The SAGES Manual of Surgical Referral for Primary and Emergency Care

Primary care and emergency room clinicians manage a complex array of disorders and are commonly the first to encounter a surgical or potentially surgical disorder. The purpose of this manual is to assist non-surgeons in determining when a patient should or need not be referred for surgical assessment.

This manual includes referral guidance on surgical disorders commonly cared for by adult and pediatric general surgeons with a focus on the thoracoabdominal domain. Chapters describe patient history and clinical examination findings relevant to the probable diagnosis. Guidance is then provided on the evaluation of these patients to include studies that should be performed prior to referral as opposed to those that should be reserved for after surgical assessment. Interpretation of relevant imaging and laboratory assessments as it relates to the decision to refer or not refer to a surgeon is included, and literature and guidelines, where available, are incorporated. Additionally, alternatives to surgical referral are provided when relevant. All chapters are written by experts in their fields and include the most up-to-date scientific and clinical information.