Descriptions of patients with small bowel obstruction (SBO) date back to the earliest medical literature. It was not until the 19th century and the advent of anesthesia and antisepsis, however, that surgery became a recognized and effective treatment. At the…
The small intestine is the longest organ in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. It is responsible for the absorption of nutrients, maintaining water and electrolyte balance, providing an immunologic barrier, and endocrine secretion. Embryology During the fourth week of gestation, the…
Operations on the stomach and duodenum are performed for six primary reasons: neoplasia, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), obesity, peptic ulcer disease, trauma, and congenital defects. Any operation done for these reasons, whether laparoscopic or open, can result in long-term complications…
Although the small intestine is an infrequent site of gastrointestinal (GI) cancer, the incidence of small intestinal cancer has increased considerably in the past several decades, primarily due to an increase in adenocarcinoma and particularly small bowel neuroendocrine tumors; together,…
Although spanning only 20 to 30 cm, from the pylorus to the ligament of Treitz, the duodenum is the “gate” that controls the passage of food from the stomach to the jejunum. The name is derived from the Latin phrase intestinum…
The spectrum of diseases of the stomach and duodenum in the pediatric population is broad. Surgical treatment of the pediatric patient requires a thorough understanding and knowledge of developmental biology, in addition to the unique physiologic and pathologic processes. Many…
Benign disorders of the foregut originate in the genes and the environment of the stomach, duodenum, and small intestine. Embryologic events orchestrate anatomic and cellular variations that predispose the adult foregut to obstructive and neoplastic conditions. Webs, stenosis, duplications, and…
Gastric Motility Anatomy and Physiology The gastric fundus, body, antrum, and pylorus must contract and relax in a coordinated manner to produce satisfactory gastric function and emptying ( Figs. 65.1 and 65.2 ). The thinner fundus receptively relaxes to store…
Foreign Body Ingestion Foreign body ingestion is an unusual occurrence. Foreign body ingestion may be intentional or unintentional. There are several ways to classify and consider foreign body ingestion. One way is by type of object (size and shape). Foreign…
Bariatric surgery had its beginnings in the 1950s when malabsorptive operations were performed upon patients with severe hyperlipidemia and obesity. Edward Mason was undoubtedly the father of American bariatric surgery, having first described the gastric bypass in 1969 and later…