Department of Surgery

Research

Evaluation of gastric bypass vs. vertical banded gastroplasty in treatment of morbid obesity
Comparison between Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass vs. laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding
Cellular mechanisms of improved insulin sensitivity in adipose tissues following gastric bypass surgery
Evaluation of ursodeoxycholic acid versus placebo for gallstone prophylaxis during rapid weight loss following gastric bypass surgery
Comparison of ampicillin/sulbactam vs. cefazolin for prevention of infection in the morbidly obese following gastrointestinal bypass and vertical banded gastroplasty
Laparoscopic colectomy for cancer--NSABP Protocol
Robotics for general surgery procedures
Anorectal physiology evaluation for fecal incontinence and pelvic floor disorders

US Surgical Center of Excellence for Minimally Invasive and Robotic Surgery
International training site for Intuitive Surgical for training teams to use robotics in the operating room
Use of telementoring in developing robotic centers
NASA consultation regarding robotic surgical systems for the space program
Principal investigators for Phase I institutional sponsored Investigation Devices Exemption Trials evaluating feasibility of robotic mitral valve surgery and robotic coronary artery bypass surgery
Principal investigators for Phase II multicenter trial for the FDA determining reproducibility of robotic mitral valve surgery
Collaboration with NC State University School of Engineering to develop alternative materials for robotic surgical instruments
Noncardiac injury associated with cardiopulmonary bypass, especially as related to glucose regulation, platelet function, and cerebral metabolism

Surgical resident curriculum model development with three national editions published
National residency guidelines and curriculum in surgical geriatrics
Developing curricular approaches to maximize effectiveness of teaching surgical geriatrics for improved outcomes
Surgical faculty assessments developed for peer and learner evaluation of teaching

Combined therapy of esophageal cancer with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery
Accuracy and significance of polymerase chain reaction detection of sentinel node metastases in breast cancer
Psychosocial factors affecting breast cancer presentation
Breast cancer risk and symptom care in black women aged 40-49
NSABP breast cancer prevention trial
Role of genetic and biochemical markers in breast cancer
Resection and adjuvant immunotherapy for melanoma metastasis to lung and thorax
Nonpalpable vs. palpable invasive breast tumors treated with breast-conserving surgical management
Differential lymphatic mapping using fluorescein and rhodamine B, isosulfan blue, and technetium sulfur colloid
Multi-center randomized trial of melanoma vaccine and interferon for Stage III and IV melanoma patients
Cell surface markers for melanoma

Preoperative bronchoscopy in the repair of tracheoesophageal fistula/esophageal atrium
Nephrectomy in high-risk neuroblastoma affecting completeness of resection
Perfluorocarbon: improved ventilation and decreased mortality in neonatal tracheobronchial injury
Pediatric burn trauma
Effect of INFASURF on ARDS due to smoke inhalation
Prognostic indicators of respiratory failure following inhalation injury in children

Identification of substances in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid predictive of the presence of inhalation injury and survival in burn patients

Endoscopic and robotic applications in plastic surgery

Long-term endoscopic follow-up of gastric bypass patients
Intraoperative endoscopy
Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy
Minimally invasive techniques--laparoscopic applications to a broad range of abdominal procedures

Role of anti-donor antibody and cytokine gene polymorphisms in renal allograft rejection
Vascular endothelial cell homing to sites of neoangiogenesis
Living renal donation in the African-American community
Warm preservation of kidneys and other organs
Role of vascular endothelium in cell mediated xenogeneic responses
Gene therapy strategies for graft prolongation
Humoral factors in xenograft transplantation and immunity

Strategies for tolerance induction in xenotransplantation

Endovascular aortic grafting for aortic aneurysms
Evaluation of aortic remodeling after endovascular grafting for abdominal aortic aneurysm
Autogenous venous reconstruction for aorto-iliac graft infection
3-D computer reconstruction for vascular imaging
Minimally invasive lower extremity bypass
Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty for subclavian artery stenosis
Cerebral oximetry during carotid endarterectomy
Thrombolysis of arterial occlusions
Renovascular hypertension and microcirculation
Heparin induced thrombocytopenia
Endothelial cell immunology in diabetes
Defining surgical functional outcome scores
Vacuum Assisted Closure (VAC) of lower extremity wounds in patients with vascular disease
Vascular wound outcomes in the home care setting
Vascular surgical site infection surveillance program
Interdepartmental collaboration on the acute management of patients with diabetes and peripheral vascular disease

Development of an electronic medical record for study of large populations:

For broader coverage of Department of Surgery research, visit our faculty webpages.