Multispecialty surgical conditions in general practice.
OBJECTIVE
To report the incidence of multispecialty surgical conditions in patients presenting to a procedural general practice.


METHODS
A more than 18-year survey (1 August 1983 - 31 January 2002) of the surgical records of a general practitioner-surgeon in an urban general practice.


METHODS
211 patients each with multiple, elective, surgical problems (mostly non-major) treated at one operation.


RESULTS
The 211 patients represented 9.03% of the practitioner's elective, non-referred, general practice surgical workload. Two separate procedures were performed at one surgical episode for 155 patients (73.5%), three separate procedures for 53 patients (25.1%), and four separate procedures for three patients (1.4%). Having all surgical conditions treated in a single episode resulted in considerable savings in time, convenience and expense for both the patient and the health care system.


CONCLUSIONS
There appears to be a place, at least in our major cities, for an appropriately trained and recognised general surgeon, to service patients with more than one minor condition requiring surgery.
Wilson
Raymond E
RE
Hurstville Private Hospital, NSW, Australia. redowilson@smartchat.net.au
D001315:Australia; D005194:Family Practice; D013502:General Surgery; D006801:Humans; D008485:Medical Audit; D010821:Physicians, Family; D013038:Specialization; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019037:Urban Health Services; D014505:Urban Population