The First Cold Atmospheric Plasma Phase I Clinical Trial for the Treatment of Advanced Solid Tumors: A Novel Treatment Arm for Cancer.

Local regional recurrence (LRR) remains the primary cause of treatment failure in solid tumors despite advancements in cancer therapies. Canady Helios Cold Plasma (CHCP) is a novel Cold Atmospheric Plasma device that generates an Electromagnetic Field and Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species to induce cancer cell death. In the first FDA-approved Phase I trial (March 2020-April 2021), 20 patients with stage IV or recurrent solid tumors underwent surgical resection combined with intra-operative CHCP treatment.

Early Diagnosis and Treatment of Chylous Mesenteric Cysts.

Mesenteric cysts are benign congenital cysts typically discovered incidentally during abdominal explorations for other reasons. When feasible, they should be excised to prevent recurrence, bowel obstruction or volvulus, and resulting complications. We present a unique case of an infant, diagnosed prenatally by ultrasound with possible bowel obstruction, found to have micro and macro chylous mesenteric cysts.

Successful non-operative management of intraabdominal hypertension and abdominal compartment syndrome after complex ventral hernia repair: a case series.

Background: Intraabdominal hypertension (IAH) and abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) are devastating complications of surgery. Patients who undergo complex ventral hernia repair (CVHR) may be at risk for IAH and ACS.

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of 175 patients who underwent CVHR by a single surgeon.

Outcomes in complex ventral hernia repair with anterior component separation in class III obesity patients.

Background: Consensus guidelines recommend against elective ventral hernia repair (VHR) in patients with BMI >30 kg/m without preoperative weight loss intervention. We aim to compare hernia recurrence and perioperative complications in VHR utilizing anterior component separation (CS) in patients with class III obesity (BMI >40 kg/m).

Methods: A retrospective review of patients undergoing VHR with CS was performed.

The effect of tobacco use on outcomes of laparoscopic and open ventral hernia repairs: a review of the NSQIP dataset.

Introduction: Tobacco smoking is a known risk factor for complications after major surgical procedures. The full effect of tobacco use on these complications has not been studied over large populations for ventral hernia repairs. This effect is more important as the preoperative conditioning, and optimization of patients is adopted.

The effect of tobacco use on outcomes of laparoscopic and open inguinal hernia repairs: a review of the NSQIP dataset.

Background: As the effort to reduce postoperative morbidity and mortality continues, the search for modifiable patient risk factors to reduce complications is ongoing. Tobacco use is associated with impaired wound healing, but its effect on inguinal hernia repair has not been studied in a large population. An ACS-NSQIP dataset was used to evaluate the effect of tobacco use on outcomes of inguinal hernia repairs.

Primary Anastomosis versus Ostomy after Colon Resection during Debulking of Ovarian Carcinomatosis: A NSQIP Analysis.

Ovarian carcinomatosis poses a dilemma for the surgeon. When resecting colon for tumor invasion, one must decide between diversion and primary anastomosis (PA). We examined the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program to determine whether PA associated with more complications than ostomy.

Outcomes and Use of Laparoscopic Versus Open Gastric Resection.

Background And Objectives: The advantages of laparoscopy over open surgery are well established. Laparoscopic resection for gastric cancer is safe and results in equivalent oncologic outcomes when compared with open resection. The purpose of this study was to assess the use of laparoscopy to treat gastric cancer and the associated outcomes.

The utility of mock oral examinations in preparation for the American Board of Surgery certifying examination.

Background: Determine the utility of mock oral examinations in preparation for the American Board of Surgery certifying examination (ABS CE).

Methods: Between 2002 and 2012, blinded data were collected on 63 general surgery residents: 4th and 5th-year mock oral examination scores, first-time pass rates on ABS CE, and an online survey.

Results: Fifty-seven residents took the 4th-year mock oral examination: 30 (52.

Current practices in biliary surgery: Do we practice what we teach?

Introduction: Since the widespread adoption of laparoscopic techniques in biliary surgery, the incidence of bile duct injures (BDI) has not significantly declined despite increased operative experience and recognition of the critical view of safety (CVS) method for anatomic identification. We hypothesized that operative approaches in clinical practice may vary from well-described technical recommendations. The objective of this study was to access how practicing surgeons commonly identify anatomy during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC).

Retroperitoneal sarcoma (RPS) high risk gross tumor volume boost (HR GTV boost) contour delineation agreement among NRG sarcoma radiation and surgical oncologists.

Purpose: Curative intent management of retroperitoneal sarcoma (RPS) requires gross total resection. Preoperative radiotherapy (RT) often is used as an adjuvant to surgery, but recurrence rates remain high. To enhance RT efficacy with acceptable tolerance, there is interest in delivering "boost doses" of RT to high-risk areas of gross tumor volume (HR GTV) judged to be at risk for positive resection margins.

The impact of operative timing on outcomes of appendicitis: a National Surgical Quality Improvement Project analysis.

Background: Surgery is indicated for acute uncomplicated appendicitis but the optimal timing is controversial. Recent literature is conflicting on the effect of time to intervention.

Methods: We queried the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Project dataset for patients undergoing laparoscopic and open appendectomy between 2007 and 2012.

Laparoscopy has a superior diagnostic yield than percutaneous image-guided biopsy for suspected intra-abdominal lymphoma.

Introduction: To date, no study has compared laparoscopy (LB) to percutaneous (PB) biopsy for the diagnosis of abdominal lymphoma. The objective of this study is to compare the success rate and safety profile of laparoscopic lymph node biopsy to the percutaneous approach in patients with intra-abdominal lymphadenopathy concerning for lymphoma.

Materials And Methods: We performed a multi-institution, retrospective review of patients undergoing lymph node biopsy for suspected intra-abdominal lymphoma between 2005 and 2013.

The utilization of laparoscopy in ventral hernia repair: an update of outcomes analysis using ACS-NSQIP data.

Background: Numerous prospective studies and randomized controlled trials have demonstrated shorter length of stay, lower morbidity rates, and similar recurrence rates with laparoscopic ventral hernia repair (VHR) when compared to open VHR. Despite these promising results, previous data showed low utilization of laparoscopic VHR. The aim of our study was to evaluate the utilization of laparoscopic VHR using the most updated information from the American College of Surgeons-National Surgical Quality Improvement Project (NSQIP) dataset.

Improved patient outcomes in paraesophageal hernia repair using a laparoscopic approach: a study of the national surgical quality improvement program data.

A consensus on the optimal surgical approach for repair of a paraesophageal hernia has not been reached. The aim of this study was to examine the outcomes of open and laparoscopic paraesophageal hernia repairs (PHR), both with and without mesh. A review of the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database from 2007 to 2011 was conducted.

Minimally invasive technique leads to decreased morbidity and mortality in small bowel resections compared to an open technique: an ACS-NSQIP identified target for improvement.

Background: We hypothesize that currently minimally invasive techniques are underutilized, leading to unnecessary morbidity and mortality. The objective of the study was to compare morbidity and mortality rates in patients receiving a minimally invasive (MIS) small bowel resection to patients receiving an open (OP) small bowel resection.

Methods: Patients in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database who underwent a small bowel resection between 2007 and 2011 were enrolled in the study and grouped whether they received a MIS procedure (n = 1,780) or an OP procedure (n = 17,701).

Long-term efficacy of laparoscopic cholecystectomy for the treatment of biliary dyskinesia.

Background: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the treatment of choice for biliary dyskinesia; however, long-term outcomes remain unclear.

Methods: A retrospective review of patients diagnosed with biliary dyskinesia and treated with laparoscopic cholecystectomy at a single institution between 2001 and 2012 was conducted. Long-term outcome data were obtained by telephonic interview using a modified Likert scale.

Permanent mesh results in long-term symptom improvement and patient satisfaction without increasing adverse outcomes in hiatal hernia repair.

Background: The purpose of this study is to evaluate symptom relief, patient satisfaction, and safety of permanent mesh following Nissen fundoplication and hiatal hernia repair.

Methods: Patients who underwent Nissen fundoplication and hiatal hernia repair with permanent mesh (Crurasoft; Davol, Inc, Bard, Warwick, RI) between 2005 and 2011 were identified. A retrospective chart review was conducted.

Higher clinical performance during a surgical clerkship is independently associated with matriculation of medical students into general surgery.

Background: The purpose of our study was to determine the predictive impact of individual academic measures for the matriculation of senior medical students into a general surgery residency.

Methods: Academic records were evaluated for third-year medical students (n = 781) at a single institution between 2004 and 2011. Cohorts were defined by student matriculation into either a general surgery residency program (n = 58) or a non-general surgery residency program (n = 723).

Inguinal hernia containing a kidney with a duplicated system: an exceptionally rare case.

An inguinal hernia is a commonly encountered surgical case, with multiple unusual contents being reported. We present an exceptionally rare case of an inguinal hernia. Computed tomography imaging of the 62-year-old male patient showed a large left inguinal hernia extending into the left scrotum that contained a duplicated left kidney.

Resident training in single-incision compared with traditional cholecystectomy.

Introduction: As attending surgeons' comfort with single-incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) grows, and with continued improvement in surgical instruments, advanced laparoscopic techniques are increasingly being incorporated into surgical training. The aim of our study was to evaluate resident performance and patient outcomes in patients undergoing resident-performed SILS versus a resident-performed traditional laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC).

Methods: A retrospective case-control study of 80 patients undergoing elective surgical intervention with a resident-performed SILS (n = 20) or a resident-performed traditional LC (n = 60) for gallbladder disease over a 15-month period was performed.