Robotic versus standard laparoscopic elective colectomy: where are the benefits?

Background: Robotic approaches for colorectal surgery have been growing in popularity as experience with the new technology develops, but are frequently associated with longer operative time. It is unclear whether prolonged operative duration in robotic cases translates to increased morbidity. This study aims to compare the outcomes of non-emergent laparoscopic and robotic colon resections.

Inpatient infliximab is ineffective at preventing colectomy for steroid refractory extensive colitis.

Background: Despite data suggesting safety and efficacy in ulcerative colitis patients treated with inpatient infliximab, prior studies did not focus on patients with extensive colitis, the group at highest risk for requiring surgery.

Methods: This was a single center, retrospective study (2008-2015) of consecutive patients who required admission because of severe extensive ulcerative colitis defined by preoperative symptoms and computed tomography scans and postoperative histology. Patients admitted for high-dose steroids were compared with steroid refractory inpatients provided with one or two infusions of infliximab.

Institution of a Preoperative Stoma Education Group Class Decreases Rate of Peristomal Complications in New Stoma Patients.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare selected postoperative complications (including stomal and peristomal complications), hospital length of stay, and readmission rates in a group of patients who attended a preoperative educational intervention to a retrospective group of patients who did not receive the intervention.

Design: Retrospective, comparison cohort study.

Subjects And Setting: The intervention group comprised 124 patients who attended an educational session for persons with fecal ostomies at a single tertiary care center in the Northeastern United States.

Liposomal Bupivacaine Use in Transversus Abdominis Plane Blocks Reduces Pain and Postoperative Intravenous Opioid Requirement After Colorectal Surgery.

Background: Enhanced recovery protocols frequently use multimodal postoperative analgesia to improve postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing colorectal surgery.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate liposomal bupivacaine use in transversus abdominis plane blocks on postoperative pain scores and opioid use after colorectal surgery.

Design: This was a retrospective cohort study comparing outcomes between patients receiving nonliposomal anesthetic (n = 104) and liposomal bupivacaine (n = 303) blocks.

Use of intra-abdominal drains.

The use of drains in colorectal surgery has been a subject of debate for several decades. Prophylactic drainage of the peritoneal cavity has become less popular in recent years. This change is due to several studies demonstrating that intraperitoneal drains do not adequately drain the peritoneal cavity and do not prevent or contain anastomotic leaks.

Revisional bariatric surgery: who, what, where, and when?

Background: Revisional bariatric surgery (RBS) outcomes have been poorly characterized. We compared the RBS and primary bariatric surgery (PBS) outcomes at the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in the United States.

A new model of chronic hapten-induced colitis in young rats.

Aim And Objective: : Chronic models of inflammatory bowel disease are lacking in preadult rodents. The primary goal of our study was to develop a chronic model of hapten-induced intestinal inflammation and fibrosis in young rats. Second, we aimed to determine the profiles of key Th-1, Th-2, and Th-17 proinflammatory and profibrotic cytokines, during the progression of colitis in young rats.