Real world efficacy of alvimopan on elective bowel resection patients: an analysis of statistical versus clinical significance.

Background: Alvimopan has been shown to shorten time to return of bowel function (RBF), thereby decreasing length of stay (LOS). The aim of this study was to assess the clinical significance of this effect on actual practice. METJODS: A retrospective and prospective study of elective bowel resection patients was performed.

Feasibility of and barriers to continuity of care in US general surgery residencies with an 80-hour duty week.

Background: The current level of continuity of care for following up a single patient through preoperative evaluation, surgery, and postoperative care is unknown.

Methods: A survey of residents was performed, asking for their best guess regarding the number of patients seen for 6 common and 4 uncommon surgeries, and ranking barriers to continuity of care. The length of time to achieve single-patient continuity of care in 5 patients was derived as well as the creation of odds ratios for the barriers.

Small bowel obstruction caused by a congenital jejuno-jejuno band in a child.

A case of small bowel obstruction in a 4-year-old boy with pica is described. The child habitually chewed on his plastic toy action figures. Abdominal radiography and endoscopy confirmed the presence of chewed pieces of plastic within the digestive tract.