PGIM CSE Surgical Specialties study guide
PGIM CSE Surgical Specialties · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The PGIM Certificate of Specialist Expertise (CSE) in Surgical Specialties is a professional credential for surgeons who want to demonstrate advanced, integrated knowledge across the surgical disciplines. It is not a licence to practise and does not confer specialist registration; it is a knowledge-based certification that sits alongside, not in place of, national board certification. The PGIM CSE Surgical Specialties study guide has 14 sections and about 3,307 words.
01General and Gastrointestinal Surgery
This domain tests a systematic approach to the acute abdomen, bowel obstruction, hernia complications, appendicitis, and the principles of gastrointestinal anastomosis and stoma care, including safe source control in intra-abdominal sepsis. Resuscitate before diagnosing: ATLS ABCDE, two large-bore cannulae, urine output and lactate.
274 words, about 1 min02Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery
This domain covers gallstone disease, acute pancreatitis, obstructive jaundice, liver masses and perioperative decisions in pancreatic and hepatic resection. Right upper quadrant pain with a positive Murphy sign suggests acute cholecystitis; perform ultrasound, give antibiotics and plan cholecystectomy.
247 words, about 1 min03Colorectal Surgery
This domain tests colorectal cancer presentation and staging, rectal bleeding, inflammatory bowel disease, diverticular disease, obstruction and anorectal conditions. Iron-deficiency anaemia in an older adult and a change in bowel habit require colonoscopy, not empirical haemorrhoid treatment.
254 words, about 1 min04Breast and Endocrine Surgery
This domain covers triple assessment of breast disease, breast cancer biology and axillary management, plus thyroid, parathyroid and adrenal surgical disease. Triple assessment means clinical examination, imaging and pathology.
246 words, about 1 min05Vascular Surgery
This domain covers abdominal aortic aneurysm, peripheral arterial disease, carotid disease, varicose veins, acute limb ischaemia and the diabetic foot. Measure the ankle-brachial pressure index in suspected peripheral arterial disease; values below 0.9 support diagnosis, and falsely high values occur in calcified vessels.
252 words, about 1 min06Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology
This domain tests fracture assessment, open fracture management, compartment syndrome, hip fracture care and common paediatric orthopaedic problems. Assess neurovascular status before and after any reduction or splinting and document it.
233 words, about 1 min07Neurosurgery
This domain covers head injury, raised intracranial pressure, hydrocephalus, subarachnoid haemorrhage, spinal cord compression and neurosurgical emergencies. Record GCS and pupillary responses serially.
249 words, about 1 min08Cardiothoracic Surgery
This domain tests chest trauma, pneumothorax, haemothorax, cardiac tamponade, lung cancer staging and complications of thoracic and cardiac surgery. Tension pneumothorax is a clinical diagnosis: needle decompression precedes chest imaging.
223 words, about 1 min09Urology and Transplant Surgery
This domain covers renal colic, bladder outlet obstruction, prostate and bladder cancer, testicular torsion and the principles of kidney transplantation. Suspected ureteric colic is investigated with non-contrast CT KUB; check renal function before contrast studies.
231 words, about 1 min10Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
This domain covers wound healing, burns, skin cancer, hand injuries, flaps and microsurgery, and the reconstructive ladder. Burns: estimate total body surface area, assess inhalation injury and start fluid resuscitation.
227 words, about 1 min11Paediatric Surgery
This domain covers neonatal bowel obstruction, pyloric stenosis, intussusception, Hirschsprung disease, paediatric hernias and testicular torsion. Bilious vomiting in a neonate is malrotation with midgut volvulus until excluded; it is a surgical emergency.
219 words, about 1 min12Perioperative Care
This domain covers preoperative assessment, fasting, VTE prevention, antibiotic prophylaxis, enhanced recovery, fluid therapy and recognition of postoperative complications. Use the WHO surgical safety checklist, including sign-in, time-out and sign-out.
203 words, about 1 min13Patient Safety
This domain tests human factors, handover, medication safety, wrong-site surgery prevention, incident reporting and a just culture. Use structured handover such as SBAR: situation, background, assessment and recommendation.
222 words, about 1 min14Professionalism
This domain covers consent, capacity, confidentiality, duty of candour, professional boundaries and conflicts of interest. Valid consent requires capacity, adequate information and voluntariness.
227 words, about 1 min