TABLE 14.

Clinical approach to surgical problems: differential diagnosis

Etiological

Trauma

Infection

Cancer

Congenital

Local manifestation of systemic disease

Postoperative change/result/sequela

Anatomic/regional—head/torso/extremity approach

Head/neck

Thorax

Abdomen

Extremities

Pathophysiological/subsystem approach—organ/system dysfunction

Neurological

Respiratory

Circulatory

Gastrointestinal

Endocrine/metabolic

Infectious/immunologic

Renal

Fluid/electrolyte imbalance

Wounds

Nutrition

Vascular

Vegative aspects⁎ (eg, fever, pain, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, insomia, constipation)

^⁎BSP (bowels/sleep/pain)