Evaluation of Trends in the Use of InterStim for Fecal Incontinence.

Background: Fecal incontinence (FI) represents a large source of morbidity and is a challenging clinical problem to manage. InterStim was approved to treat FI in 2011. Little is known about its adoption.

Evaluating cumulative and annual surgeon volume in laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Background: Although there is a large body of published data demonstrating improved outcomes for complex operations when performed by high-volume surgeons at high-volume hospitals, the literature is mixed regarding whether this same relationship applies in less complex and more common surgeries such as laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Methods: This study utilized the New York State Department of Health Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System database to identify patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute and chronic biliary pathology. Rates of perioperative outcomes were compared among 4 distinct categories of surgeons based on surgeon annual and cumulative volume: low cumulative/low annual, low cumulative/high annual, high cumulative/low annual, and high cumulative/high annual.