Laparoscopic surgery is associated with a lower incidence of venous thromboembolism compared with open surgery.

Background: Although laparoscopy now plays a major role in most general surgical procedures, little is known about the relative risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) after laparoscopic compared with open procedures.

Objective: To compare the incidence of VTE after laparoscopic and open surgery over a 5-year period.

Patients And Interventions: Clinical data of patients who underwent open or laparoscopic appendectomy, cholecystectomy, antireflux surgery, and gastric bypass between 2002 and 2006 were obtained from the University HealthSystem Consortium Clinical Database.

Outcome analysis of patients undergoing colorectal resection for emergent and elective indications.

Despite advances in perioperative care and operative techniques, urgent colorectal operations are associated with higher morbidity and mortality. To evaluate our rate of complications in elective and urgent colorectal operations, we performed retrospective chart review of 209 consecutive patients who underwent colorectal resection between 1998 and 2002 at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. One hundred, forty-three (71%) patients underwent elective colorectal resection.

Outcomes of right and left colectomy at academic centers.

Few studies have compared outcomes of right colectomy (RC) and left colectomy (LC) with respect to both benign and malignant disease. The objective of this study was to compare outcomes of RC versus LC for benign and malignant disease using a national administrative database of academic medical centers. Using International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision diagnosis and procedure codes, data was obtained from the University HealthSystem Consortium Clinical Data Base for patients that underwent RC and LC for benign and malignant disease between 2002 and 2006.

Comparison of laparoscopic vs open sigmoid colectomy for benign and malignant disease at academic medical centers.

Few studies have examined outcomes of laparoscopic and open sigmoid colectomy performed at US academic centers. Using ICD-9 diagnosis and procedural codes, data was obtained from the University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC) Clinical Database of 10,603 patients who underwent laparoscopic or open sigmoid colectomy for benign and malignant disease between 2003-2006. A total of 1,092 patients (10.

Identification of predictive factors for perioperative blood transfusion in colorectal resection patients.

Background: Blood transfusion is associated with higher postoperative complication. With the availability of autologous blood and erythropoietin, it would be advantageous to identify patients who are at higher risk for requiring blood transfusion. Our aim is to identify possible predictive factors for perioperative blood transfusion in patients undergoing colorectal resection.

Selective treatment of rectal cancer with single-stage coloanal or ultralow colorectal anastomosis does not adversely affect morbidity and mortality.

Background And Aims: The surgical treatment of low rectal cancer commonly includes low pelvic anastomoses with coloanal or ultralow colorectal anastomoses. Anastomotic leak rates in low pelvic anastomoses range from 4 to 26%. Many surgeons opt to routinely create a diverting ostomy to reduce the extent of morbidity should an anastomotic leak occur.

Factors affecting the successful management of intra-abdominal abscesses with antibiotics and the need for percutaneous drainage.

Purpose: There is no definite consensus on the management of intra-abdominal abscesses in adults. This retrospective study evaluated the use of antibiotic therapy and percutaneous image-guided drainage in adult patients with intra-abdominal abscesses.

Methods: A retrospective chart review of 114 patients with intra-abdominal abscesses was conducted.

Colonic histoplasmosis presenting as colon cancer in the nonimmunocompromised patient: report of a case and review of the literature.

Histoplasma capsulatum is an important pathogen that is the most commonly diagnosed endemic mycosis in the gastrointestinal tract of immunocompromised hosts. Failure to recognize and treat disseminated histoplasmosis in AIDS patients invariably leads to death. Gastrointestinal manifestations frequently involve the terminal ileum and cecum, and depending on the layer of bowel wall involved present as bleeding, obstruction, perforation, or peritonitis.