Program Highlights of the 34^th Annual Spring Meeting
April 23-26, 2006, Dallas, Texas

To emphasize its strong commitment to and support of general surgery, the American College of Surgeons devotes its annual Spring meeting to the interests and needs of the practicing general surgeon. Program highlights are posted below.

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GS03 Current Evaluation of the Acute Abdomen

Moderator: David V. Feliciano, MD, FACS, Atlanta, GA

Session Summary:

This session provides an overview of three common causes of the acute abdomen and the influence of newer diagnostic modalities on the timing of diagnosis and initiation of therapy.

Predicting the Need for Operation in Small Bowel Obstruction (1300K PDF)
Joseph P. Minei, MD, FACS, Dallas, TX

Computed Tomography in the Diagnosis of Acute Appendicitis or Acute Diverticulitis - What Happened to Physical Examination? (905K PDF)
Jeffrey M. Nicholas, MD, FACS, Atlanta, GA

Can We Diagnose Ischemia of the Midgut Any Faster? (1950K PDF)
J. Gregory Modrall, MD, FACS, Dallas, TX

GS06 Endoscopic Approaches to Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding

Moderator: Gregory V. Stiegmann, MD, FACS, Denver, CO

Session Summary:

The objective of this session is to understand current endoscopic methods and techniques for diagnosis and treatment of upper gastrointestinal bleeding, as well as management of recurrent bleeding after initial endoscopic treatment.

Optimizing Endoscopic Diagnosis (5335K PDF)
Brian J. Dunkin, MD, FACS, Miami, FL

Endoscopic Treatment for Nonvariceal Bleeding (925K PDF)
Jeffrey M. Marks, MD, FACS, Cleveland, OH

Endoscopic Treatment for Variceal Bleeding (1500K PDF)
Greg V. Stiegmann, MD, FACS, Denver, CO

Recurrent Bleeding After Endoscopic Therapy (1750K PDF)
Gary C. Vitale, MD, FACS, Louisville, KY

GS09 Management of the Geriatric Surgical Patient

Moderator: Ronnie A. Rosenthal, MD, FACS, New Haven, CT

Session Summary:

In this session you will learn what special factors must be considered in preoperative decision-making, intraoperative management, and postoperative care of elderly surgical patients.

Making the Decision to Operate (2650K PDF)
Michael E. Zenilman, MD, FACS, Brooklyn, NY

Optimizing Intraoperative Management (390K PDF)
Terri G. Monk, MD, Durham, NC

Pitfalls of Postoperative Care (320K PDF)
Walter E. Pofahl, II, MD, FACS, Greenville, NC

GS11 Current Management of Sigmoid Diverticulitis

Moderator: Deborah A. Nagle, MD, FACS, Philadelphia, PA

Session Summary:

This session addresses the standard of care, evaluation, and treatment of sigmoid diverticulitis and evolving areas of management.

Surgical Therapy for Diverticulitis: Is there a Gold Standard? (175K PDF)
Richard P. Billingham, MD, FACS, Seattle, WA

Laparoscopic Surgery for Diverticulitis (1875K PDF)
Conor P. Delaney, MD, PhD, FACS, Cleveland, OH

Diverticulutis: Is Surgery Inevitable? (1170K PDF)
Jan Rakinic, MD, FACS, Springfield, IL

2006 Algorithm for Management of Diverticulitis (555K PDF)
David R. Flum, MD, MPH, FACS, Seattle, WA

GS14 Current Management of Soft Tissue Infections

Moderator: Donald E. Fry, MD, FACS, Chicago, IL

Session Summary:

This session discusses current information about the management of severe soft tissue infections that may be caused by different bacterial organisms.

Streptococcal Soft Tissue Infection (6375K PDF)
Donald E. Fry, MD, FACS, Chicago, IL

Serious Staphylococcal Soft Tissue Infections (5915K PDF)
Lena M. Napolitano, MD, FACS, Ann Arbor, MI

Polymicrobinal Soft Tissue Infection (2600K PDF)
Christopher R. McHenry, MD, FACS, Cleveland, OH

GS19 Using Best Evidence to Improve the Outcomes of Your General Surgery Patients

Moderator: Thomas H. Cogbill, MD, FACS, La Crosse, WI

Session Summary:

This timely topic is explored from four different vantage points: (1) rural general surgery practice, (2) university teaching program, (3) multispecialty group practice experience with a new procedure, and (4) multispecialty group practice experience with an established procedure. Speakers draw on their own unique perspectives to highlight the methods with which current best evidence has been incorporated into their practices to improve patient outcomes. These methods are illustrated with specific examples from their recent experience.

How Best Evidence Affects a Truly Rural Surgeon (400K PDF)
Marilu Bintz, MD, FACS, Prairie Du Chien, WI

Incorporating Best Evidence in a University Surgical Residency Program (340K PDF)
Melanie L. Richards, MD, FACS, San Antonio, TX

Developing A New Surgical Product Line: The Bariatric Experience (1300K PDF)
Shanu N. Kothari, MD, FACS, La Cross. WI

Redesigning an Existing Surgical Product Line Involving Multiple Specialties: The Carotid Endarterectomy Experience (1850K PDF)
Thomas H. Cogbill, MD, FACS, La Crosse, WI

GS20 Current Role of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Cancer

Moderator: Marc K. Wallack, MD, FACS, New York, NY

Session Summary:

This surgical forum reviews the list of sentinel lymph node biopsy and then addresses its use in treating cancer of the breast and melanoma.

The History and Science of the Sentinel Node (950K PDF)
Donald L. Morton, MD, FACS, Santa Monica, CA

Use of Sentinel Node in Breast Cancer (845K PDF)
Charles E. Cox, MD, FACS, Tampa, FL

Use of Sentinel Node in Melanoma (875K PDF)
William R. Jewell, MD, FACS, Kansas City, KS

GS24 Follow-Up Regiments for Resected Gastrointestinal Malignancies

Moderator: E. Christopher Ellison, MD, FACS, Columbus, OH

Session Summary:

In this session you will learn the best and most cost-effective methods of following patients who have resection of Colorectal cancer, pancreatic endocrine tumors, primary hepatomas, pancreatic and biliary cancers, and gastric cancer. The speakers focus on endoscopic surveillance, imaging, including PET, and serum tests.

Colon and Rectal Cancer (50K PDF)
Dennis Rousseau, MD, San Antonio, TX

Pancreatic and Biliary Adenocarcinoma (750K PDF)
Peter Muscarella, II, MD, FACS, Columbus, OH

Pancreatic Endocrine Tumors (4965K PDF)
Dhiresh R. Jeyarajah, MD, FACS, Dallas, TX

Hepatoma (4550K PDF)
Philip G. Thomas, MBBS, FACS, Columbus, OH

Gastric Cancer (250K PDF)
Paul F. Mansfield, MD, FACS, Houston, TX

GS25 Tricks of the Trade in Laparoscopic Resection of Solid Organs

Moderator: Leena Khaitan, MD, FACS, Atlanta, GA

Session Summary:

In this session, minimally invasive approaches to surgery on the liver, spleen, adrenal gland, and pancreas are discussed. By the end of this session, you will be well aware of which pathologic conditions may be amenable to minimally invasive solid organ surgery. You will learn the "tricks of the trade" and leave with a surgical armamentarium for solid organ surgery.

Tricks to Approaching Laparoscopic Surgery of the Spleen (2845K PDF)
Fredrick J. Brody, MD, FACS, Washington, DC

Tricks to Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy (690K PDF)
Michael D. Holzman, MD, FACS, Nashville, TN

Tricks to Minimally Invasive Approaches to the Liver (1620K PDF)
Juan M. Sarmiento, MD, Atlanta, GA

Tricks to Minimally Invasive Approaches to the Pancreas (1275K PDF)
Gina L. Adrales, MD, Lebanon, NH

GS27 Update on Parenteral Nutrition

Moderator: Danny O. Jacobs, MD, FACS, Durham, NC (720K PDF)

Session Summary:

This session, targeted toward the practicing surgeon, reviews the latest information available regarding nutritional support of surgical patients. Presenters review indications for use of parenteral therapies including decision-making and the latest data on efficacies. Insights and summaries of important research advances that may affect patient care in the near future are also presented.

Use of Parenteral Nutrition in Surgical Patients (1160K PDF)
Malcolm K. Robinson, MD, FACS, Boston, MA

What Surgeons Should Know About the Use of Parenteral Nutrition? (2025K PDF)
Thomas R. Ziegler, MD, Atlanta, GA

Future Therapies: The Implications of Current Research-What We Can and Cannot Yet Do (1525 K PDF)
W. Scott Helton, MD, FACS, Chicago, IL

GS29 Upgrading Your General Surgery Practice

Moderator: Nathalie M. Johnson, MD, FACS, Portland, OR

Session Summary:

This forum is designed to help surgeons gain some insight into the ways to objectively evaluate practice performance. It reviews ways to evaluate overhead and take steps to control it. There is information on forecasting and planning for the future of one's practice and guidance on how to access resources to help accomplish this. In addition, you will review technologic upgrades like electronic medical records and transcription technologies that can streamline cost in these areas and decrease workload.

Evaluating Your Practice and Forecasting the Future (40K PDF)
Judy Bee, La Jolla, CA

Practical Applications of Technology and Implementation of Practice Changes (6850K PDF)
James J. Peck, MD, FACS, Hillsboro, OR

Webcasts and Presentations

Division of Education