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BACKGROUND: Realizing the trends toward minimally invasive procedures, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) increased the requirements for laparoscopic procedures effective 2007 to 2008. Our purpose was to analyze the trend of laparoscopic versus open cases. METHODS: We analyzed national ACGME general surgery operative log program data for basic and advanced open and laparoscopic procedures performed by graduating surgical residents between academic years 1996 to 1997 and 2009 to 2010. RESULTS: From 1997 to 2010, the average number of procedures performed by graduating residents increased for appendectomies (36.5 to 59.3), cholecystectomies (90.9 to 112), hernia repairs (58.9 to 67.4), and colectomies (40.1 to 60.2). These increases have been accompanied by decreases in the percentage of open procedures for appendectomies (84% to 30%), cholecystectomies (24% to 9%), hernia repairs (90% to 70%), and colectomies (97% to 71%), which have resulted primarily from a decrease in open procedures (basic) or an increase in laparoscopic procedures (advanced). CONCLUSIONS: The rising number of laparoscopic procedures performed by surgical residents is associated with a drastic decrease in the number of basic open procedures. Although the number of open procedures is sufficient to meet ACGME requirements for now, this is an area of concern for the adequacy of training in the future.

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AIM: Anorectal fistulas have been a common surgical problem since ancient times. Age-old seton techniques are still practiced successfully in the treatment of complex anal fistulas. Many variations in materials and techniques are described in the literature. The selection of a seton type and technique depends on personal preferences. Our aim was to put together all the available variations in materials and techniques for seton treatment. This comprehensive review will help the surgeon to become more familiar with the various options available with regard to materials and techniques. METHODS: A review of the literature using Medline was done using the Key Words 'anal fistula' and 'seton'. All articles published in English were reviewed. The articles which had variations in materials and techniques for seton treatment were studied. RESULTS: Various aspects of variations in materials, insertion techniques, maintenance of tension, mechanisms of action, drainage techniques and changing the seton have been elaborated in detail. CONCLUSIONS: Throughout this paper we present the various available variations in setons with regard to materials, placement and maintenance techniques. This study will help clinicians in choosing a new seton variation or modifying their current method of treatment with setons.

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Intraoperative parathyroid hormone monitoring (IOPM), in use for the last 15 years, has facilitated focused parathyroidectomy. We undertook this study to determine if a drop in IOPT hormone levels below 50 per cent of baseline were sufficient to terminate the procedure. We conducted a retrospective chart review (January 2007 to September 2010) of 104 patients who underwent initial parathyroidectomies with IOPM by general surgeons for primary hyperparathyroidism. Patients were followed up for serum calcium levels (range, 6 to 48 months). The number of specimens excised was significantly decreased when IOPT hormone levels dropped to greater than 50 per cent and came within the normal range earlier. Moreover, for single-gland parathyroid adenomas, once the parathyroid hormone values dropped to less than 50 per cent in the 5-minute sample, they continued to decrease in the subsequent samples. In 23 cases requiring further exploration, the parathyroid hormone values had already decreased to greater than 50 per cent in 14 cases but had not normalized (reference range, 8 to 74), leading to additional exploration. However, subsequent pathologic analysis showed that the initial gland removed was the adenoma in all these cases. A drop in the initial 5-minute parathyroid hormone value to less than 50 per cent of the baseline should serve as sufficient evidence to terminate the procedure. This would translate into significant laboratory and personnel cost savings over time. However, this should be carefully correlated with preoperative ultrasound/sestamibi findings.

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INTRODUCTION: Patients with primary breast cancer (PBC) are at 2 to 6 times higher risk for developing synchronous and metachronous breast cancer (MBC). The pathology and behavior of MBC still remains unclear. METHODS: We reviewed the charts of 108 women with MBC at our hospital over the past 10 years. Profile patterns of the estrogen receptor (ER), the progesterone receptor (PR), and Her2/neu receptors were explored. RESULTS: Of 33 patients with ER(+)/PR(+) in the primary tumor, 23 (70%) retained the status in MBC. Forty-five (92%) of 49 patients with ER(-)/PR(-) in the primary tumor remained the same in MBC. Most Her2(-) tumors (22/31, 71%) remained negative, but 50% (8/16) of Her2(+) tumors became negative. CONCLUSIONS: Most MBC retained the ER/PR expression patterns irrespective of the treatment for the primary tumor, thus suggesting a common origin. Because MBCs tend to be triple negative and thus more aggressive, early detection and close surveillance techniques must be devised.

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