Publications by authors named "Simorov A"

Background: Obesity is an epidemic in the USA that continues to grow, becoming a leading cause of premature avoidable death. Bariatric surgery has become an effective solution for obesity and its comorbidities, and one of the most commonly utilized procedures, the sleeve gastrectomy, can lead to an increase in gastroesophageal reflux following the operation. While these data are controversial, sometimes operative intervention can be necessary to provide durable relief for this problem.

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Purpose: Studies comparing laparoscopic (LIHR) vs. open inguinal hernia repair (OIHR) have shown similar recurrence rates but have disagreed on perioperative outcomes and costs. The aim of this study is to compare laparoscopic vs.

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Background: Surgical procedures have a learning curve regarding the number of cases required for proficiency. Consequently, involvement of less experienced resident surgeons may impact patients and the healthcare system. This study examines basic and advanced laparoscopic procedures performed between 2010 and 2011 and evaluates the resident surgeon participation effect.

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Background: Surgeon's performance is tracked using patient outcomes databases. We compared data on patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy from 2 large databases with significant institutional overlap to see if either patient characteristics or outcomes were similar enough to accurately compare performance.

Methods: Data from 2009 to 2011 were collected from University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC) and National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP).

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Background: Alvimopan (Entereg), a peripherally acting mu-opioid receptor antagonist, has been shown to expedite recovery of bowel function after colon resection surgery. Most data are available from industry-sponsored trials. This study aims to evaluate the clinical impact of this drug on perioperative outcomes and costs in patients undergoing segmental colonic resection for diverticular disease.

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Introduction: Paraesophageal hernia (PEH) repair has a high radiologic recurrence rate, even with the use of biologic mesh as a prosthetic buttress to reinforce the primary crural repair. This review was done to evaluate outcomes after PEH repair with mesh.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was done of all patients who underwent PEH repair with mesh at our institution between December 2004 and March 2013.

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Background: Conventional laparoscopic fundoplications (CLF) have been the gold standard for Nissen fundoplications (NFs) for two decades. The advent of a robotic approach for fundoplication procedures creates a potential alternative. Thus, we used a national database to examine perioperative outcomes with respect to open, laparoscopic, and robotic approaches.

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Background: Laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery with or without large hiatal hernia has been shown to have good short-term outcomes. However, limited data are available on long-term outcomes of greater than 5 years. The aim of this study is to review functional and symptomatic outcomes of anit-reflux surgery in a large tertiary referral medical center.

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Background: Morbidity and mortality are very high for critically ill patients who develop acute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC). The aim of this study was to compare outcomes in extremely ill patients with AAC treated with percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC), laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC), or open cholecystectomy (OC), which were also analyzed together in the LC-plus-OC (LO) group.

Methods: Discharge data from the University HealthSystem Consortium database were accessed using International Classification of Diseases codes.

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Background: A significant proportion of patients, especially the elderly undergoing colon resections, are likely to be discharged to a skilled care facility. This study aims to examine whether the technique of colectomy, open versus laparoscopic, contributed to their discharge to a skilled care facility.

Methods: This was a retrospective analysis using discharge data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

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Minimally invasive surgery fellowships offer experience in robotic surgery, the nature of which is poorly defined. The objective of this survey was to determine the current status and opportunities for robotic surgery training available to fellows training in the United States and Canada. Sixty-five minimally invasive surgery fellows, attending a fundamentals of fellowship conference, were asked to complete a questionnaire regarding their demographics and experiences with robotic surgery and training.

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Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of computed tomographic (CT) scans of the abdomen on clinical outcomes and costs in young male patients presenting with suspected appendicitis.

Methods: Discharge data from the University HealthSystem Consortium was accessed for all male patients between 18 and 55 years of age from October 2007 to June 2011.

Results: Of a total of 13,228 patients who met the inclusion criteria, 11,340 (85%) were assessed using a CT scan of the abdomen, whereas 1,888 (15%) did not undergo CT evaluation.

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Objective: This study aims to examine trends of utilization and rates of conversion to open procedure for patients undergoing laparoscopic colon resections (LCR).

Methods: This study is a national database review of academic medical centers and a retrospective analysis utilizing the University HealthSystem Consortium administrative database-an alliance of more than 300 academic and affiliate hospitals.

Results: A total of 85,712 patients underwent colon resections between October 2008 and December 2011.

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Background: With increasing childhood obesity, adolescent bariatric surgery has been increasingly performed. We used a national database to analyze current trends in laparoscopic bariatric surgery in the adolescent population and related short-term outcomes.

Methods: Discharge data from the University Health System Consortium (UHC) database was accessed using International Classification of Disease codes during a 36 month period.

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Background: As surgical robots begin to occupy a larger place in operating rooms around the world, continued innovation is necessary to improve our outcomes.

Methods: A comprehensive review of current surgical robotic user interfaces was performed to describe the modern surgical platforms, identify the benefits, and address the issues of feedback and limitations of visualization.

Results: Most robots currently used in surgery employ a master/slave relationship, with the surgeon seated at a work-console, manipulating the master system and visualizing the operation on a video screen.

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Background: Robotic techniques are routinely used in urological and gynecological procedures; however, their role in general surgical procedures is limited. A robotic technique has been successfully adopted for a minimally invasive Heller myotomy procedure for achalasia. This study aims to compare perioperative outcomes following open, laparoscopic, and robotic Heller myotomy.

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Background: The aim of this study was to retrospectively compare the outcomes of laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection (APR) and open APR.

Methods: A multicenter, retrospective analysis was performed. The University HealthSystem Consortium database was accessed and searched for International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, codes between October 2008 and January 2010.

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