mr J Halle-Smith – you will not remember who I am, but thank you for involving me in your research projects
To Dr A Qureshi, my 3rd year CTF
Especially to the CTFs in Birmingham Heartlands Hospital 2023-2024, to whom this book was first shown, and for your encouragement along the way!

To my colleagues and mentors in BHH General Surgery (Aug-Dec 2024)

To Mr M Sahloul, my very cool educational supervisor
To Mr T Wiggins, thank you for your kind words about this project!
To the amazing extended surgical team (shout out to the wonderful PAs and ACPs who made me an honorary member of the cool kids club), the nurses on SAU and Ward 12 in Heartlands (you guys are unrivalled)
Especially to Grace, Jamad and Ziah – thank you!!
To my fellow F1s in UGI: Dr Charlotte L, Dr Sana B, Dr Minhaz H, Dr Hassan H and Dr Hari R. And to most of the other F1s in the gen surg team (sorry I'd name all of you but then this list would never end!)
To the really cool registrars, esp Ms A Hameedullah (who really wanted to have a book dedicated to her), Mr H Rahman (legend), Ms D Jochems, Mr S Jafferi, and all the other nice regs
To my RSOs/SHOs who helped me along, esp Dr P Rai, Dr M Raza, Dr T Mohanarajah, Dr H Purle, and Dr C Nzekwue

To the other teams I’ve worked with in my first year as a doctor

To the very nice consultants (including my CS Dr Parsonson), registrars, SHOs, and my fellow F1 Dr Liz W in Paediatrics (who are all blissfully unaware of this book) – thank you!
To the ID team in Heartlands (including my CS Dr N Jenkins)

This project is always a work in progress and this list will always remain incomplete. Thank you to everyone who has been a voice of encouragement amidst many doubts!