Key result
Among 814 general surgery consultations, 91.5% were requested by the emergency department, and 50.1% of the consulted patients had no pathology requiring emergency surgery.
Why the study?
General surgery is frequently requested for consultation and plays a significant role in emergency services, prompting an evaluation of these consultations based on their specific attributes.
Observational (n=814)
No
A significant proportion of general surgery consultations, particularly from the emergency department, do not result in emergency surgery, highlighting the potential overuse of consultations and imaging due to defensive medicine.
Over-requested general surgery consults for nonspecific abdominal pain drive imaging and costs; leaves open whether guidelines could optimize use in tertiary centers.
Background: The field of general surgery is an important one in medicine. It includes the systems and organs connected to practically every bodily part. Because of this, general surgery is frequently requested for consultation and has a significant role in emergency service applications. The study’s objective is to evaluate general surgery consultations based on their specific attributes. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 814 patients who were consulted at our hospital’s general surgery clinic between January and June 2021. The departments requesting consultation, the reasons for the consultation, the examinations requested before and after the consultation, and the decisions made after the consultation were evaluated. Results: The department that required the most consultation from the general surgery branch was the emergency department with 91.5% the most common reason for consultation is nonspecific abdominal pain with 18.1% has been seen. General surgery consultation in patients presenting with abdominal specific complaints, previously ultrasonography and computed tomography were requested in 88.6% of patients. Conclusion: The fact that physicians request unnecessary consultations and resort to advanced imaging examinations with the reservation of malpractice leads to an increase in both cost and intensity for the health system. Requesting a consultation in conditions where it is more necessary will relieve the intensity of the health system.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Altıner et al. (2024) conducted an observational in General surgery consultations (n=814). General surgery consultation was evaluated on Consultation characteristics and outcomes. Among 814 general surgery consultations, 91.5% were requested by the emergency department, and 50.1% of the consulted patients had no pathology requiring emergency surgery.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: