Decision analysis for the surgeon

Surgical practice, by nature, is full of important decision making scenarios. Surgeons have begun to utilize the decision sciences as a methodology of approaching clinically relevant surgical problems. This article provides a brief overview of some of the important concepts of the decision sciences as they apply to practicing surgeons. Concepts discussed include the basic principles behind decision trees, valuing outcomes, and Markov modeling as well as the pros and cons of the decision analytic approach. Decision analysis is a valuable aid in determining answers to clinical scenarios, and understanding the principles behind this methodology is an important addition to the armamentarium of all practicing surgeons.