New barrier attire regulations in the operating room: A mandate without basis?

Background: Recent AHRQ/Joint Commission guidelines mandate additional barrier attire for all operating room personnel to target infection. The scientific basis for this is unclear.

Study Design: Patients undergoing abdominal surgery at our institution were identified from institutional NSQIP database before and after March 2016, when guidelines were implemented.

Ethical considerations regarding the implementation of new technologies and techniques in surgery.

Ethical considerations relevant to the implementation of new surgical technologies and techniques are explored and discussed in practical terms in this statement, including (1) How is the safety of a new technology or technique ensured?; (2) What are the timing and process by which a new technology or technique is implemented at a hospital?; (3) How are patients informed before undergoing a new technology or technique?; (4) How are surgeons trained and credentialed in a new technology or technique?; (5) How are the outcomes of a new technology or technique tracked and evaluated?; and (6) How are the responsibilities to individual patients and society at large balanced? The following discussion is presented with the intent to encourage thought and dialogue about ethical considerations relevant to the implementation of new technologies and new techniques in surgery.

Colorectal cancer in patients under 50 years of age: a retrospective analysis of two institutions' experience.

Aim: To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of colorectal cancer (CRC) in patients under 50 years of age across two institutions.

Methods: Records of patients under age 50 years of age who had CRC surgery over a 16 year period were assessed at two institutions. The following documents where reviewed: admission notes, operative notes, and discharge summaries.

John Jones, M.D.: pioneer, patriot, and founder of American surgery.

John Jones was a pioneer of American Surgery. Born in Long Island, New York in 1729, he received his medical degree in France from the University of Rheims. He returned to the colonies and helped to establish the medical school that would later become Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons where he was appointed the first Professor of Surgery in the New World.

Prospective study of ambulation after open and laparoscopic colorectal resection.

Purpose: Open and laparoscopic surgical approaches each have specific advantages. This study compares ambulation, hospital length of stay (LOS), and incision length after open and laparoscopic colorectal resection.

Methods: All consecutive patients undergoing colorectal resection over a 2 year period ending August 2002 were followed prospectively.

Major abdominal surgery increases plasma levels of vascular endothelial growth factor: open more so than minimally invasive methods.

Introduction: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent inducer of angiogenesis that is necessary for wound healing and also promotes tumor growth. It is anticipated that plasma levels would increase after major surgery and that such elevations may facilitate tumor growth. This study's purpose was to determine plasma VEGF levels before and early after major open and minimally invasive abdominal surgery.

A 10-year single-institutional study of the biofragmentable anastomosis ring.

Background: The biofragmentable anastomosis ring (BAR) was introduced by Hardy in 1985 as a simple alternative to sutured or stapled intestinal anastomosis.

Methods: The aim of this study was to analyze complications related to the use of the BAR in elective intraperitoneal intestinal anastomosis to identify technical aspects important in the safe use of the device. The BAR was used by a single surgeon over a 10-year period.

Safety and reliability of tattooing colorectal neoplasms prior to laparoscopic resection.

Accurate tumor localization is critical to performing minimally invasive colorectal resection. This study reviews the safety and reliability of tattooing colorectal neoplasms prior to laparoscopic resection. We retrospectively reviewed 50 consecutive patients with colorectal neoplasms who underwent endoscopic tattooing prior to laparoscopic resection.

Depletion of circulating insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 after open surgery is associated with high interleukin-6 levels.

Purpose: We have previously shown that plasma from open, but not laparoscopic-assisted, surgery patients has increased mitogenic activity for colon cancer cells. Decreased insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 levels, most likely the result of an open surgery-induced proteolytic activity, may account for this finding. Plasma proteases are activated by interleukin-6.

Colorectal cancer surveillance after age 65 years.

Background: It would be valuable to determine whether or not asymptomatic patients 60 to 65 years of age with normal colonoscopies should continue to undergo serial colorectal cancer surveillance examinations.

Methods: Data were obtained from retrospective review of our existing database. Additional data were obtained from patients' medical records, office charts, and pathology reports.

Plasma from patients undergoing major open surgery stimulates in vitro tumor growth: Lower insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 levels may, in part, account for this change.

Background: Plasma from laparotomized mice has been shown to stimulate in vitro tumor growth when compared to results with preoperative plasma. This study assessed the effect of plasma from patients who underwent major open (OS) or laparoscopic surgery (LS) on in vitro tumor cell growth.

Methods: Eighty-four patients undergoing major abdominal surgery were studied (45 OS, 39 LS).