Diagnosefindung in der Tiermedizin

In this work, the potential causes of clinically relevant problems
in internal medicine and clinical pathology are divided into groups
and subgroups, using the problem-oriented approach. The division
into subgroups is performed until finally a list of examples for
differential diagnoses is presented. In this approach “problems”
are defined as symptomes and changes of normal findings in animal
history, physical examination and clinical pathology parameters.
For this reason all groups, subgroups and differential diagnoses
are defined as “rule outs”. The criterias for classification are
chosen in a way that they are well-distinguishable and didactically
plausible in their pathophysiological background. The intention of
these subdivisions is to get a good structure for problems with
several causes. In this work it is shown that this approach leads
to a comprehensible classification. In the end, just a few rule
outs with a small amount of diseases is left, which can be directly
verified or falsified. The rule-outs, at first defined by the
author, were discussed and modified in several discussion groups,
till in the end the final result was supported by all participants.
Senior lecturers of the Clinic for Small Animal Medicine, Munich,
took part in these discussion groups. Therefore the rule outs were
found consensus-based, to contribute to a standardization of the
diagnosis process in internal medicine in theory and application.
With this method both, veterinarians and students with lack of
experience, can solve complicated cases completely. Additionally
the procedure of finding a diagnosis becomes comprehensive and
understandable. Finally, the rule outs can also be regarded as a
general tool to understand problems in the field of
pathophysiology.