Development of a fundamentals of endoscopic surgery proficiency-based skills curriculum for general surgery residents.

Background: Fundamentals of Endoscopic Surgery (FES) has become a board certification requirement for general surgery residents. While the FES program provides a robust didactic curriculum, an endoscopic skills curriculum is lacking for this high stakes assessment. The aims of this study were to develop a proficiency-based endoscopic skills curriculum and assess its effectiveness on success in the FES exam.

Perioperative Management of Patients with Colovesical Fistula.

Background: Colovesical fistula (CVF) is an uncommon complication of diverticulitis. Substantial heterogeneity exists in the perioperative management of this condition. We seek to evaluate the role of bladder leak testing, closed suction drainage, prolonged bladder catheter usage, and routine postoperative cystogram in the management of CVF.

Contemporary Management of Sigmoid Volvulus.

Background: Sigmoid volvulus is an uncommon cause of bowel obstruction that is historically associated with high morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study was to evaluate contemporary management of sigmoid volvulus and the safety of primary anastomosis in patients with sigmoid volvulus.

Methods: The National Surgical Quality Improvement Project from 2012 to 2015 was queried for patients with colonic volvulus who underwent left-sided colonic resection.

Bowel Preparation Is Associated with Reduced Morbidity in Elderly Patients Undergoing Elective Colectomy.

Background: Bowel preparation in elderly patients is associated with physiologic derangements that may result in postoperative complications. The aim of this study is to determine the impact of bowel preparation on postoperative outcomes in elderly patients.

Methods: Patients age 75 years and older who underwent elective colectomy were identified from the 2012-2014 American College of National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP database).

A Model of Cost Reduction and Standardization: Improved Cost Savings While Maintaining the Quality of Care.

Background: Surgeon instrument choices are influenced by training, previous experience, and established preferences. This causes variability in the cost of common operations, such as laparoscopic appendectomy. Many surgeons are unaware of the impact that this has on healthcare spending.

Pro-neoplastic effects of amphiregulin in colorectal carcinogenesis.

Purpose: Epidermal growth factor (EGF) family plays critical roles in intestinal epithelial growth and transformation. Amphiregulin (AREG) is a member of the EGF family, and has been suggested to be more important to tumor versus normal growth. The precise roles of AREG in colorectal carcinogenesis have not been thoroughly elucidated.

Single-port laparoscopic right hemicolectomy: the first 100 resections.

Background: Single-port laparoscopy remains a novel technique in the field of colorectal surgery. Several small series have examined its safety for colon resection.

Objective: Our aim was to analyze our entire experience and short-term outcomes with single-port laparoscopic right hemicolectomy since its introduction at our institution.

Single-port laparoscopic right hemicolectomy: a safe alternative to conventional laparoscopy.

Purpose: Single-port laparoscopic surgery has evolved from an effort to minimize tissue trauma, limit morbidity, and maximize cosmesis. Limited data exist comparing single-port with conventional laparoscopy for right colectomy. Our aim is to compare single-port with laparoscopic colectomy with regard to safety and feasibility.

Vascular endothelial growth factor improves myocardial functional recovery following ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Background: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a central growth and survival factor for both the endothelium and the myocardium. Recent evidence also suggests that VEGF may play a critical role in stem-cell-mediated paracrine cardioprotection. However, the acute effect of exogenous VEGF on myocardium after ischemia, indeed whether isolated VEGF alone may be a clinically useful therapeutic modality, remains unknown.