Use of Serotonergic Drugs in Canada for Gastrointestinal Motility Disorders: Results of a Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background. Surgery for GI dysmotility is limited to those with severe refractory disease. Though effective, use of serotonergic promotility drugs has been restricted in Canada due to adverse events.

Histological findings in resected bowel of motility-disordered patients.

Gastrointestinal (GI) motility disorders are prevalent conditions associated with pain and bowel dysfunction. Some motility-disordered patients with intractable symptoms have undergone bowel resection aimed at palliating their symptoms. Our objective was to describe a population of motility-disordered patients with histopathological abnormalities identified in full-thickness surgical biopsies.

Improved health-related quality of life after surgical management of severe refractory constipation-dominant irritable bowel syndrome.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the most common of the functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs). Despite its prevalence and health-care costs, there are few effective therapies for patients with severe symptoms. Our objective was to determine whether surgical management would improve health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in severe refractory constipation-dominant FGIDs.

Technical skills assessment toolbox: a review using the unitary framework of validity.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to create a technical skills assessment toolbox for 35 basic and advanced skills/procedures that comprise the American College of Surgeons (ACS)/Association of Program Directors in Surgery (APDS) surgical skills curriculum and to provide a critical appraisal of the included tools, using contemporary framework of validity.

Background: Competency-based training has become the predominant model in surgical education and assessment of performance is an essential component. Assessment methods must produce valid results to accurately determine the level of competency.