In addition to excellent patient care, faculty members are actively involved in research projects to investigate new approaches for treatment of patients suffering from benign and malignant disorders of the colon, rectum, anus, and pelvic floor. The following are major areas of interest for the Division of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Surgery:

• Diagnosis and management of pelvic floor disorders
• Correlation between obesity and pelvic floor disorders
• Multimodality treatment of rectal cancer
• The effects of specialization on outcomes in the treatment of colorectal diseases and pelvic floor disorders
• Development and testing of a surgical navigation system for localization of soft tissue tumors
• “Bloodless” surgery – advanced transfusion practices
• Adhesion prevention following colorectal surgery

Several studies have recently been approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB):

• InterStim sacral nerve stimulation for bowel control
• A multi-center, randomized, DB sham-controlled, trial investigating submucosal delivery of RF energy to the anal canal (Secca) for the treatment of fecal incontinence
• Pelvic floor disorders: prevalence among morbidly obese women

The following bibliography demonstrates the areas of research faculty members have been involved with:

• Frasca P, Galkin B, Muir H, Soriano R, and Kaufman HS: A new method of magnifying photographic images using the scanning electron microscope in the backscattered electron mode. Scanning Electron Microscopy 3:917-923, 1982.

• Loewy AG, Wilson FJ, Taggert NM, Greene EA, Frasca P, Kaufman HS and Sorrell MJ: A covalently cross-linked matrix in skeletal muscle fibers. Cell Motility 3:463-483, 1983.

• Kaufman HS, Magnuson TH, Lillemoe KD, Frasca P, and Pitt HA: The role of bacteria in gallbladder and common duct stone formation. Ann Surg 209:584-592, 1989.

• Kaufman HS, Lillemoe KD, Magnuson TH, Frasca P, and Pitt HA: Backscattered electron imaging and windowless energy dispersive x-ray microanalysis: A new technique for gallstone analysis. Scanning Microscopy 4:856-862, 1990.

• Kaufman HS, Magnuson TH, Webb TH, Watt PC, Fox-Talbot MK, Pitt HA, and Lillemoe KD: Bilirubin monoglucuronide promotes cholesterol gallstone formation. J Surg Res 50:504-509, 1991.

• Magnuson TH, Ahrendt SA, Lillemoe KD, Kaufman HS, Watt PC, and Pitt HA: Short-term fasting increases biliary calcium and bilirubin. J Surg Res 50:524-534, 1991

• Ahrendt SA, Fox-Talbot K, Kaufman HS, Lipsett PA, Lillemoe KD, Pitt HA: Are vesicles required for nucleation of cholesterol monohydrate crystals? Surg Forum 42:190-192, 1991.

• Kaufman HS, Lipsett PA, Fox-Talbot MK, Shermak M, Lillemoe KD, and Pitt HA: Cholesterol feeding promotes hepatic secretion of glycoproteins in gallbladder. Surg Forum 43:178-180, 1992.

• Ahrendt SA, Fox-Talbot MK, Kaufman HS, Lillemoe KD and Pitt HA: A novel cholesterol carrier helps prevent crystal precipitation. Surg Forum 43:1854-185, 1992.

• Kaufman HS, Ahrendt SA, Pitt HA and Lillemoe KD: The effect of erythromycin on motility of the duodenum, sphincter of Oddi and gallbladder in the prairie dog. Surgery 114:543-548, 1993.

• Kaufman HS, Shermak MA, May CA, Pitt HA, and Lillemoe KD: Nitric oxide inhibits resting sphincter of Oddi activity. Am J Surg 165:74-80, 1993

• Lipsett P, Hildreth J, Kaufman HS, Lillemoe KD, and Pitt HA: Human gallstones contain pro-nucleating nonmucin glycoproteins that are immunoglobulins. Ann Surg 219:25-33, 1993.

• Lillemoe KD, Cameron JL, Kaufman HS, Yeo CJ, Pitt HA, and Sauter PK: Chemical splanchnicectomy in patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer: A prospective randomized trial. Ann Surg 217:447-457, 1993.

• Cameron JL, Pitt HA, Yeo CJ, Lillemoe KD, Kaufman HS, and Coleman J: One hundred and forty-five consecutive pancreaticoduodenectomies without mortality. Ann Surg 217:430-435, 1993

• Kaufman HS, Magnuson TH, Lillemoe KD, Frasca P and Pitt HA: The distribution of calcium salt precipitates in the core, periphery and shell of cholesterol, black pigment and brown pigment gallstones. Hepatology 19:1124-1132, 1994.

• Ahrendt SA, Fox-Talbot K, Kaufman HS, Lillemoe KD, Pitt HA: Cholesterol nucleates rapidly from mixed micelles in the prairie dog. Biochem. Biophys. Acta 1211:7-13, 1994.

• Ahrendt SA, Fox-Talbot MK, Kaufman HS, Lillemoe KD, and Pitt HA: Characterization of a small vesicular cholesterol carrier in human gallbladder bile. Ann Surg 220:635-643, 1994.

• Barnes SA, Lillemoe KD, Kaufman HS, Sauter PK, Yeo CJ, Talamini MA, Pitt HA, and Cameron JC: Pancreaticoduodenectomy for benign disease. Am J Surg 171:131-135, 1996

• Ratner LE, Cisek LJ, Moore RG, Cigarroa FG, Kaufman HS, and Kavoussi LR: Laparoscopic live donor nephrectomy. Transplantation 60(9):1047-1049, 1995.

• Micali S, Silver RI, Kaufman HS, Douglas VD, Marley GM, Partin AW, Moore RG, Kavoussi LR, Docimo SG. Measurement of urinary N-Acetyl-Beta, D-Glucosaminidase to assess renal ischemia during laparoscopic operations. Surg Endosc 13:503-506, 1999.

• Sohn TA, Lillemoe KD, Yeo CJ, Pitt HA, Kaufman HS, Hruban RH, Cameron JL: Adenocarcinoma of the duodenum: the influence of site on survival. J Gastrointestinal Surg 2:79-87, 1998.

• Bauer JJ, Schulam PG, Kaufman HS, Moore RG, Irby PB, Kavoussi LR. Laparoscopy for the acute abdomen in the postoperative urologic patients. Urology. 51:917-9, 1998.

• Kaufman HS, Kahn AC, Iacobuzio-Donahue C, Talamini MA, Lillemoe KD, Hamilton SR. Cytomegaloviral enterocolitis: Clinical associations and outcome. Dis Col Rectum, 42:24-30, 1999.

• Tang DG, Bowers HM, Gordon TA, Nurse-Findley S, Choti MA, Kaufman HS, Bender JS, Harmon JW, Cameron JL. Case volume and outcomes in research for colorectal carcinoma. Surgical Forum 49:559-61, 1998.

• Tortolani JP, Kaufman HS, Nahabedian MY, Frassica FJ. Fistula between the rectum and left pericapsular hip after adjuvant radiation and surgical therapy for rectal carcinoma: A Case Report. J Bone and Joint Surg 81-A: 1596-9, 1999

• Alexander J, Kaufman HS, Hedican S, Hamilton SR. Adenocarcinoma in an isolated ileal sleeve 30 years after periureteral wrap. J Urology 160:1424-25, 1998.

• Kaufman HS, Hsieh G, Gordon TA. Ureteral catheterization and outcomes in colorectal surgery. Surgical Forum 50:671-674, 1999.

• Gordon TA, G, Hurdt JD, Kaufman HS, Magnuson TH, Cameron JL. Outcomes of gastrointestinal surgery for geriatric patients: A statewide population-based study. Surgical Forum 50:660-662, 1999.

• Heath EI, Burtness B, Heitmiller RF, Salem R, Kleinberg L, Knisch JPS, Yang SC, Talamini MA, Kaufman HS, Canto MI, Topazan M, Wu TT, Olukayode K, Forastiere AA. Phase II evaluation of pre-operate chemoradiation and post-operate adjuvant chemotherapy for squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the esophagus. J Clin Oncol 18:868-76, 2000.

• Heath EI, Talamini MA, Kaufman HS, Wheeler J, Heitmiller RF, Olukayode K, Forastiere AA. The role of laparoscopy in preoperative staging of esophageal cancer. Surg Endosc 14: 495-9, 2000.

• Harmon JW, Tang DG, Gordon TA, Bowman HM, Choti MA, Kaufman HS, Bender JS, Duncan MD, Magnuson TH, Lillemoe KD, Cameron JL. Hospital volume can serve as a surrogate for surgeon volume for achieving excellent outcomes in colorectal resection. Ann Surg 1999; 230 (3):404-11.

• Pannu HK, Kaufman HS, Cundiff GW, Genadry R, Bluemke DA, Fishman EK. Dynamic MR imaging of pelvic organ prolapse: Spectrum of abnormalities. Radiographics 20: 1567-82, 2000.

• Van der Wal Bart CH, Cleffken BI, Gulec B, Kaufman HS, Choti MA. Results of salvage abdominoperineal resection for recurrent anal carcinoma following combined chemoradiation therapy. J Gastrointestinal Surgery, 2001; 5:383-7.

• Schmidt CM, Talamini MA, Kaufman HS, Lillemoe KD, Learn P, Bayless T. Laparoscopic surgery for Crohn’s Disease: Reasons for conversion. Ann Surg 233:733-739, 2001.

• Kaufman HS, Buller JL, Thompson JR, Pannu HK, DeMeester SL, Genadry RR, Bluemke DA, Jones B, Rychcik JL, Cundiff GW. Dynamic pelvic MR imaging and cystocolpoproctography alter surgical management of pelvic floor disorders. Dis Colon Rectum 44:1575-83; discussion 1583-4, 2001.

• Bristow RE, Smith Sehdev AE, Kaufman HS, Montz FJ Ablation of metastatic ovarian carcinoma with the argon beam coagulator: Pathologic analysis of tumor destruction. Gynecologic Oncology 83:49-55, 2001.

• Chen H, George BD, Kaufman HS, Malaki MB, Mortensen N, Kettlewell GW. Endoscopic transanal resection (ETAR) provides palliation equivalent to transabdominal resection in patients with metastatic rectal cancer. J Gatrointest Surg 5:282-6, 2001.

• Becker SO, Tomacruz R, Kaufman HS, Bristow RE, Montz FJ. Gynecologic abnormalities in surgically treated women with stage II or III rectal cancer. J Am Coll Surg 194: 315-23, 2002.

• Nilsson KR, Berenholtz SM, Dorman T, Garrett E, Lipsett P, Kaufman HS, Pronovost, PJ. Preoperative predictors of blood transfusion in colorectal cancer surgery. J Gastrointest Surg 6(5): 753-62, 2002.

• Cundiff GW, Hsieh G, Gordon TA., Buller J, Thompson J, Kaufman HS. Practice patterns for pelvic hysterectomy and pelvic organ prolapse surgery. J of Pelvic Medicine & Surgery, 2003.

• Pannu HK, Genadry R, Gearhart S, Kaufman HS, Cundiff GW, Fishman EK. Focal levator ani eventrations: Detection and characterization by magnetic resonance in patients with pelvic floor dysfunction. Int Urogyn J Intl Pelvic Floor Dysfunction 14(2): 89-93, 2003.

• Pannu HK, Genadry R, Kaufman HS, Fishman EK. Computed tomography evaluation of pelvic organ prolapse: techniques and applications. J Comput Assist Tomography 27(5): 779-85, 2003.

• Bristow RE, del Carmine MG, Kaufman HS, Montz FJ. Radical oophorectomy with primary stapled colorectal anastomosis for resection of locally advanced epithelial ovarian cancer. J Am Coll Surg 197(4): 565-74, 2003.

• Beck DE, Cohen Z, Fleshman JW, Kaufman HS, van Goor, H, Wolff, BG,. A prospective, randomized, multicenter, controlled study of the safety of Seprafilm® adhesion barrier in abdominopelvic surgery of the intestine. Dis Colon Rectum 46(10): 1310-9, 2003.

• Sonnenday CJ, Kaufman HS. Use of an implantable marker for rapid intraoperative localization of nonpalpable tumors: a pilot study in a swine colorectal model. Surg Endoscopy, Online, 2003.

• Peters JH, Ortega AE, Campbell JAJ, Schwartz DC, Innes JT, Ellison EC. "The Physiology of Laparoscopic Surgery I; Pulmonary Function Following Laparoscopic Surgery." Surgical Laparoscopy and Endoscopy 1993, 3(5):350.

• Ramos JM, Gupta S, Anthone GJ, Ortega AE, Simons AJ, Beart RW. Laparoscopy and colon cancer: is the port site at risk? A preliminary report. Arch Surg 1994, 129:897.

• Peters JH, Krailadsiri W, Incarbone R, Bremner CG, Froes E, Ireland A, Crookes P, Ortega AE, Anthone GA, Stain SA. Reasons for conversion from laparoscopic to open cholecystectomy in an urban teaching hospital. Am J of Surg 168:555-559, 1994.

• Ortega AE, Yellin AE, Weaver FA. Blunt trauma injuries of the internal carotid artery. Contemp Surg 1995, 46:26-29.

• Ortega AE, Hunter JG, Peters JH, Swanstrom LL, Schirmer B. A prospective, randomized comparison of laparoscopic appendectomy with open appendectomy. Am J of Surg 169:208-213, 1995.

• Ortega AE, Beart RW Jr., Steele G, Winchester D, Greene F. Laparoscopic Bowel Surgery Registry: A Preliminary Report. Dis Colon Rectum 1995, 38:681-682.

• Ramos JM, Beart RW Jr., Goes R, Ortega AE, Schlinkert RT. The role of Laparoscopy in Colorectal Surgery: A prospective evaluation of 200 cases. Dis Colon Rectum 1995, 38:494-501.

• Simons AJ, Anthone GJ, Ortega AE, Franklin M, Fleshman J, Geis WP, Beart RW Jr. Laparoscopic-assisted colectomy learning curve. Dis Colon Rectum 1995, 38:600-603.

• Ryan M, Dutta S, Masri L, Ker R, Goes R, Anthone G, Ortega A, Beart R. Fecal diversion for penetrating colon injuries - still the established treatment. Dis Colon Rectum 1995, 38:264-267.

• Leichman L, Lenz H-J, Leichman CG, Groshen S, Danenberg K, Baranda J, Spears CP, Boswell W, Silberman H, Ortega A, Stain S, Beart R, Danenberg P. Quantitation of intratumoral thymidylate synthasse expression predicts for resistance to protracted infuion of 5-fluorouracial and weekly leucovorin in disseminated colorectal cancers: preliminary report from an ongoing trial. European J Cancer 1995; 31(7/8):1306-1310.