The surgeon's role in treating acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

The ever-increasing number of patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) will involve more surgeons in their diagnosis and treatment. The surgeon should be aware of the cause of AIDS, mode of transmission, method of diagnosis, usual cutaneous and abdominal manifestations, complications needing operative procedures, and precautions needed during surgery and the postoperative period. The gravity of AIDS requires the surgeon to be aware of the potential risks to other surgical patients by contaminated blood transfusions. From 110 cases of AIDS, we analyzed the indications, types of surgical procedures, and effect on final outcome in patients with AIDS.