Surgery Text/Resource for DDx

[siimpleton]

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I was wondering if there is anything online (or any textbook) that takes an approch to teaching surgery by starting with a symptom (ear pain, hearing loss, abdominal pain) and then goes through a differential and how to rule out/in...for example a flow chart, or something written with a flow chart sort of concept in mind. I have lists of DDx but that doesnt explain how to differentiate. I also have clinical blueprints which so far seem the best, but present specific cases. I am looking for something more general. Its even better if it discusses treatment as well.

I was thinking that a good approach to learning clinical medicine would be to make your own flow chart for different common symptoms and learn it well. The textbooks don't seem to be structured in this way, however. Any comments (good or bad) on this study approach would be helpful as well! Thanks.

 

[Mapleson D]

Have you read Cope's Early Diagnosis of the Acute Abdomen? It doesn't cover all of surgery but is a great intro to how to approach a patient with that most classic of surgical problems, the acute abdomen.

Not specific to surgery, but for the "start with the symptom" approach, have a look at books like Problem-Oriented Medical Diagnosis by Harold Friedman, Differential Diagnosis of Common Complaints by Robert Seller and the Saint-Frances Guide series.

 

[46&2]

I had the same problem last year. I don't know if I have good answer, but my recs would be Case Files: Surgery, NMS Casebook, Current Surgical Diagnosis and Treatment, or Surgery On-Call (although this is more for patients on the ward). Pocket Medicine is actually good for diagnosing anything, but won't get you far in terms of surgical procedures. There's always Up-to-Date if you can use it.