Education Center

Most people don’t have much in common with Pope Francis. But about 200,000 Americans each year can now say they share an experience with the head of the Catholic Church: they had surgery for diverticulitis. Although Pope Francis recovered well from his procedure in July, it shed light on this potentially serious condition of the colon. If you have questions about why diverticulitis occurs, the most common signs of this condition, and how it is treated, read on.

The topic of colorectal cancer consistently remains in the news, given that an American Cancer Society study found the disease has become more common in younger adults under the age of 50.

Based on evidence that younger people are being diagnosed with colon cancer and would benefit from screening, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is moving the recommended age for colon cancer screening from 50 to age 45.

Key Points

Question Is partial or total fundoplication superior in laparoscopic antireflux surgery?

Finding In this randomized clinical trial including 456 patients, partial and total fundoplication were equally effective in reducing esophageal acid exposure after 3 years, while mechanical adverse effects were more common after total fundoplication.

Meaning Although partial and total fundoplication could be recommended for treatment of gastroesophageal reflux, partial fundoplication might be superior by inducing less dysphagia.

To the many ways in which coffee seems to confer unexpected health benefits, add a lowered risk of painful gallstones.

What you think is going on in your head may be caused in part by what’s happening in your gut.

A growing body of research shows the gut affects bodily functions far beyond digestion. Studies have shown intriguing links from the gut’s health to bone formation, learning and memory and even conditions including Parkinson’s disease. Recent research found disruptions to the stomach or intestinal bacteria can prompt depression and anxiety-at least in lab rats.

If you want to reduce bloating when eating a high-fiber diet, try making it carbohydrate-rich rather than protein-rich, new study findings suggest.

For some conditions, including cancer, timely surgery is critical for patients' survival. In a new study published in the Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery, a team of investigators at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) examined the effects of delaying surgery for gastrointestinal cancers.

Although chronic digestive disruptions warrant a doctor’s attention, “generally about 80 percent of patients will benefit from doing some sort of diet intervention,”

How much impact does a family history of colon cancer have on the development of CRC in patients with IBD? To address this question, Mayo Clinic researchers conducted a population-based study that estimated the risk of CRC in a cohort of patients with IBD and the significance of family history of CRC in a first-degree relative. The results of this study were published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology in 2019.

Fruit juices are still widely perceived as a healthier option than SSBs. However, they often contain as much sugar and as many calories as SSBs. Although the sugar in 100% fruit juices is naturally occurring rather than added, once metabolized, the biological response is essentially the same.

A critical appraisal of the benefits of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is needed, but is lacking. This study examined the associations between MIS and 30‐day postoperative outcomes including complications graded according to the Clavien–Dindo classification, unplanned readmissions, hospital stay and mortality for five common surgical procedures.

Previous studies comparing early laparoscopic cholecystectomy (ELC) with delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy (DLC) for acute cholecystitis were incomplete. A meta‐analysis was undertaken to compare the cost‐ effectiveness, quality of life, safety and effectiveness of ELC versus DLC.

SURGEONS once made incisions large enough to get to a gallbladder or other organs by using conventional tools they held in their own hands. Today, many sit at a computer console instead, guiding robotic arms that enter the patient’s body through small openings not much larger than keyholes.

Bread and rolls are the No. 1 source of salt in the American diet, accounting for more than twice as much sodium as salty junk food like potato chips.

That surprising finding comes in a government report released Tuesday that includes a list of the top 10 sources of sodium. Salty snacks actually came in at the bottom of the list compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.