Surgical Issues in the Management of the HIV-infected Patient

As of 1992, approximately 1,000,000 Americans are infected with HIV. The natural history of the illness includes a relatively long latent period (about 10 years) between infection and development of AIDS. Surgeons are called on to participate in the management of these patients, usually for diagnostic biopsies, supportive measures, or intraabdominal events. Precautions and safe surgical practices will minimize the risk of HIV transmission from patient to surgeon (or surgeon to patient).