Predictors of Utilization and Quality Assessment in Robotic Rectal Cancer Resection: A Review of the National Cancer Database.

Robotic surgery (RS) is a novel treatment for rectal cancer resection (RCR); however, this technology is not widely accessible. The objective of this study is to evaluate the utilization of RS in RCR compared with open and laparoscopic techniques and to assess the quality of resection. RCR from 2010 to 2012 were identified using the National Cancer Database and placed into categories: open, laparoscopic, and robotic.

Asian Perspectives on Diagnostic and Therapeutic Strategies in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Report and Analysis of a Survey with Questionnaires.

Background: Diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) vary among countries in terms of availability of modalities, affordability of health care resource, health care policy and cultural background. This may be the case in different countries in Eastern Asia. The aim of this study was to determine and understand the differences in diagnostic and therapeutic strategies of IBD between Japan and the rest of Asian countries (ROA).

Efficacy of Double-Blind Peer Review in an Imaging Subspecialty Journal.

Background And Purpose: Many scientific journals use double-blind peer review to minimize potential reviewer bias concerning publication recommendations. However, because neuroradiology is a relatively small subspecialty, this process may be limited by prior knowledge of the authors' work or associated institutions. We sought to investigate the efficacy of reviewer blinding and determine the impact that unblinding may have on manuscript acceptance.

Evolution of Laparoscopic Surgery for Colorectal Cancer: The Impact of the Clinical Outcomes of Surgical Therapy Group Trial.

The Clinical Outcomes of Surgical Therapy Group (COST) Trial established laparoscopic procedures offer short-term benefits while preserving the same oncologic outcomes in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients compared with open procedures. The aim of this study was to evaluate the trend of laparoscopic resection for CRC before and after the publication of the COST Trial. Retrospective study of surgically treated CRC patients was conducted from January 2000 to December 2009.

Severe complicated Clostridium difficile infection: Can the UPMC proposed scoring system predict the need for surgery?

Introduction: Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is one of the most common health care-associated infections, and it continues to have significant morbidity and mortality. The onset of fulminant colitis often requires total abdominal colectomy with ileostomy, which has a mortality rate of 35% to 57%. University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) developed a scoring system for severity and recommended surgical consultation for severe complicated disease.