Modifying Risks in Ventral Hernia Patients With Prehabilitation: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether preoperative nutritional counseling and exercise (prehabilitation) in obese patients with ventral hernia repair (VHR) results in more hernia-free and complication-free patients.

Background: Obesity and poor fitness are associated with complications following VHR. These issues are prevalent in low socioeconomic status patients.

Understanding Patients' Experiences of Diagnosis and Treatment of Advanced Colorectal Cancer in a Safety-Net Hospital System: A Qualitative Study.

Background: Greater understanding of barriers to screening of colorectal cancer among lower socioeconomic, particularly Hispanic, patients is needed to improve disparities in care.

Objective: This study aimed to explore patients' perceptions and experiences of care seeking for colorectal cancer to identify barriers to early diagnosis and treatment.

Design: This explorative qualitative study was conducted as a focused ethnography of patients diagnosed with advanced-stage colorectal cancer.

Differences of alternative methods of measuring abdominal wall hernia defect size: a prospective observational study.

Background: Despite the importance of defect size, there are no standardized recommendations on how to measure ventral hernias. Our aims were to determine (1) if any significant differences existed between various methods of measuring ventral hernias and (2) the effect of these methods of measurement on selection of mesh size.

Method: A prospective study of all patients enrolled in a randomized trial assessing laparoscopic ventral hernia repair at a single institution from 3/2015 to 7/2016 was eligible for inclusion.

Decreasing Surgical Site Infections after Ventral Hernia Repair: A Quality-Improvement Initiative.

Background: Surgical site infections (SSIs) remain prevalent after ventral hernia repair (VHR). In 2013-2014, a safety-net academic hospital initiated a two-pronged quality-improvement (QI) project: (1) Development and implementation of evidence-based guidelines; and (2) creation of a specialized hernia clinic to manage challenging patients and complex ventral hernias. Our objective was to decrease SSI rates after elective VHR.

Treatment delays of colon cancer in a safety-net hospital system.

Background: Disparities in colon cancer survival have been reported to result from advanced stage at diagnosis and delayed therapy. We hypothesized that delays in treatment among medically underserved patients occur as a result of system-level barriers in a safety-net hospital system.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective review and analysis of colon cancer patients treated in a large safety-net hospital system between May 2008 and May 2012.

Is nighttime the right time? Risk of complications after laparoscopic cholecystectomy at night.

Background: Laparoscopic cholecystectomies can be performed at night in high-volume acute care hospitals. We hypothesized that nonelective nighttime laparoscopic cholecystectomies are associated with increased postoperative complications.

Study Design: We conducted a single-center retrospective review of consecutive laparoscopic cholecystectomy patients between October 2010 and May 2011 at a safety-net hospital in Houston, Texas.

Antimicrobial prophylaxis and infection surveillance in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation patients: a multi-institutional survey of practice patterns.

The goal of this study was to characterize antimicrobial prophylaxis and infection surveillance practices at centers treating patients with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). A 37-question web-based survey was sent to all ECMO coordinators and directors at Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) participating centers. Data were reported by center.