Author: Jesus

Ask the Doctor: Diverticulitis with Dr. Kerri Ohman

Diverticulitis is the inflammation or infection of diverticula, small pouches commonly occurring in the colon. The presence of diverticula is known as diverticulosis. If one or several diverticula become inflamed or infected, diverticulitis develops. Diverticulitis causes abdominal pain, fever, nausea and a changes in bowel habits. Mild diverticulitis can be treated with rest, changes in diet and use of antibiotics, but severe or persistent attacks of diverticulitis requires surgery.

Ask The Residents: Advice from Attendings

he expertise and advice provided by our attending physicians and surgeons are integral to the development of our residents. We asked those in the General Surgery Residency about the best advice they received from attendings during their time at Washington University.

Meet the Pancreatic Cancer Team

Meet the Pancreatic Cancer Team Washington University hepatobiliary-pancreatic & gastrointestinal (HPB-GI) surgeons, along with the multidisciplinary team of specialists at Siteman Cancer Center, are nationally recognized for their screening, diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, pancreatic cancer is the eighth most common cancer in women and the tenth most […]

Brunt Receives Lifetime Achievement Award

Photo of Michael Brunt with his wife Elizabeth Brunt, MD, and their son

Chief of Minimally Invasive Surgery Michael Brunt, MD, received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Barnes-Jewish Medical Staff Association.

What to know about Hirschsprung disease

Hirschsprung disease is a congenital condition that causes issues with the digestive system. The bowel or colon is not able to contract due to a cell deficiency, leading to constipation and other digestive problems. Treatment for this condition includes surgery to repair the colon.

Ask The Doctors: Critical Limb-Threatening Ischemia

Limb ischemia is a peripheral arterial disease that causes reduced blood supply to the limbs. Long-term limb ischemia can progress into chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CL-TI), which requires immediate medical attention and treatment. Dr. Geraghty and the limb preservation team at Washington University answer questions about this condition, risk factors and treatment options.

Meet the Lung Cancer Team

Washington University thoracic surgeons provide the highest level of care for patients with lung cancer.

Meet the Residents: Annie Hess and Robert MacGregor

Hess and MacGregor

Get to know residents Annie Hess and Robert MacGregor in the General Surgery residency program, why they chose Washington University School of Medicine for their surgical training and what it’s like to be a resident in St. Louis.

Washington University’s Surgical Prehabilitation and Readiness (SPAR) Program

Prehabilitation (or rehabilitation before surgery) helps patients be healthy and strong before surgery and has been shown to improve recovery and health outcomes. The Surgical Prehabilitation and Readiness (SPAR) program at Washington University guides patients for the weeks before a procedure by providing strategies and goals to prepare their body and mind.

Toriola and Zayed Awarded NIH Research Grants

Surgeons Adetunji Toriola, MD, PhD and Mohamed Zayed, MD, PhD from the Department of Surgery have received prestigious R01 grants from National Institutes of Health (NIH) for their research in cancer and vascular medicine, respectively.

The Essentials of Biological Tissue Grafts, Donation and Research at Washington University

There are several sources for biological tissue grafts used for reconstructive, reparative or replacement surgery. Allografts are obtained from tissue donors and transplanted into recipients through the tissue donation process. The decision to donate involves registration as a donor and is an important conversation to have with family. Ongoing surgery and research at Washington University benefits from the donation of tissue grafts or specimens from consented donors.

Health Literacy Month – October 2021

Katherine Glover-Collins, MD, discuss what to expect before surgery with a patient.

Celebrating health literacy this October comes with two initiatives: to increase personal literacy and improve organizational literacy. Patient health literacy and education are important goals for those seeking medical treatment, and hospital programs can encourage the familiarity of patients with the language of health. Organizations are also responsible for providing accessible, understandable information to their patients.

WashU CT hosts Inaugural STL Shock Symposium

The St. Louis Shock Symposium aims to help attendees understand of the optimal treatments of cardiogenic shock and severe acute respiratory distress syndrome.

The Importance of Comfort: Patient Gender Selection in Colorectal Surgery

Colorectal screening, diagnosis and treatment are integral parts of overall health, but obstacles related to patient comfort can prevent effective medical intervention for colorectal illness. Having a diverse, accessible department of colorectal surgeons reassures patients and advances the optimal benefits for their colorectal health.

Dr. Evarts Graham and the History of Cardiothoracic Medicine and Research at Washington University

Exploring the history of research in the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery begins with the career of surgeon and clinical researcher Dr. Evarts Graham. A gifted cardiothoracic surgeon, Dr. Graham’s research included one of the earliest studies of smoking as it contributed to lung cancer, and this pioneering work has directed similar research on smoking cessation and health impacts for decades.

Ask the doctors: Lymphedema diagnosis and treatment

Plastic and reconstructive surgeons Justin Sacks, MD, MBA, and Rachel Anolik, MD answer frequently asked questions about the lymphedema diagnosis, therapy and surgical treatment methods. Both Dr. Sacks and Dr. Anolik specialize in treating advanced lymphedema.

Three Aspects of Health and Healing: The Biopsychosocial Model in Medicine

The biopsychosocial model is a valuable perspective on health and wellness than can be applied to patient experience. Whether biological, psychological or social health, these aspects of wellness have influence each other and can impact a patient’s condition as well as how care should be administered. This model has helped direct surgeons at WashU hospitals.

Ask the Program Directors: Paul Wise, MD

Paul Wise, MD, Professor of Colorectal Surgery, answers frequently asked questions about the Department of Surgery’s General Surgery Residency program.

Ask the Residents: Laura Lee, Urology

Get to know resident Laura Lee in the Urology residency programs, why she chose Washington University School of Medicine for her surgical training and what it’s like to be a resident in St. Louis.

How Kidney Allocation Changed in 2021

Kidney transplant is a life-saving surgical procedure which requires the matching of a donor kidney to the receiving patient, or recipient. National policy updates change the process of matching kidneys to recipients.

Department of Surgery Teaching Awards 2020-2021

The Department of Surgery recognizes residents, fellows and faculty for their contributions to resident and medical student education during the 2020-2021 academic year.

Ask the Doctors: Aortic Aneurysms and Repair

Vascular surgeon Brian Rubin, MD, answers frequently asked questions about aortic aneurysms. Dr. Rubin specializes in endovascular and open surgical treatment of vascular disease, including thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Embracing the Adventure

Marc Moon, MD, shared his final presidential address at the American Association for Thoracic Surgery’s Annual Meeting.

FLS and OSATS Training at WISE

General surgery residents in the WISE Center practicing laparoscopic surgery skills

Surgery residents come to the WISE Center for laparoscopic and suturing skills lab training this summer.