Clinical Algorithms in General Surgery

As the field of general surgery continues to expand, the diagnostic and therapeutic pathways are becoming more complex. The diagnostic modalities available to the clinician can be both very helpful but also overwhelming considering the findings can often determine the scope of treatment for a patient. This text will take the major pathologies of the systems commonly studied in general surgery and present them in a unique format based upon algorithms. The algorithms will begin with the clinical presentation of the patient, work its way through the various diagnostic modalities available to the surgeon, and finally allow the physician to make a decision regarding treatment options based upon various patterns in the algorithms. This text will become a very useful resources for surgeons as it allows complex clinical pathways to be conveniently organized in logical algorithms. It will become a concise yet comprehensive manual to assist in clinical decision making. All algorithms will be reviewed by experts in their field and include the most up-to-date clinical and evidence-based information. Clinical Algorithms in General Surgery provides a useful resource for surgeons in clinical practice as well as surgical residents, and surgical attendings who are preparing for board examinations. See sample algorithm in Attachments. von Docimo, Salvatore