During Sunday afternoon’s SSAT PG and CME Committee Panel: Novel or Non-operative Management of Common General Surgery Problems, five experts will review the latest research on the non-operative treatment of appendicitis, cholecystitis, large bowl obstructions, achalasia and Crohn’s disease — conditions typically managed with surgery.

“The wide range of topics this panel will address will be of interest to general surgeons and specialists alike,” said session moderator Melanie Morris, MD, associate professor of surgery at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and chief of general surgery at the Birmingham VA Medical Center. “Our panelists will explore the evolution we’ve seen in non-operative management for many common conditions we all see and treat. We’ll also look at novel therapies that may be less invasive than our standard approaches.”

Appendicitis is a prime example. “There have been several randomized, controlled clinical trials that show it is safe and effective to treat appendicitis with antibiotics rather than surgery,” Dr. Morris said. “I think this topic in particular
will spark a lively debate — not only about the evidence, but also on how we, as clinicians, can best educate patients about their options when they have appendicitis.”

Each of the session’s five panelist will review the evidence for various non-operative approaches and answer questions from attendees.

“We’re excited about this dynamic group of speakers, who are all experts in their fields,” Dr. Morris said. “We’ll hear from Dr. Michael Ujiki, one of the country’s authorities on POEM (peroral endoscopic myotomy). I’m also quite interested to
hear from Dr. Jayleen Grams about how to choose between the various options for complicated cholecystitis, which is one of the most common general surgery diseases.”

Please refer to the DDW Mobile App or the Program & Exhibits section for the time and location of this and other DDW^® events.

Our panelists will explore the evolution we’ve seen in non-operative management for many common conditions we all see and treat. We’ll also look at novel therapies that may be less invasive than our standard approaches.

Melanie Morris, MD