The document outlines the process for managing a surgical patient, including clinical and paraclinical diagnosis, treatment selection and implementation, and follow-up. It discusses establishing rapport with the patient, performing a clinical exam to arrive at a diagnosis, determining when paraclinical exams are needed, selecting and interpreting their results to determine a pretreatment diagnosis, choosing among treatment options, preoperative preparation for surgery, the phases of surgery, postoperative care, and follow-up objectives. The overall goals are resolving the health problem safely and satisfying the patient.

1. Management of a Surgical Patient
[Process]
Reynaldo O. Joson, MD, MS Surg
1998; 2001; 2003; 2004;2014

2. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Introduction

3. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Introduction
Practice of medicine - essentially management of a patient,
a person with a health problem
Surgical patient - person with a surgical disorder
Surgical disorder - health problem or condition that
is treated by surgery or an operation
Nonsurgical patient - one with a nonsurgical
disorder

4. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Introduction
Regardless of type of patient or disorder, whether surgical
or nonsurgical,
basic processes in the management are essentially
similar
Only difference lies in the specific treatment
modality and procedure employed,
whether surgical or nonsurgical means

5. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Introduction
All primary health care physicians are expected at least to
know the basic processes in the management of a
surgical patient.
This learning session gives an overview of the processes
involved in the management of a surgical patient.

6. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Learning Objectives

7. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Learning Objectives
1. State the overall goals in the management of a patient
(whether surgical or not).
2. Enumerate the four functions of a physician in the
management of a patient (whether surgical or not).
3. Describe the clinical diagnostic process.
4. Describe how to determine the indication for a
paraclinical diagnostic procedure.
5. Describe how a paraclinical diagnostic procedure should
be selected among several options.

8. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Learning Objectives
6. Describe how to interpret results of a paraclinical
diagnostic procedure to come out with a
pretreatment diagnosis.
7. Describe how a treatment modality should be selected
among several options.
8. Enumerate at least 4 essential items in the preoperative
preparation of a surgical patient.
9. Enumerate in correct chronological order 7 phases in
the intraoperative management starting from the
incision to wound closure.

9. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Learning Objectives
10. Enumerate at least 4 items in the immediate
postoperative care of a surgical patient.
11. Enumerate the two objectives of a follow-up plan after
treatment of a patient (whether surgical or not).
12. Describe how to advice patients on clinical diagnosis,
paraclinical diagnostic procedures, treatment,
follow-up, and health promotion and maintenance.
13. Describe when and to whom to refer.

10. Management of a Surgical Patient
[Process]
Reynaldo O. Joson, MD, MS Surg
Self-Instructional Program
https://sites.google.com/site/patientmanagement process
http://edhedephi.tripod.com RJoson’s Writings

11. Facilitator’s
Approach to
Learning Session
Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]

12. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
• I have decided to approach the topic by first presenting
the steps in the management of a surgical patient in
outline form.
Facilitator’s Approach to Learning Session
• Then, I will present some simulated patients or exercises
to expound on the process.

13. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Goals

14. MANAGEMENT OFA PATIENT
PROBLEM-SOLVING AND DECISION-MAKING

15. MANAGEMENT OF A PATIENT
PROBLEM-SOLVING AND DECISION-MAKING
GOALS
RESOLUTION OF HEALTH PROBLEM
LIVE PATIENT
NO COMPLICATION
NO DISABILITY
SATISFIED PATIENT
NO MEDICOLEGAL SUIT

16. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
MD’s Tasks

17. MANAGEMENT OF A PATIENT
PROBLEM-SOLVING AND DECISION-MAKING
TASKS
RAPPORT
DIAGNOSIS
ADVICE
TREATMENT
ADVICE
Quality Standards:
Rational, effective, efficient, humane
G
O
A
L
S

18. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Rapport

19. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Rapport
Establishing rapport with the patient and his/her relatives
- best strategy for obtaining satisfaction from
patient and his/her relative
- strongest strategy in the prevention of
medicolegal suit in case of errors of
commission and omission

20. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Rapport
Some ways of establishing rapport with patient and his/her
relatives:
1. Being courteous
2. Showing respect to person and beliefs
3. Giving honest and clear advice on diagnosis,
paraclinical diagnostic procedures,
and treatment
4. Demonstrating humaneness and compassion

21. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Rapport
Some ways of establishing rapport with patient and his/her
relatives:
5. Being gentle in words and deeds (physical
examination, procedure)
6. Showing the patient and relatives that you are
trying your very best
7. Being helpful when it comes to medical expenses
8. Making the patient and relatives feel that you are
approachable and easy to talk to

22. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Learning Objectives
1. State the overall goals in the management of a patient
(whether surgical or not).
2. Enumerate the four functions of a physician in the
management of a patient (whether surgical or not).

23. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Clinical Diagnostic
Process

24. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Clinical Diagnostic Process
Diagnosis - label or nature of the health problem
Clinical Diagnosis - diagnosis derived from interview
(history) and physical examination
Clinical Diagnostic Process - processing of data from
interview and physical examination to arrive to a
diagnosis

25. CLINICAL DIAGNOSTIC PROCESS
DATA NEEDED
SYMPTOMS (from interview or history)
SIGNS (from physical examination)
PERSONAL DATA OF PATIENT

26. CLINICAL DIAGNOSTIC PROCESS
PROCESSING OF DATA
PATTERN RECOGNITION
-realization that the patient’s presentation
conforms to a previously learned picture or
pattern of disease
PREVALENCE
- choice of a diagnosis is based on the frequency
of occurrence of the disease in a certain locality,
in a certain age and sex group, and in the
affected organ and system

27. CLINICAL DIAGNOSTIC PROCESS
OUTPUT EXPECTED
RATIONAL
-PRIMARY CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS
-SECONDARY CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS

28. CLINICAL DIAGNOSTIC PROCESS
PROCESSING OF DATA
PATTERN RECOGNITION
-realization that the patient’s presentation
conforms to a previously learned picture or
pattern of disease
PREVALENCE
- choice of a diagnosis is based on the frequency
of occurrence of the disease in a certain locality,
in a certain age and sex group, and in the
affected organ and system

29. CLINICAL DIAGNOSTIC PROCESS
PROCESSING OF DATA
Knowing the common manifestations of 5 different diseases as
follows:
Disease A - abcd (manifestations)
Disease B - fghi
Disease C - klmn
Disease D - pqrs
Disease E - uvwx
Given a patient manifesting with pqrs, your diagnosis is Disease D.
What is the process used?
Pattern Recognition

30. CLINICAL DIAGNOSTIC PROCESS
PROCESSING OF DATA
Knowing the common manifestations of 3 different diseases and
relative frequency of each as follows:
Disease A - abcd (manifestations) Least common
Disease B - abcd
Disease C - abcd Most common
Given a patient manifesting with abcd, your diagnosis is Disease C.
What is/are processes used?
Pattern Recognition but mainly Prevalence

31. CLINICAL DIAGNOSTIC PROCESS
PROCESSING OF DATA
Knowing the most common diagnosis of a thyroid nodule is a benign
colloid adenomatous goiter, given a patient with a thyroid
nodule, you gave the abovementioned diagnosis.
What is/are processes used?
Prevalence

32. CLINICAL DIAGNOSTIC PROCESS
PROCESSING OF DATA
PATTERN RECOGNITION
-realization that the patient’s presentation
conforms to a previously learned picture or
pattern of disease
PREVALENCE
- choice of a diagnosis is based on the frequency
of occurrence of the disease in a certain locality,
in a certain age and sex group, and in the
affected organ and system

33. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Paraclinical
Diagnostic Process

34. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Paraclinical Diagnostic Process
Indication - to be more definite on the clinical diagnosis
Selection
Interpretation

35. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Paraclinical Diagnostic Process - Indication
DATA NEEDED
PRIMARY CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS
SECONDARY CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS

36. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Paraclinical Diagnostic Process - Indication
PROCESSING OF DATA
CERTAINTY OF CLINICAL Dx
1O Dx 60% 99%
needed not needed
TREATMENT PLAN FOR 1O & 2O Dx
Different Same
needed not needed

37. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Paraclinical Diagnostic Process - Indication
OUTPUT EXPECTED
DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURE
NEEDED or
NOT NEEDED

38. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Paraclinical Diagnostic Process - Indication
Certainty Plan of Treatment
Primary clinical diagnosis 98% Surgical
Secondary clinical diagnosis 1-2% Nonsurgical
Is a paraclinical diagnostic procedure needed?
NO unless there is a strong reason to do so (exception to
the rule)

39. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Paraclinical Diagnostic Process - Indication
Certainty Plan of Treatment
Primary clinical diagnosis 60% Surgical
Secondary clinical diagnosis 40% Nonsurgical
Is a paraclinical diagnostic procedure needed?
YES

40. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Paraclinical Diagnostic Process - Indication
Certainty Plan of Treatment
Primary clinical diagnosis 60% Surgical Excision
Secondary clinical diagnosis 40% Surgical Excision
Is a paraclinical diagnostic procedure needed?
NO unless there is a strong reason to do so (exception to
the rule)

41. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Paraclinical Diagnostic Process - Indication
Certainty Plan of Treatment
Primary clinical diagnosis 90% Mutilating Op
Secondary clinical diagnosis 10% Nonmutilating Op
Is a paraclinical diagnostic procedure needed?
YES unless there is a strong reason NOTto do so
(exception to the rule)

42. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Paraclinical Diagnostic Process - Indication
Certainty Plan of Treatment
Primary clinical diagnosis 70% Chemotherapy
Secondary clinical diagnosis 30% Radiotherapy
Is a paraclinical diagnostic procedure needed?
YES unless there is a strong reason NOTto do so
(exception to the rule)

43. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Paraclinical Diagnostic Process - Indication
Tickler -
Which of the following statements is the strongest indication for a
paraclinical diagnostic procedure?
A. You can never be absolutely certain of your clinical diagnosis
B. You want to confirm a clinical diagnosis which are certain of
C. You want to document a clinical diagnosis which you are certain
of
D. When you are not certain of your clinical diagnosis
Best Answer is D

44. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Paraclinical Diagnostic Process - Selection
DATA NEEDED
OPTIONS OF
DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES

45. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Paraclinical Diagnostic Process - Selection
SELECTION PROCESS
Options Benefit Risk Cost Availability
1
2
3

46. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Paraclinical Diagnostic Process - Selection
OUTPUT EXPECTED
MOST COST-EFFECTIVE
DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURE

47. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Paraclinical Diagnostic Process - Selection
SELECTION PROCESS
Procedure Benefit Risk Cost (PhP) Availability
Options
1 most direct acceptable 1000 available
2 indirect acceptable 1500 available
3 indirect acceptable 1000 available
Which is the most cost-effective procedure?
Option 1

48. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Paraclinical Diagnostic Process - Selection
SELECTION PROCESS
Procedure Benefit Risk Cost (PhP) Availability
Options
1 accuracy 99% acceptable 5000 available
2 accuracy 90% acceptable 3000 available
3 accuracy 50% acceptable 1000 available
Which is the most cost-effective procedure?
Option 2 or Option 1?

49. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Paraclinical Diagnostic Process - Selection
SELECTION PROCESS
Procedure Benefit Risk Cost (PhP) Availability
Options
1 accuracy 95% acceptable 5000 available
2 accuracy 90% acceptable 3000 available
3 accuracy 50% acceptable 1000 available
Which is the most cost-effective procedure?
Option 2 or Option 1?

50. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Paraclinical Diagnostic Process - Selection
SELECTION PROCESS
Procedure Benefit Risk Cost (PhP) Availability
Options
1 yield greatest acceptable 4000 available
2 yield 90% acceptable 4000 available
3 yield 80% acceptable 3000 available
Which is the most cost-effective procedure?
Option 1

51. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Paraclinical Diagnostic Process - Interpretation
DATA NEEDED
PRIMARY CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS
SECONDARY CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS
RESULT OF PARACLINICAL
DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURE

52. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Paraclinical Diagnostic Process - Interpretation
INTERPRETATION PROCESS
CORRELATE
RESULT OF PARACLINICAL DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURE
WITH
PRIMARY AND SECONDARY CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS
CONGRUENT - ACCEPT
INCONGRUENT - MAKE A DECISION!
(Accept or Hold!)

53. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Paraclinical Diagnostic Process - Interpretation
Tickler -
Determine which paraclinical diagnosis should be accepted as the
pretreatment diagnosis and which one should be put on hold for further
decision-making. Write (A) for accept and (H) for hold.
7.1 Paraclinical diagnosis is the same as the primary clinical
diagnosis.
7.2 Paraclinical diagnosis is the same as the secondary clinical
diagnosis
7.3 Paraclinical diagnosis is a clinical diagnosis least considered.
7.4 Paraclinical diagnosis does not jibe with the clinical picture or
diagnosis.
7.1 A 7.2 A 7.3 H 7.4 H

54. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Learning Objectives
3. Describe the clinical diagnostic process.
4. Describe how to determine the indication for a
paraclinical diagnostic procedure.
5. Describe how a paraclinical diagnostic procedure should
be selected among several options.
6. Describe how to interpret results of a paraclinical
diagnostic procedure to come out with a
pretreatment diagnosis.

55. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Learning Objectives
7. Describe how a treatment modality should be selected
among several options.
8. Enumerate at least 4 essential items in the preoperative
preparation of a surgical patient.
9. Enumerate in correct chronological order 7 phases in
the intraoperative management starting from the
incision to wound closure.

56. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Learning Objectives
10. Enumerate at least 4 items in the immediate
postoperative care of a surgical patient.
11. Enumerate the two objectives of a follow-up plan after
treatment of a patient (whether surgical or not).

57. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Treatment Process

58. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Treatment Process - Selection
DATA NEEDED
PRETREATMENT DIAGNOSIS
SEVERITY OR STAGE
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
TREATMENT OPTIONS

59. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Treatment Process - Selection
SELECTION PROCESS
Options Benefit Risk Cost Availability
1
2
3

60. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Treatment Process - Selection
OUTPUT EXPECTED
MOST COST-EFFECTIVE
TREATMENT PROCEDURE
ACHIEVEMENT OF GOALS OF
PATIENT MANAGEMENT!

61. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Treatment Process - Selection
SELECTION PROCESS
Treatment Benefit Risk Cost (PhP) Availability
Options
1 greatest surv rate acceptable 5000 available
2 rate < 1 > 3 acceptable 4000 available
3 least surv rate acceptable 3000 available
Which is the most cost-effective treatment option?
Option 1

62. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Treatment Process - Selection
SELECTION PROCESS
Treatment Benefit Risk Cost (PhP) Availability
Options
1 SR1 = SR2 lesser 5000 available
2 SR2= SR1 more 5000 available
Which is the more cost-effective treatment option?
Option 1

63. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Treatment Process - Selection
SELECTION PROCESS
Treatment Benefit Risk Cost (PhP) Availability
Options
1 as effective as 2 acceptable 8000 available
2 as effective as 1 acceptable 4000 available
Which is the more cost-effective treatment option?
Option 2

64. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Treatment Process - Selection
SELECTION PROCESS
Treatment Benefit Risk Cost (PhP) Availability
Options
1 most effective acceptable 2000 available
2 effectivity <1 >3 acceptable 3000 available
3 least effective acceptable 4000 available
Which is the most cost-effective treatment option?
Option 1

65. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Surgical Treatment Process
PREOP PREPARATION

66. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Surgical Treatment Process - Preop Preparation
INFORMED CONSENT
PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT
OPTIMIZATION
SCREENING
OPERATIVE MATERIALS

67. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Surgical Treatment Process
INTRAOP
MANAGEMENT

68. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Surgical Treatment Process - Intraop Mgt
PHASES
INCISION
EXPOSURE
INTRAOP EVALUATION
OPERATIVE PROCEDURE PROPER
HEMOSTASIS CHECK
CORRECT COUNT
WOUND CLOSURE

69. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Surgical Treatment Process - Intraop Mgt
Quality Standards:
GENTLE
METICULOUS and PRECISE
NO IATROGENIC INJURIES
NO UNNECESSARY MOVES
EVERY MOVE HAS A REASON!

70. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Surgical Treatment Process
POSTOP CARE

71. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Surgical Treatment Process - Postop Care
•SUPPLY BASIC NEEDS OF PATIENT
COMFORT
ANALGESICS
FLUID AND ELECTROLYTES
NUTRITION
SUPPORT ORGAN FUNCTION
WOUND CARE
MONITORING FOR COMPLICATIONS
ADVICE ON
HOME CARE
FOLLOW-UP PLAN

72. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Surgical Treatment Process
POSTOP FOLLOW-UP
PLAN

73. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Surgical Treatment Process - Postop Follow-up
Plan
OBJECTIVES:
EVALUATE TREATMENT OUTCOME
PROVIDE PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT
MONITORING GUIDELINE:
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION
SYMPTOM-DIRECTED
INVESTIGATION

74. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Surgical Treatment Process - Postop Follow-up
Plan
FF-UP FREQUENCY GUIDELINES: CONSIDER
USUAL COURSE OF DISEASE
PERSONALITY OF PATIENT
PATIENT’S CONVENIENCE

75. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Learning Objectives
7. Describe how a treatment modality should be selected
among several options.
8. Enumerate at least 4 essential items in the preoperative
preparation of a surgical patient.
9. Enumerate in correct chronological order 7 phases in
the intraoperative management starting from the
incision to wound closure.

76. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Learning Objectives
10. Enumerate at least 4 items in the immediate
postoperative care of a surgical patient.
11. Enumerate the two objectives of a follow-up plan after
treatment of a patient (whether surgical or not).

77. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Learning Objectives
12. Describe how to advice patients on clinical diagnosis,
paraclinical diagnostic procedures, treatment,
follow-up, and health promotion and maintenance.
13. Describe when and to whom to refer.

78. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
HOW TO GIVE
ADVICES

79. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
HOW TO GIVE ADVICES
1. Always include the relatives of the patient in the
advising, if they are available.
2. Assess the psychological make-up, the health beliefs, and
the level of competency of the patient and the
relatives before making any advice. Make strategies
that will promote rapport.
2.1 Be honest but not brutally frank.
Example, slowly divulge the diagnosis of an
incurable disease or a frightening disease.
2.2 Use terminologies or explanations that can be
easily understood by the patient and his
relatives.

80. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
HOW TO GIVE ADVICES
3. Use all kinds of strategies that will make the patient and
his relatives like you.
4. Explain to the patient and relatives the processes you
use in arriving to a diagnosis, recommendation for a
paraclinical diagnostic procedures and treatment.

81. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
REFERRAL
WHEN
TO WHOM

82. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Referral - When to Refer?
All physicians, both certified and not yet certified, must
know their limitations.
Only they themselves can determine their own limitations.
They must realize their limitations so that they do not
cause undue harm to their patients and so that they
know when to refer to colleagues.

83. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Referral - To Whom to Refer?
Referral must be made to somebody
who may or can solve the patient’s health
problem
rationally, effectively, efficiently, and
humanely, and
who has a good track record of handling
the kind of problem on hand.

84. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Learning Objectives

85. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Learning Objectives
1. State the overall goals in the management of a patient
(whether surgical or not).
2. Enumerate the four functions of a physician in the
management of a patient (whether surgical or not).
3. Describe the clinical diagnostic process.
4. Describe how to determine the indication for a
paraclinical diagnostic procedure.
5. Describe how a paraclinical diagnostic procedure should
be selected among several options.

86. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Learning Objectives
6. Describe how to interpret results of a paraclinical
diagnostic procedure to come out with a
pretreatment diagnosis.
7. Describe how a treatment modality should be selected
among several options.
8. Enumerate at least 4 essential items in the preoperative
preparation of a surgical patient.
9. Enumerate in correct chronological order 7 phases in
the intraoperative management starting from the
incision to wound closure.

87. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Learning Objectives
10. Enumerate at least 4 items in the immediate
postoperative care of a surgical patient.
11. Enumerate the two objectives of a follow-up plan after
treatment of a patient (whether surgical or not).
12. Describe how to advice patients on clinical diagnosis,
paraclinical diagnostic procedures, treatment,
follow-up, and health promotion and maintenance.
13. Describe when and to whom to refer.

88. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
HOPE
u have enjoyed this
learning session!
Text or email me for any feedback and questions:
0918-804-03-04
rjoson2001@yahoo.com

89. Management of a Surgical Patient [Process]
Recommended Additional Readings:
Basic Introduction to the Operation
Maxims, Rules, and Guides in the Management of a
Patient
Preoperative Evaluation (Risk Assessment and
Management)
Text or email me for any feedback and questions:
0918-804-03-04
rjoson2001@yahoo.com