The Surgical House Call

摘要: We surgeons perform some cures; more often we palliate, leaving unfinished business that then becomes the responsibility of member our profession. I propose act fulfilling this should be undertaken, at least occasionally, in patient's home and by his surgeon. Take, for example, lonely frightened woman with a long-standing ileostomy ulcerative colitis suffering severe abdominal cramps having no neighbors, friends, or ready means transportation; older patient recurrent cancer pharynx, obviously preterminal, but an intermittent airway problem; large venous stasis ulcer being treated on wet dressings elevation; hemiplegic failed femoropopliteal bypass graft toe gangrene paralytic leg, awaiting decision against amputation. The surgeon is rarely called to see new patients from "primary care" problems. But those whom he