Diverticulitis is one of the most commonly diagnosed inflammatory conditions of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The condition was relatively uncommon a century ago, yet it now results in approximately 300,000 hospital admissions per year, placing it among the top five…
Colonic Bleeding Lower gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is defined as bleeding that occurs distal to the ligament of Treitz. Patients typically complain of hematochezia or blood clots per rectum. However, lower GI bleeding can be further subdivided into small bowel and…
Colonic Intussusception Pathophysiology Colonic intussusception is a rare diagnosis in adults. This process occurs when a proximal segment of intestine (intussusceptum) invaginates into a distal segment of intestine (intussuscipiens) with 86% to 90% associated with a pathologic lesion as the…
Elective surgical philosophies and techniques are often suboptimal in the injured patient. Unlike planned colorectal operations, where hemorrhage and fecal spillage are immediately addressed, the adverse cascades of infection and shock commence at injury. This inherent delay in presentation, obscuration…
Pilonidal Disease Sacrococcygeal pilonidal disease (PD) has a calculated incidence of 26 per 100,000 people and is a source of morbidity in young adults due to the chronicity of disease and extent of surgical intervention. The current understanding is that…
Historical Perspective Evidence of rectal prolapse (rectal procidentia) exists from ancient times. The first described mortality from rectal prolapse was in the 4th century. The initiating cause of prolapse is elusive. The path to rectal prolapse generally occurs slowly over…
Fistulas between the genitourinary tract and the digestive tract present a particular conundrum for the surgeon. Not only are they uncommon, but the technical aspects of repair in conjunction with managing etiology appropriately present a multidisciplinary challenge to even the…
The pelvic floor is the anatomic region bounded anteriorly by the pubis, posteriorly by the sacrum, laterally by the ischial and iliac bones, superiorly by the peritoneum, and inferiorly by the levator ani and coccygeus muscles, which form the pelvic…
Constipation is one of the most frequently experienced gastrointestinal complaints and one of the most common indications for medical consultation. It is estimated that more than 4 million patients in North America suffer from constipation, and laxatives are annually prescribed…
Fecal incontinence (FI) is the inability to maintain voluntary control of the passage of gas, liquid, or solid stool through the anus. Although FI is not a life-threatening condition, it is certainly a life-altering condition. The associated embarrassment, subsequent coping…