Lesson 1Thorough history and targeted physical check for suspected colon cancerThis part focuses on taking a full history and focused physical exam for suspected right colon cancer, highlighting warning symptoms, other health issues, fitness level, belly and rectal checks, and notes key for surgery planning.
Key symptom inquiry and red-flag featuresOncologic, surgical, and family history detailsMedication, allergy, and anticoagulant reviewPerformance status and frailty assessment toolsAbdominal and digital rectal examination pointsDocumenting findings for staging and planningLesson 2Cross-sectional scans (CT abdomen/pelvis, CT chest, MRI when needed) and staging reviewThis part looks at best use of CT, MRI, and chest scans for suspected right colon cancer, focusing on accurate staging, finding spread, blood vessel mapping, and how scan results guide if surgery is possible and planning.
CT abdomen/pelvis protocol and contrast timingCT chest for metastatic and pulmonary assessmentMRI indications for liver and local stagingRadiologic TNM staging and resectability criteriaIdentifying vascular variants relevant to surgeryLesson 3Heart and lung risk check (ASA, METs, ECG, echo, stress test when needed)This part explains organised heart and lung risk checks, including ASA grade, METs, ECG, heart ultrasound, and stress tests, and how to fit guideline advice into a simple plan for laparoscopic right hemicolectomy.
Assigning ASA class and documenting comorbiditiesEstimating METs and functional capacity in clinicBaseline ECG indications and interpretation pearlsWhen to order echocardiography preoperativelyStress testing indications and test selectionIntegrating findings into a risk stratification planLesson 4Blood clot prevention management and around-surgery blood thinner plansThis part details around-surgery handling of blood thinners and clot preventers, including new oral ones, warfarin, and heparin bridging, balancing clot and bleeding risks, and working with heart specialists for tricky stent or valve cases.
Risk stratification for thrombosis and bleedingStopping and restarting antiplatelet therapyManaging warfarin and INR reversal optionsDOAC interruption schedules and renal functionHeparin bridging indications and protocolsCoordination with cardiology and hematologyLesson 5Nutrition check, pre-surgery fitness build-up, and low blood protocolsThis part tackles nutrition screening, muscle wasting, pre-surgery fitness, and low blood management, including iron treatment, blood-making boosters, and blood top-up levels, to lower problems and aid fast recovery paths.
Nutritional screening tools and sarcopenia detectionDietitian referral and optimization strategiesPrehabilitation: exercise and respiratory trainingIdentifying and classifying preoperative anemiaOral versus IV iron and timing before surgeryTransfusion thresholds and ESA use in oncologyLesson 6Pre-surgery blood tests: full blood count, kidney/liver function, clotting, cancer markers and when to redoThis part lists key pre-surgery lab tests for right hemicolectomy, like full blood count, kidney/liver panel, clotting check, and cancer markers, and says when to repeat or add tests based on other illnesses, timing, and changing patient state.
Baseline CBC interpretation and red flagsCMP, renal function, and electrolyte correctionCoagulation profile and bleeding risk factorsCEA and other tumor markers in colon cancerTiming and indications to repeat abnormal labsAdditional tests for high-risk or frail patientsLesson 7Pre-surgery team coordination: cancer team, anaesthesia, stoma care, elderly/medicine specialistsThis part describes team coordination before surgery, with cancer experts, anaesthesia, stoma care, elderly care, and general medicine, to match staging, body-wide treatment, risk fixes, and after-surgery support for tough cases.
Indications for tumor board case discussionOncology input on neoadjuvant or adjuvant plansAnesthesiology assessment and optimization goalsStoma therapist evaluation and site markingGeriatrics and medicine comanagement strategiesCommunication and documentation across the teamLesson 8Patient counselling and consent: explaining gains, dangers, options, and cancer care basicsThis part covers organised counselling for laparoscopic right hemicolectomy, including explaining diagnosis, upsides, risks, other choices, cancer care rules, stoma chances, and recording informed consent suited to patient understanding and background.
Explaining diagnosis and surgical objectivesDiscussing benefits and expected oncologic outcomesDetailing surgical and anesthesia-specific risksPresenting nonoperative and palliative alternativesDiscussing stoma risk and postoperative functionBest practices for consent documentation and witnessesLesson 9Reading scope findings, biopsy outcomes, and tumour spot checkThis part explains reading colonoscopy reports, biopsy results, and tumour location, including marking methods, matching with scans, and how scope findings affect cut amount and lymph node removal planning.
Reading colonoscopy reports systematicallyAssessing lesion morphology and synchronous polypsBiopsy handling and key pathology elementsEndoscopic tattooing technique and pitfallsCorrelating endoscopy with cross-sectional imagingImpact on resection margins and lymph node field
