Repair of abdominal wall defects with bovine pericardium.

Background: Ventral hernia repair with prosthetic mesh has recurrence rates up to 54% and is contraindicated in the setting of infection. The aim of this study was to provide our experience with acellular bovine pericardium (Veritas collagen matrix; Synovis Life Technologies, Inc., St.

Colon and rectal cancer in the elderly. High incidence of asymptomatic disease, less surgical emergencies, and a favorable short-term outcome.

Background: This is a retrospective study aimed to report short-term outcome among patients age > or =70 years surgically treated for colorectal cancer.

Methods: All patients with the discharge diagnosis of colon and rectal cancer at St. Louis University Hospital from 1992 to 2002 were reviewed.

The impact of surgery on infants born at extremely low birth weight.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the outcome of extremely low-birth-weight infants (ELBW) requiring surgical interventions for the complications of prematurity

Methods: One hundred eighty-seven consecutive infants with a birth weight less than 1,000 g treated over a 5-year period were reviewed. Outcome variables included number and types of surgical procedures; length of stay; survival rate and; pulmonary, neurologic, and gastrointestinal morbidity.

Results: Surgical interventions were required in 66 (35%) infants (group S) weighing less than 1,000 g at birth (33% necrotizing enterocolitis/bowel perforation, 36% patent ductus arteriosus, 56% other).