Up to 30% of patients who have had operations on the stomach are afflicted with chronic symptoms that have been relegated to the category of postgastrectomy syndromes. This convenient classification is somewhat of a misnomer because some of these patients…
Gastric surgery for benign and malignant diseases has decreased significantly over the last few decades, but the multimodal management of gastric cancer requires that the surgeon be well-versed in the medical and surgical facets of care. The purpose of this…
Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES) was initially described in two index cases of refractory ulcer disease and diarrhea in 1955 at the Ohio State University. The index patients had recurrent peptic ulceration after multiple gastric operations, requiring complete gastrectomy to control their…
Gastroduodenal peptic ulcer disease (PUD) is a common problem with significant geographic variation in prevalence. In Western countries the incidence of PUD has steadily declined. Recent population-based studies have shown a prevalence rate of 4% with 20% of patients having…
Intubation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract occurs frequently in the course of patient care. Enteral access, whether via the nasal or percutaneous route, is procured in the majority of instances for decompression or nutrition. Intestinal access is indicated for diagnostic…
Endoscopy is the gold standard for providing visual access to the endoluminal space of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. As a diagnostic tool, it allows for direct visualization of the mucosal surface and permits the identification…
The stomach is a remarkable organ that aids in digestion, regulating nutrition, and controlling appetite. The complex physiologic processes by which the stomach exerts its endocrine and nutritional functions have been researched for decades and there is still much to…
Mesh is defined as a network of interlaced material with a lattice-like structure, which in medicine has become synonymous with use for reinforcement of hernia repairs. Mesh use has become ubiquitous as inguinal hernia repair (IHR) is one of the…
Aside from ventral and inguinal hernias, there are less common hernias of the abdominal wall and pelvis that may come to the attention of a general surgeon from time to time. It is important for the surgeon to have a…
Inguinal hernia repair is the most common general surgical procedure in the United States with approximately 800,000 performed annually. Throughout its long history, many techniques have been proposed for the repair of inguinal hernias. Modern-day repair of inguinal hernias is…