Type, source, adequacy and outcome of consultations requested from the department of general surgery: a retrospective cohort study

Authors : Metin LEBLEBİCİ, Orhan ALİMOĞLU

Pages : 658-666

Doi:10.18621/eurj.866546

View : 19 | Download : 7

Publication Date : 2021-11-04

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Objectives: To evaluate consultations requested from the department of general surgery in terms of type, source and adequacy and outcome regarding general surgery practice. Methods: A total of 4706 consultations requested from the department of general surgery during the 2019 calendar year were included in this retrospective study. Data on patient demographics, type of consultation insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(urgent, routine);, the requesting clinic, time of request, response time to consultation request insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(min);, diagnosis and management of consulted patients by general surgery clinic and survivorship status were recorded. Results: Consultations were urgent insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(69.0%); and made outside office hours insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(66.0%); in most of cases and more commonly requested by the emergency department insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(67.5%);. The surgical pathology was confirmed only in 1338 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(28.4%); consultations, while more commonly for urgent vs. routine requests insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(37.4 vs. 8.5%, p = 0.001);, for consultations requested by emergency department insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(ranged 30.9 to 40.0%); vs. other clinics insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(ranged 0.0% to 19.1%, p = 0.001); and for diseases of colon-rectum-anus insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(100.0%, p = 0.001); than other disorders. The likelihood of urgent consultations insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(72.0% vs. 37.3%, p = 0.001); and post-consultation inpatient management insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(90.5% vs. 24.7%, p = 0.001); and were more likely among survivors vs. non-survivors. Conclusions: In conclusion, our findings revealed that most of the consultations were urgent, outside the office hours and outpatient consultations requested by the emergency department, while surgical pathology was confirmed only in one third of consultations. Our findings indicate improved consultation practice particularly for routine requests by non-emergency clinics to prevent the incompatible or unnecessary consultation requests and related healthcare resource utilization.
Keywords : Consultation request, General surgery, urgent, routine, adequacy of request