Efficacy and tolerability of a novel galactomannan-based formulation for symptomatic treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Objective: Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) and traditional antacids are the common standard set of therapy for the management of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms. The aim of the current study was to evaluate efficacy and safety of a novel galactomannan-based liquid formulation in reducing typical GERD symptoms in patients not taking PPIs.

Patients And Methods: This was a single-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Temporal Trends in the Incidence and Natural History of Diverticulitis: A Population-Based Study.

Objectives: Data on the incidence and natural history of diverticulitis are largely hospital-based and exclude the majority of diverticulitis patients, who are treated in an outpatient setting for uncomplicated diverticulitis. We assessed temporal trends in the epidemiology of diverticulitis in the general population.

Methods: Through the Rochester Epidemiology Project we reviewed the records of all individuals with a diagnosis of diverticulitis from 1980 to 2007 in Olmsted County, Minnesota, USA.

Risk of neoplastic change in ileal pouches in familial adenomatous polyposis.

Introduction: Neoplastic change in ileal reservoirs after proctocolectomy has been reported in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis. We aim to determine the incidence and progression of neoplastic change in the ileal pouch of familial adenomatous polyposis patients at our institution.

Methods: A retrospective review of all patients who underwent proctocolectomy for familial adenomatous polyposis with construction of an ileal pouch from 1972 to 2007 was performed.

Drivers of cost after surgical and medical therapy for chronic ulcerative colitis: a nested case-cohort study in Olmsted County, Minnesota.

Background: We previously reported the costs associated with surgery for chronic ulcerative colitis in the Olmsted County population and found that direct medical costs after surgery were significantly reduced compared with before surgery. However, in that study, costs associated with chronic medical therapy for ulcerative colitis were not assessed in nonsurgical patients.

Objective: To gain insight into the drivers of costs of treatment for chronic ulcerative colitis, we assessed direct costs after surgical and medical therapy in 120 patients in the Rochester Epidemiology Project database.

Colorectal surgery surgical site infection reduction program: a national surgical quality improvement program--driven multidisciplinary single-institution experience.

Background: Surgical site infections (SSI) are a major cause of morbidity in surgical patients and they increase health care costs considerably. Colorectal surgery is consistently associated with high SSI rates. No single intervention has demonstrated efficacy in reducing colorectal SSIs.

Diagnoses influence surgical site infections (SSI) in colorectal surgery: a must consideration for SSI reporting programs?

Background: Colorectal surgery is associated with high rates of surgical site infection (SSI). The National Surgery Quality Improvement Program is a validated, risk-adjusted quality-improvement program for surgical patients. Patient stratification and risk adjustment are associated with Current Procedural Terminology codes and primary disease diagnosis is not considered.

Assessment of screening colonoscopy competency in colon and rectal surgery fellows: a single institution experience.

Background: The American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Colorectal Surgery requirements for certification include 80 and 140 colonoscopic procedures, respectively. However, little data support the attainment of colonoscopic competency. The aim of this retrospective study is to report the colonoscopy learning experience for colorectal surgery fellows at a single high-volume training program.

Technical proficiency in hand-assisted laparoscopic colon and rectal surgery: determining how many cases are required to achieve mastery.

Objective: To determine how many cases are required to achieve technical proficiency for hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery (HALS).

Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: Tertiary care hospital.

Loop ileostomy reversal after colon and rectal surgery: a single institutional 5-year experience in 944 patients.

Background: Diverting loop ileostomy is used to mitigate the sequelae of anastomotic dehiscence.

Objective: To report the rate of complications after ileostomy reversal using standardized definitions to aid physicians who are deciding whether to divert anastomoses.

Methods: Patients who underwent diverting loop ileostomy closure from January 1, 2005, through February 28, 2010, were identified using a prospective database.

Utility and short-term outcomes of hand-assisted laparoscopic colorectal surgery: a single-institution experience in 1103 patients.

Background: Despite its introduction in 1991, laparoscopic colectomy is performed in <10% of United States patients requiring colectomy. Laparoscopic colectomy is avoided principally because of its technical difficulty, steep learning curve, and increased operative times. Hand-assisted laparoscopic colectomy is an alternative technique that addresses these problems while preserving the short-term benefits of laparoscopic colectomy.

Assessment of Colon Cancer Literacy in screening colonoscopy patients: a validation study.

Background: Few, if any, instruments assess disease-specific health literacy in colon cancer patients. We aimed to validate the Assessment of Colon Cancer Literacy (ACCL) compared with a standard health literacy test, the Newest Vital Sign (NVS).

Materials And Methods: A convenience sample of screening colonoscopy patients was surveyed.

Short-term outcomes after elective minimally invasive colectomy for diverticulitis.

Background: The role of minimally invasive surgery in complicated diverticulitis is still being elucidated. The aim of this study was to compare short-term outcomes in patients undergoing minimally invasive surgery for complicated or uncomplicated diverticular disease.

Methods: All patients who had elective minimally invasive surgery for diverticulitis between 2003 and 2008 were identified from a prospectively maintained database.

Effectiveness of a multimedia-based educational intervention for improving colon cancer literacy in screening colonoscopy patients.

Purpose: Limited data exist regarding colon cancer literacy in screening colonoscopy patients. We aimed to prospectively assess baseline colon cancer literacy and to determine whether a multimedia educational intervention was associated with improved colon cancer literacy.

Methods: Colon cancer literacy was assessed in a convenience sample of colonoscopy patients before and after educational intervention.

Hand-assisted laparoscopic colon and rectal cancer surgery: feasibility, short-term, and oncological outcomes.

Background: Hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery (HALS) is an established alternative to laparoscopic-assisted surgery, but limited data exist regarding its applicability for colorectal cancer (CRC). We report short-term outcomes in a large series of CRC patients who underwent HALS between 2004 and 2009.

Methods: A prospectively maintained database was used to identify all CRC patients.

Drug interaction presenting as acute abdomen.

Warfarin is the most common oral anticoagulant prescribed around the world. Adverse drug interactions with warfarin are a huge problem especially in the elderly and in patients who take multiple medications. Most adverse drug interactions involve concomitantly prescribed oral or intravenous medications.