If you are interested in training in the area " General Surgery" it is the study of surgery that has many applications. It generally will take at least 5 years to go thru all the programs. There is about 12 months that will be cover a single surgical area. Six months or less of schooling will be covering nonsurgical clinical areas which covers internal medicine, pediatrics, gastroenterology, anesthesiology, or surgical pathology. There will be about 54 months of clinical surgery which covers endoscopy, surgical intensive care, and emergency care. There will also be three years that cover general surgery.
A general surgeon gets trained in the basics of all surgical specialties. They will learn about anatomy, physiology, metabolism, immunology, nutrition, patholgy, wound healing, shock, resuscitation, intensive care, and neoplasia. A general surgeon also must learn to be able to diagnosis, learn the basics of preoperative, oberative, and postoperative management.
A general surgeon must learn how to deal with any complications that arise from surgery. The study of general surgery is going to cover nine components of surgery which include: the Alimnentary tract, Abdomen and it's contents, breast, skin, and soft tissue, head and neck including trauma, vascular, endocrine, congentital and oncologic disorders-primarily skin tumors, salivary glands, thyroid, parathyroid, and oral cavity., They would learn all about the vasular system which excludes the intracranial vessels and heart
A general surgeon also studies surgical oncology which includes screening, surveillance, surgical adjunctive therapy, rehabilitation, and follow-up of cancer patients. In "General Surgery" you will need to have a comprehensive management of trama of musculoskeletal, hand and head injuries. A general surgeon is responsible for care of an injured patient. They will need to provide complete care of critically ill patients in the emergency room, icu, and trama/burn units. You can go learn more information from the American board of Surgery.