This issue of the Surgical Clinics of North America covers a broad spectrum of anorectal disease such as basic anatomy, physiology, and testing of the anorectal region, as well as the most current diagnostic and management strategies for many of the common anorectal conditions encountered by surgeons including hemorrhoids, anal fissures, abscess and fistula. Also presented are new techniques in the management of pilonidal disease, perianal infections including HIV and condyloma, pruritis ani, and anal stenosis--difficult conditions that often are frustrating for patient and surgeon alike. Two articles are dedicated to the current management of anorectal Crohn’s disease and rectovaginal fistulas, including the evolving multidisciplinary approach. In addition, advances in the evaluation and current management of retrorectal tumors and anal neoplasms including the role of local excision and transanal endoscopic microsurgery for selected rectal tumors are covered. Rounding out this issue are approaches to the difficult situation of anorectal trauma including foreign body management, as well as two articles dedicated to the evaluation of pelvic floor disorders and fecal incontinence.

This book provides a concise yet comprehensive summary of the current status of the field that guides patient management and stimulate investigative efforts. It is an easy reference for day-to-day anorectal pathology. The text reviews new testing procedures for anorectal diseases and provides new treatment options about anorectal disease both benign and malignant. All chapters are written by experts in their fields and include the most up-to-date scientific and clinical information. The text includes highly practical presentations of typical patients seen in the clinical practice of proctology in the form of case presentations with expert analysis and commentary. Example cases would include common but challenging cases such as an anal tumor, chronic anal pain and anal discharge. Anorectal Disease: Contemporary Management is a comprehensive, state-of-the-art review of this field and serves as a valuable resource for residents, clinicians, surgeons and researchers with an interest anorectal disease.

Filled with over 300 detailed illustrations, this text is "gold standard" for information on disorders of the anus and rectum. This 2nd Edition has been extensively revised and updated to include new chapters on minimally invasive surgery, physiologic testing and nursing considerations. The only book devoted totally to the subject, it is the definitive work on anorectal surgery.

This issue of Surgical Clinics of North America focuses on Inflammatory Bowel Disease and is edited by Dr. Sean Langenfeld. Articles will include: IBD presentation and diagnosis; Endoscopy in IBD; Preoperative considerations in IBD; Postoperative Considerations in IBD; IBD and cancer/dysplasia; Elective abdominal surgery for IBD; Abdominal emergencies in IBD; Anorectal Crohn’s disease; Other surgeries in IBD patients; Pediatric inflammatory bowel disease; Pouch complications; Genetic and environmental considerations for IBD; IBD and short bowel syndrome; Medical Management of IBD; and more!

Cancer of the rectum continues to be a significant health problem in industrialized co- tries around the world. Relative 5-year survival rates in the USA for cancer of the rectum from 1995 to 2001 improved to 65%, a 15% improvement over 20 years (American Cancer Society, 2007). The reasons for this dramatic improvement include more accurate pr- perative staging, aggressive neoadjuvant therapy and improved surgical technique as well as specialty-trained surgeons. Despite advances in nonoperative techniques of radiation therapy, chemotherapy and immunotherapy, surgical extirpation continues to be the cornerstone of curative treatment of this potentially lethal disease. Radical cancer excision with total mesorectal excision has become the preferred surgical procedure for even early-stage cancers of the rectum. Over the past decade the enthusiasm for local excision (and other local treatments) has given way to persuasive (predominantly retrospective) evidence that the incidence of locoregional recurrence due to unsuspected lymphatic metastases and positive lateral margins is un- ceptably high even for stage T tumors. Vigorous attempts to find characteristics of the 1 tumor that would allow successful local treatments are ongoing.

Anorectal Disorders: Diagnosis and Nonsurgical Treatments incorporates the most recent major advances in the understanding of anal and rectal anatomy to provide clinical evidence of care for those suffering from anorectal disorders. By condensing basic and practical aspects in the knowledge of anorectal disorders, this book provides a comprehensive review of the anatomy and physiology of the anorectal region. It includes new technology that expands and modifies current perceptions about the functional anatomy of the anorectal region and ultimately impacts how we conceive muscle and nerve structures functioning together to maintain fecal continence and properly execute the process of defecation. Perfect for medical researchers, gastroenterologists, general practitioners, internal medicine doctors and general surgeons, this title will provide diagnosis and treatment options for all patients suffering from anorectal disorders. - Identifies frequent, but not well understood, anorectal disorders, including ulcers, constipation, dyssynergic defecation, tumors and malformations - Condenses the basic and practical aspects of anorectal disorders for better treatment of patients - Includes clinical cases that summarize chapter content in a clinical context

Supplying lavish color illustrations that fully detail key anatomical structures and pathology, this Third Edition encompasses the complete range of diseases encountered by colorectal surgeons in day-to-day clinical practice and spans topics related to anorectal disorders, colorectal conditions, problem-oriented approaches to colorectal disease, and laparoscopic colorectal surgery. Documenting the most recent surgical developments and instrumentation methods, this Third Edition provides updated chapters on sophisticated diagnostic and therapeutic modalities, pharmaceutical advances, and patient screening, surveillance, and follow-up care.