Clinical Focus


  • Pediatric Surgery

Academic Appointments


Professional Education


  • Medical Education: University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine (1997) CA
  • Board Certification: American Board of Surgery, Pediatric Surgery (2008)
  • Fellowship: McGill University Graduate Medical Education (2006) Canada
  • Fellowship: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (2004) NY
  • Board Certification: American Board of Surgery, General Surgery (2003)
  • Residency: Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles General Surgery Residency (2002) CA

All Publications


  • Outcome assessment of office Plastibell circumcision in infants utilizing interactive electronic health record. Journal of pediatric surgery Diyaolu, M., Perry, T., Hui, N., Hui, T., Su, W. 2023

    Abstract

    To assess the outcomes of office-based circumcision performed using Plastibell devices in infants, utilizing the MyChart interactive electronic health record (iEHR) system to monitor the progress and identify potential complications.This is a prospective cohort study conducted between March 2021 to April 2022 on all infants undergoing office based Plastibell circumcision. Parents were encouraged to submit concerns via MyChart and to submit photos if the ring has not fallen by post-procedure day 7. Telehealth or in-person clinic visits were then made accordingly. Postoperative complications were collected and compared with existing literature.Of the 234 consecutive infants, the average age was 33 days (9-126 days) and the average weight was 4.35 kg (2.5-7.25 kg). A total of 170 parents (73%) responded to MyChart messages. Fourteen (6%) complications necessitating local intervention were identified: excessive fussiness (1), bleeding (2), ring retention (11) including 2 incomplete skin division requiring repeat dorsal block and surgical completion, fibrinous adhesion (3), and proximal ring migration (6). The photo and messages submitted through iEHR facilitated early patient return for intervention. Additionally, 17 parents submitted photos which were expected postprocedural findings and were reassured through iEHR, thus omitting unnecessary return visits. The 2 patients with incomplete skin division occurred early in the series using the included cotton ties. Subsequent procedures were performed with double 0-Silk ties (n = 218) without similar finding.The interactive utilization of iEHR communication in the post-circumcision period identified proximal bell migration and bell trapping, allowed earlier intervention and reduced complications.Level 1.

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2023.01.043

    View details for PubMedID 36797109

  • Burden of pilonidal disease and improvement in quality of life after treatment in adolescents. Pediatric surgery international Salimi-Jazi, F., Abrajano, C., Garza, D., Rafeeqi, T., Yousefi, R., Hartman, E., Hah, K., Wilcox, M., Diyaolu, M., Chao, S., Su, W., Hui, T., Mueller, C., Fuchs, J., Chiu, B. 2022

    Abstract

    PURPOSE: Pilonidal Disease (PD) affects adolescents in different aspects. We hypothesized that patients with different gender, ethnicity, and age have different quality of life (QOL) measurements which could improve with minimally invasive treatment (MIT).METHODS: 131 PD patients underwent MIT (laser epilation±trephination) from 2019 to 2021. Patients' demographics were recorded. Before and after MIT, patients received QOL questionnaire consisting of four categories: daily activities, sports participation, school/work attendance, and socializing. Data were analyzed using Student and multivariate t test. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.RESULTS: 101 (51 male, 50 female) patients were included. 30 patients with incomplete data were excluded. 54% of patients were<18years old. 47.5% were Hispanic. Median symptom duration prior to presentation was 5.4 (1.3-15) months. Prior to MIT, patients' ability to perform daily activities, participate in sports, attend school/work, and socialize was moderately or severely impacted in 66%, 57%, 45%, and 23% of respondents, respectively; after MIT, only 7%, 8%, 2%, and 4% were affected (p<0.01). Recurrence rate was 6%. Pre-MIT, older patients and non-Hispanics reported worse impact on their QOL. Symptom duration or PD recurrence did not correlate with patient's pre- or post-MIT QOL.CONCLUSION: Patients' ethnicity and age impacted QOL in PD. All patients' QOL significantly improved with MIT. Considering the importance of socializing, playing sports, and school/work attendance in adolescents, our study highlights importance of early treatment of PD.

    View details for DOI 10.1007/s00383-022-05175-2

    View details for PubMedID 35842877

  • Adoption of a standardized treatment protocol for pilonidal disease leads to low recurrence. Journal of pediatric surgery Rafeeqi, T., Abrajano, C., Salimi-Jazi, F., Garza, D., Hartman, E., Hah, K., Wilcox, M., Diyaolu, M., Chao, S., Su, W., Hui, T., Mueller, C., Fuchs, J., Chiu, B. 2022

    Abstract

    BACKGROUND: Pilonidal disease may present as acute abscesses or chronic draining sinuses. There is no standardized treatment and recurrence rates can be as high as 30%. Within our five-hospital network we have established a standardized treatment protocol including minimally invasive surgical trephination and aggressive epilation. We hypothesize that such a treatment protocol can be established across different hospital settings and lead to low overall recurrence.METHODS: Patients with pilonidal disease were enrolled in the study on presentation to our hospital network. Those that underwent initial surgery outside our hospital system or were noncompliant with our treatment protocol were excluded. Patients were grouped based on surgeon and treating facility. Frequency of recurrence per surgeon and per hospital was calculated and compared.RESULTS: Out of 132 patients, 80 patients were included (45 female, 35 male) while 52 were excluded because of initial surgery at a non-network hospital or for protocol noncompliance. Median age was 17 (16-19) years and median length of follow-up was 352 (261-496) days. There were 6 patients who experienced at least one recurrence. There was an overall 8% recurrence rate with no significant difference noted between surgeons or hospitals (p=0.15, p=0.64, respectively).CONCLUSIONS: We have successfully implemented a standardized treatment protocol for pilonidal disease across different hospital settings and by different surgeons, with an overall low recurrence rate. Our findings suggest that adoption of a standardized protocol for treatment of pilonidal disease can lead to low recurrence.LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2022.06.014

    View details for PubMedID 35868880