From the Editor's Desk

David E. Beck

This first issue of 2007 initiates our goal of producing a quarterly journal. This volume has a range of articles that will be of interest to both our academic and clinical readers.

In support of March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, an editorial summarizes the support for screening and documents our current progress in expanding screening. Colorectal cancer screening is cost effective and has proven to reduce the incidence of cancer and improve survival.

The original article section starts with the second installment of the statistics review by Dr. Krousel-Wood and colleagues, which includes discussion of the significance of the study results, relevance of the results in clinical practice, and study limitations. Next, knowledge of physician coding and reimbursement is essential to a successful practice, and the review by Drs. Beck and Margolin describes the reimbursement process and the basics of coding. Dr. Snyder, the Ochsner Director of Pediatric Electrophysiology, and colleagues evaluate the outcome of electrophysiology studies on adults with congenital heart disease when the tests are performed by pediatric electrophysiologists. Dr. Blanchard and colleagues from Urology describe their evaluation of urodynamic studies to assess patients at risk for voiding difficulty after a pubovaginal sling. As our patient population ages, rectal prolapse is being seen with increasing frequency. The Ochsner Colon and Rectal Surgery physicians have reviewed their 10-year experience with the surgical options to manage this challenging problem.

Two case reports of complex ophthalmologic and colorectal patients document the successful outcome produced by a multidisciplinary approach. The last case report, from the Ochsner Psychiatry Department, describes a new LSD flashback syndrome triggered by selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

Dr. Frank Riddick, the Ochsner CEO Emeritus, presents an interesting summary of Ochsner in fictional literature, and Dr. Re, Ochsner Scientific Director, describes current research activity at Ochsner.

Finally, we have a review of the new ASCRS Textbook of Colon and Rectal Surgery.

The Editorial Board hopes you find this issue of The Ochsner Journal to be informative, interesting, and helpful to your practice. If there are topics or issues that you would like to see in future issues of The Journal, please contact us at: ocjournal{at}ochsner.org.