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…
Inguinal hernia repair is a frequently performed operation, and laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair has become increasingly prevalent, particularly for the repair of bilateral or recurrent hernias. The first described laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair was completed in 1990 by Ger in…
Ventral herniation presents a set of common, yet diverse and complex problems in the surgical world. It is a surgical disease with wide variation in management, variable outcomes, and high volumes. More than 2 million laparotomies are completed in the…
Ladd and Gross reported the first successful series of surgical repair for congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) in 1940, followed by successful neonatal repair in 1946. Gross subsequently reported the largest series of the time in 1953. The reported survival was…
A hernia is described as a protrusion of an organ or tissue from its normal cavity. This protrusion may extend outside the abdominal wall or between body cavities. Hernias vary in presentation including congenital, umbilical and epigastric hernias, inguinal, traumatic…
The incidence of esophageal perforations is on the rise. Iatrogenic causes remain the most common and continue to increase in an era of frequent use of endoscopy for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Despite many advances in care, the mortality rate…