The role of general surgery consultations in patient management.
OBJECTIVE
Consultation results of patients who were thought to require a surgical intervention and were evaluated in the General Surgery Department for diagnostic support and treatment, upon detection of pathology in clinical and/or laboratory tests.


METHODS
In a six-months period, 221 patients were retrospectively analyzed. There were 121 male (54.75%) and 100 female (45.25%) patients and the mean age was 46 years (15-102). The departments which requested consultation, the reason for consultation, test and physical examination findings before consultation, required additional tests after consultation and results of consultations were recorded as well as performed interventions.


RESULTS
The majority of consultations were from the emergency department (91.9%) and the most frequent reason was abdominal pain (29.9%). No tests were performed before consultation in 21% of cases. Physical examination was completely fulfilled in 100% of judicial cases, but this ratio was 35% in perianal diseases and 30% in patients with bowel obstruction. Additional tests were required in 54.3% of the patients after consults. Out of the whole group with surgical consultation, 21% were operated under general anesthesia, 9% under local anesthesia, while an elective operation was suggested in 3%.


CONCLUSIONS
Currently, it is mandatory that patient management is carried out with a multidisciplinary approach; however, we believe that consultations should be asked in a more selective manner.
Clinic of General Surgery, Dışkapı Yıldırım Beyazıt Training Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
Şahin
Ş
Kahramanca
Clinic of General Surgery, Dışkapı Yıldırım Beyazıt Training Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
Oskay
O
Kaya
Clinic of General Surgery, Dışkapı Yıldırım Beyazıt Training Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
Cem
C
Azılı
Clinic of General Surgery, Dışkapı Yıldırım Beyazıt Training Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
Hakan
H
Güzel
Clinic of General Surgery, Dışkapı Yıldırım Beyazıt Training Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
Gülay
G
Özgehan
Clinic of General Surgery, Dışkapı Yıldırım Beyazıt Training Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
Burak
B
İrem
General surgery; consultation; patient management