Resident and faculty perceptions of a surgical residency program merger.

To evaluate resident and faculty perceptions of a residency merger process.Survey of faculty and residents of a recently merged general surgical residency. Nineteen separate program characteristics were evaluated via a numerical scoring system, and additional written commentary regarding dominant perceived benefits and detriments of the merger was solicited.

Bronchobiliary fistula. A rare complication of chronic pancreatitis.

Conclusions: Bronchobiliary fistula is an in frequent manifestation of common bile duct obstruction. The slowly progressive narrowing of the common duct by the fibrosis of chronic pancreatitis is an even more rare mechanism of such fistula formation with only two cases having been reported previously. A third case of bronchobiliary fistula caused by chronic pancreatitis is presented and its successful management is discussed.

Experience with surgical resident training in a combined program in plastic surgery.

Healthcare reform may impact graduate medical education (GME) to reduce both specialty training positions and the length of training in these programs. General Surgery residencies often provide prerequisite training for surgery specialty training and will be affected by these changes. The purpose of this study is to identify the quality, outcome, and differences between PGYI-PGYIII categorical general surgery residents (GS) and matched prerequisite plastic surgery residents (PS).

Diagnostic ultrasound for suspected appendicitis: does the added cost produce a better outcome?

Acute appendicitis is one of the most common abdominal surgical emergencies in North America. Although the treatment of appendicitis has remained the same for over 250 years, diagnostic techniques have changed immensely. Most recently, graded compression ultrasonography has received much support.

Endoscopic tattooing of the colon: clinical experience.

Nonpalpable lesions of the colon can be difficult to locate intraoperatively. We have demonstrated in an experimental study in dogs that the colon can be endoscopically "tattooed" by injecting dye through a flexible needle into the wall of the colon. At laparotomy, the resulting "tattoo" is then visible on the serosal surface of the bowel.