Introduction: High hernia recurrence rates witnessed with use of acellular dermal matrices (ADMs) for ventral hernia repair (VHR) have largely relegated them to bridging therapy before definitive synthetic mesh repair or breast surgery. PRP is a universally available, personalized product that when activated, releases a host of growth factors capable of augmenting soft tissue repair. Its effectiveness has been validated in many plastic surgery and orthopedic applications, but its benefit has not
Introduction: Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the preferred gas for abdominal insufflation during laparoscopic inguinal herniorrhaphy. Carbonic acid accumulation, which results from CO2 insufflation, can produce abdominal and referred pain in the postoperative setting. Acetazolamide inhibits carbonic anhydrase, an enzyme that increases carbonic acid formation. We hypothesized that post-operative pain after laparoscopic herniorrhaphy will be decreased with the administration of preoperative acetazolamide
INTRODUCTION: Laparoscopy is a popular method to repair ventral hernias and relies upon on a mesh bridge technique. While laparoscopy has decreased the incidence of surgical site infection, hernia recurrence rates remain unchanged. Some surgeons advocate laparoscopic primary fascial closure (PFC) with placement of intra-peritoneal mesh to decrease recurrence rates. Advocates of this technique argue that closing the fascia decreases wall tension through LaPlace’s law. We hypothesize that in patie
Introduction: The purpose of this study is to determine if colonoscopy quality outcomes are adversely affected by allowing residents to perform colonoscopies under supervision.
Methods: This retrospective cohort study was performed on all adults who underwent colonoscopy in the city of St. John’s, NL from January to June 2012 by an endoscopist who trains residents. Subjects were identified through records from the health authority. Data were extracted from the electronic medical record (EMR),
Objective: To build upon previous studies since the creation of procedure codes for laparoscopic abdominal wall hernia repairs, and compare the short term outcomes and utilization of laparoscopic and open abdominal wall hernia repair.
Methods: Using the ACS-NSQIP database between 2009 and 2012, patients were identified as having an ICD-9 diagnosis of an umbilical, ventral, or incisional hernia as well as a Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code for a laparoscopic or open abdominal wall herni