While major injury and surgical emergencies are often viewed solely as acute moments of crisis, the impact on patients can be lifelong. Survivors of major injury or emergency general surgery (EGS) conditions (i.e. acute care surgery, or ACS, patients) are at risk for worse post-discharge health-related quality of life and financial sequelae. ACS diagnoses account for more than a quarter of total US inpatient costs, and lead to increased disability, unemployment-related loss of insurance, food insecurity, difficulty affording subsequent health care, increased medical debt , and the need to forego care due to cost. However, this data is not routinely captured in current databases. The goal of this study is to analyze, via mixed-methods surveys and semi-structured interviews, the financial and quality of life impact of injury or emergency hospitalization for our acute care surgery patients. We collect primary clinical, insurance, financial and quality of life data on patients by enrolling them at the time of hospitalization and following them longitudinally in outpatient clinics to understand the long-term impact of illness or injury on recovery and future financial livelihood.

This is a randomized controlled trial of a diet intervention prior to surgery for patients undergoing major colorectal surgery to determine if a high-fiber or fermented foods diet affects the perioperative gut microbiome. 

This is a multi-center randomized controlled trial of a web-based prehabilitation program for older adults undergoing colorectal cancer resections. The other sites are UCSF and MD Anderson. 

Patients with metastatic gastrointestinal cancers to the peritoneal cavity have a poor prognosis with little options for treatment. Cytoreductive surgery with or without HIPEC (Heated Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy) is offered to some as a means of prolonging survival. For patients that do not qualify for surgery, we aim to investigate a novel regional therapy for the peritoneal cavity called PIPAC. This utilizes a device to pressurize and aerosolize chemotherapy that is applied to the peritoneum at the time of laparoscopy. This treatment benefits in continued assessment of response, and potential to downstage patients towards possible cytoreduction. Other benefits include reduction of symptoms and palliation of symptoms related to peritoneal carcinomatosis. 

This is a registry trial where we aim to assess improvement in symptoms and quality of life. Additionally, we aim to study survival and conversion to resection. Tumor specimens will be sent for correlative studies. 

Pilot trial of virtual reality physical therapy to improve upper extremity strength and mobility after breast surgery. 

Listen to a podcast episode featuring Dr. Stone
talking about the pilot.