Pioneering Solutions.

Why Hernia Research Matters

Clinical research is an integral part of Cascade Hernia & Surgical Solutions at Meridian Surgery Center. Out of Dr. Wright’s passion for research, he has been able to employ the latest approaches for hernia repair and abdominal wall reconstructions, thus improving the quality of hernia surgery outcomes.

Dr. Wright is unique in his field of general surgery for his focus on hernia research, having founded Cascade Hernia Institute within the center to support these efforts. With thousands of laparoscopic surgeries performed and a number of articles published in reputed medical journals, Dr. Wright has become an award-winning international expert in hernia care and a top surgeon in his field.

Dr Wright has presented multiple times at the American Hernia Society International Hernia Congress (pg 104), and in 2011, Dr. Wright was awarded the Fruchard Prize for his poster, a highly regarded achievement among surgeons.

Dr. Wright’s independent research efforts are not funded by any drug company or underwritten by any institution.

Current Research Projects

Significance: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation is effective for pain relief and decreases narcotic refills.

Investigators: Robert Wright MD, FACS; Julia Wright; Kyler Perry

(Pending Publication American Journal of Surgery)

Natural History of Inguinal Neuropathy

Hypothesis: Inguinal neuritis in hernias is similar to carpel tunnel nerve damage

Investigators: Robert Wright MD, FACS; Don Born MD, PhD, Stanford University; Jordan Landes, Troy Salisbury

Gallbladder Pathology and Pain Relief

Purpose: Investigate the significance of gallbladder pathology, including adenomyomatosis, cholesterolosis, and hyperdynamic gallbladder for patients who received a cholecystectomy.

Investigators: Robert Wright MD, FACS; Nina Thach; Haley Peffer; Kasey Temple

Histology of Inguinal Neuritis
Hypothesis: Inguinal Neuritis is similar to carpel tunnel nerve damage.
Investigators: Robert Wright, MD, FACS; Don Born, MD, PhD, Stanford University; Larissa Hurd

Patterns of Inguinal Neuritis in Recurrent Inguinal Hernia
Hypothesis: Similar pattern as with Primary Inguinal Hernia.
Investigators: Robert Wright, MD, FACS; Robert James Wright

Finding Inguinal Neuritis
Video: Instructional Presentation for World Hernia Society
Investigator: Robert Wright, MD, FACS

Publications, Articles & Abstracts

• “Preoperative Pain Measures Ineffective in Outpatient Abdominal Surgeries.” January 2018, Vol. 215, American Journal of Surgery. Researched with Wright J., Perry K., Wright D.
• “Pain and Compression Neuropathy in Primary Inguinal Hernia,” October 2017, Vol. 21, Hernia. Researched with Larissa Hurd, Rachel Gill, and Daniel Wright
• “Why Do Inguinal Hernia Patients Have Pain? Histology Points to Compression Neuropathy,” May 2017, Vol. 203, The American Journal of Surgery. Researched with Larissa Hurd, Rachel Gill, and Daniel Wright.
• “Unexpected Subserosal Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor Encountered During Laparoscopic Hiatal Hernia Repair,” April 2016, Vol. 150, No. 4, Gastroenterology. Researched with Hallie Wurst.
• “Inguinal Neuritis in Open Recurrent Hernia Repair,” July 2014, Vol. 5, No. 13, International Journal of Medicine. Researched with Robert James Wright.
• “Improvement of Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Symptoms after Laparoscopic Hill Repair,” May 2003, Vol. 5, The American Journal of Surgery. Researched with Kelsey Rhodes, DDS.
• “Evidence of Entrapment Neuropathy in Primary Inguinal Hernia,” Abstract, August 2014
  • Featured in General Surgery News Article (August 2011, Vol 38, Num 8):
    Pre-op Nerve Damage as Cause Of Post-Herniorrhaphy Pain?
    Study Offers Alternative Theory of Post-inguinal Hernia Repair Pain
  • Featured in Anesthesiology News (September 2011, Vol 37:9)
• “Improvement of Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Symptoms after Laparoscopic Hill Hiatal Hernia Repair,” (May 2003, Vol. 185, No. 5, The American Journal of Surgery)

Presentations

• “Surgical Response in Patients with Biliary Colic and Atypical Workup,” Presented at the North Pacific Surgical Association, Boise, Idaho, November 10, 2018.
• “Compression Neuropathy Related Pre-Operative Pain and Nerve Enlargement in Primary Inguinal Hernia – What Really Matters,” Presented at the North Pacific Surgical Association, Boise, Idaho, November 9, 2018.
• “TENS Unit Effective for Post-Operative Pain in Abdominal Surgery,” Poster, Presented at the International Hernia Congress, Miami Beach, Florida, March 14, 2018.
• “Pre-Operative Pain Measures Ineffective in Outpatient Abdominal Surgeries,” Presented at the North Pacific Surgical Association, Vancouver, B.C., Canada, November 11, 2017.
• “Why Do Hernia Patients Have Pain? Histology Suggests Compression Neuropathy.” Presented at the American College of Surgeons – Oregon & Washington, Chelan, Washington, June 18, 2017.
• “Why Do Hernia Patients Have Pain? Histology Suggests Compression Neuropathy.” Presented at the European Hernia Society, Vienna, Austria, May 24, 2017.
• “Pain and Entrapment Neuropathy in Primary Inguinal Hernia,” Presented at the Americas Hernia Society, Cancun, Mexico, March 10, 2017.
• “Preoperative Hernia Pain Levels Correlate with Fascicle Counts in Ilioinguinal Nerves,” Poster, Presented at the Americas Hernia Society, Cancun, Mexico, March 8, 2017.
• “Fascicle Counts in Ilioinguinal Nerves from Primary Inguinal Hernia Correlate with Increased Pre-Operative Pain,” Presented at the North Pacific Surgical Association, Tacoma, Washington, November 12, 2016.
• “Evidence of Entrapment Neuropathy in Primary Inguinal Hernia,” Presented at the American College of Surgeons Oregon/Washington Annual Meeting, Bend, Oregon      June 10, 2016.
• “Subserosal Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor Encountered During Laparoscopic Hiatal Hernia Repair,” Presented at the American College of Surgeons Oregon /Washington Annual Meeting, Bend, Oregon, June 10, 2016.
• “Unexpected Subserosal Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor Encountered During Laparoscopic Hiatal Hernia Repair: Digestive Disease Week.” Presented at the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, Poster Session, San Diego, CA, May 24, 2016.
• “Evidence of Entrapment Neuropathy in Primary Inguinal Hernia, Evidence.” Presented at the American Hernia Society, Washington, D.C., April 12, 2016.
• “Finding Inguinal Neuritis During Primary Inguinal Hernia,” Presented at the American College of Surgeons, Video Session, Invited Re-Presentation, Chicago, IL, October 2015.
• “Serosal Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor Encountered During Laparoscopic Hiatal Hernia Repair,” Presented at the World Conference on Abdominal Wall Hernia Surgery, Milan, Italy, April 2015.
• “Inguinal neuritis in recurrent inguinal hernia,” Presented at the American College of Surgeons Oregon/Washington Chapter Annual Meeting, Chelan, WA, June 2013.
• “Inguinal Neuritis Identification during Primary Inguinal Heniorrhaphy,” Presented at the International Hernia Congress, New York, March 2012, Vol. 16, Hernia. Researched with Caleb Wolfe.
• “Inguinal Hernia Causes Traumatic Neuroma,” Presentation, March 2010, American Hernia Society Annual Meeting
• “Inguinal Neuritis is Common in Primary Inguinal Hernia,” (August 2011, Vol. 15, No.4, Hernia)
• “Cough, Sore Throat, Voice Loss and Globus: Symptoms Respond to Hiatal Hernia Repair,” Meeting Speaker, 2002, Pierce County Medical Association
• “Laryngopharyngeal Reflux; Beyond GERD,” Meeting Speaker, February 2003, St Jude Medical Center, Los Angeles
• “Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication: The Learning Curve in Hiatal Hernia Repair,” May 1997, Scott & White Surgical Alumni Society, Texas A&M