Biography
Dr. Madhulika Varma, Chief of Colorectal Surgery, specializes in the surgical treatment of diseases of the colon, rectum, and anus. Her areas of expertise include colon and rectal cancer, inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and pelvic floor disorders. She is also a specialist in advanced laparoscopic and robotic colorectal surgery, using minimally invasive techniques to treat many of these diseases. Dr. Varma is the director of the UCSF Center for Pelvic Physiology, which evaluates patients with fecal incontinence, constipation, pelvic floor prolapse, rectal cancer, and anal fistulas. She is a member of the clinical team of the UCSF Women’s Continence Center and the UCSF Center for Colitis and Crohn’s Disease.
Dr. Varma earned her medical degree at Brown University School of Medicine in Providence, R.I. She completed her residency in general surgery at UCSF and spent a year at the University of Minnesota to obtain specialized training in colon and rectal surgery. She returned to the faculty at UCSF in 2000, where she completed a fellowship in Clinical Outcomes Research and Epidemiology. Her research interests include the assessment of clinical outcomes and quality of life for patients with colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel diseases, and defecation disorders.
Dr. Varma earned her medical degree at Brown University School of Medicine in Providence, R.I. She completed her residency in general surgery at UCSF and spent a year at the University of Minnesota to obtain specialized training in colon and rectal surgery. She returned to the faculty at UCSF in 2000, where she completed a fellowship in Clinical Outcomes Research and Epidemiology. Her research interests include the assessment of clinical outcomes and quality of life for patients with colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel diseases, and defecation disorders.
Videos
Education
Institution | Degree | Dept or School | End Date |
---|---|---|---|
University of California | Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion Training | 2018 | |
Brown University | M.D. | School of Medicine | 1991 |
Board Certifications
- American Board of Surgery, 1999; Recertification, 2007
- American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery, 2001
Clinical Expertise
Anal Cancer
Colitis
Colon Cancer
Constipation
Crohn's Disease
Diverticulitis
Fecal Incontinence
Hemorrhoids
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Pelvic Floor Disorders
Presacral Tumors
Rectal Cancer
Ulcerative Colitis
Program Affiliations
- Director, UCSF Center for Pelvic Physiology
- Program Director, UCSF Center for Colorectal Surgery
In the News
March, 08, 2019 | UCSF Department of Surgery
July, 14, 2015 | UCSF Department of Surgery
March, 10, 2009 | UCSF Department of Surgery
Research Narrative
- A Randomized, Subject and Evaluator Blinded, Sham Controlled, Multicenter Study to Evaluate Efficacy and Safety of NASHA/Dx for the Treatment of Fecal Incontinence
- The Comprehensive Validation of the CSI (Constipation Severity Instrument) and CRQOL (Constipation-Related Quality of Life) and the Comprehensive Validation of the RCM (Rome III Constipation Module)
- A Phase II Trial of Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation and Local Excision for uT2uN0 Rectal Cancer
- Timing of Rectal Cancer Response to Chemoradiation
- The Effect of Rectal Resection on Bowel, Bladder, and Sexual Functioning in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- A Randomized Control Trial to Examine the Efficacy of Anorectal Biofeedback
- Prevalence of Sexual Dysfunction in Ulcerative Colitis Patients
- Outcomes of Patients Presenting to the UCSF Center for Pelvic Physiology with Pelvic Floor Disorders
Publications
MOST RECENT PUBLICATIONS FROM A TOTAL OF 77
- Association between gastrointestinal symptoms and specialty care utilization among colon cancer survivors: a cohort study.| | PubMed
- Promoting Female Surgeons Through Structured Award Nominations.| | PubMed
- We asked the experts: Normalize challenges, build community, and develop mentorship: A guide for proactive institutional support for child rearing during surgical training.| | PubMed
- Translation and Validation Testing of the Constipation-Related Quality of Life Scale for Use in Japan.| | PubMed
- Long-Term Results of Organ Preservation in Patients With Rectal Adenocarcinoma Treated With Total Neoadjuvant Therapy: The Randomized Phase II OPRA Trial.| | PubMed
- Multi-Disciplinary Management in Rectal Cancer Survivorship: A Clinical Practice Review.| | PubMed
- Association between adherence to the American Cancer Society Nutrition and Physical Activity Guidelines and stool frequency among colon cancer survivors: a cohort study.| | PubMed
- Robotic transanal excision of rectal lesions: expert perspective and literature review.| | PubMed
- Robotic repair of perineal hernias: a video vignette and review of the literature.| | PubMed
- Proof-of-concept for intervention to prevent post-operative ileus in patients undergoing ileostomy formation.| | PubMed
- Organ Preservation in Patients With Rectal Adenocarcinoma Treated With Total Neoadjuvant Therapy.| | PubMed
- Comparison of advanced techniques for local excision of rectal lesions: a case series.| | PubMed
- Risk factors and outcomes associated with postoperative ileus following ileostomy formation: a retrospective study.| | PubMed
- Survival impact of bowel resection at the time of interval cytoreductive surgery for advanced ovarian cancer.| | PubMed
- Perfusion Assessment in Left-Sided/Low Anterior Resection (PILLAR III): A Randomized, Controlled, Parallel, Multicenter Study Assessing Perfusion Outcomes With PINPOINT Near-Infrared Fluorescence Imaging in Low Anterior Resection.| | PubMed
- Vitamin D Levels in Patients with Colorectal Cancer Before and After Treatment Initiation.| | PubMed
- Consolidation mFOLFOX6 Chemotherapy After Chemoradiotherapy Improves Survival in Patients With Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer: Final Results of a Multicenter Phase II Trial.| | PubMed
- Does Extended PET Acquisition in PET/MRI Rectal Cancer Staging Improve Results?| | PubMed
- Consensus Statement of Definitions for Anorectal Physiology Testing and Pelvic Floor Terminology (Revised).| | PubMed
- Expert Commentary on Rectal Prolapse.| | PubMed
- SNMMI Comment on the 2016 Society of Surgical Oncology "Choosing Wisely" Recommendation on the Use of PET/CT in Colorectal Cancer.| | PubMed
- Characteristics Associated With Successful Fitting of a Vaginal Bowel Control System for Fecal Incontinence.| | PubMed
- Successful implementation of an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery program shortens length of stay and improves postoperative pain, and bowel and bladder function after colorectal surgery.| | PubMed
- A Novel Decision Aid for Surgical Patients with Ulcerative Colitis: Results of a Pilot Study.| | PubMed
- The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons' Clinical Practice Guideline for the Evaluation and Management of Constipation.| | PubMed
- Impact of a Novel Vaginal Bowel Control System on Bowel Function.| | PubMed
- Impact of Surgery on Relationship Quality in Patients With Ulcerative Colitis and Their Partners.| | PubMed
- Differences in Symptom Severity and Quality of Life in Patients With Obstructive Defecation and Colonic Inertia.| | PubMed
- Faecal incontinence in men referred for specialty care: a cross-sectional study.| | PubMed
- Impact of Patient Age on Procedure Type for Ulcerative Colitis: A National Study.| | PubMed
- Outcomes Analysis of Biologic Mesh Use for Abdominal Wall Reconstruction in Clean-Contaminated and Contaminated Ventral Hernia Repair.| | PubMed
- Effect of adding mFOLFOX6 after neoadjuvant chemoradiation in locally advanced rectal cancer: a multicentre, phase 2 trial.| | PubMed
- The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons' Clinical Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Fecal Incontinence.| | PubMed
- Outcomes after ileoanal pouch surgery in frail and older adults.| | PubMed
- A vaginal bowel-control system for the treatment of fecal incontinence.| | PubMed
- The evolution of evaluation and management of urinary or fecal incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse.| | PubMed
- The evolution of evaluation and management of urinary or fecal incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse.| | PubMed
- Perineal flap reconstruction following oncologic anorectal extirpation: an outcomes assessment.| | PubMed
- Treatment of fecal incontinence: state of the science summary for the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases workshop.| | PubMed
- Simple interventions for complex complications: moving surgery forward.| | PubMed
- Impact of depression and anxiety on the quality of life of constipated patients.| | PubMed
- Exacerbation of symptom severity of pelvic floor disorders in women who report a history of sexual abuse.| | PubMed
- Outcomes after rectal cancer surgery in elderly nursing home residents.| | PubMed
- Fecal incontinence decreases sexual quality of life, but does not prevent sexual activity in women.| | PubMed
- Practice parameters for anal squamous neoplasms.| | PubMed
- A randomized controlled trial of anorectal biofeedback for constipation.| | PubMed
- Development and assessment of the constipation-related disability scale.| | PubMed
- Practice parameters for the management of rectal prolapse.| | PubMed
- Chromosomal copy number alterations are associated with tumor response to chemoradiation in locally advanced rectal cancer.| | PubMed
- Gender-specific differences in pelvic organ function after proctectomy for inflammatory bowel disease.| | PubMed
- Sew or staple: does it make a difference?| | PubMed
- Age differences in patients evaluated for constipation: constipation characteristics, symptoms, and bowel and dietary habits.| | PubMed
- Validation of the risk index category as a predictor of surgical site infection in elective colorectal surgery.| | PubMed
- An increase in compliance with the Surgical Care Improvement Project measures does not prevent surgical site infection in colorectal surgery.| | PubMed
- Pelvic floor disorders and quality of life in women with self-reported irritable bowel syndrome.| | PubMed
- A valid and reliable measure of constipation-related quality of life.| | PubMed
- Gender differences in self-reported constipation characteristics, symptoms, and bowel and dietary habits among patients attending a specialty clinic for constipation.| | PubMed
- Treatment of transsphincteric anal fistulas: are fistula plugs an acceptable alternative?| | PubMed
- Hospitalized ulcerative colitis patients have an elevated risk of thromboembolic events.| | PubMed
- Factors that increase risk of colon polyps.| | PubMed
- A review of the literature on gender and age differences in the prevalence and characteristics of constipation in North America.| | PubMed
- Pathophysiology of constipation in the older adult.| | PubMed
- Surgery for inflammatory bowel disease.| | PubMed
- Implementation of quality measures to reduce surgical site infection in colorectal patients.| | PubMed
- Obstructive defecation in middle-aged women.| | PubMed
- Fecal incontinence: does age matter? Characteristics of older vs. younger women presenting for treatment of fecal incontinence.| | PubMed
- Review article: self-report measures to evaluate constipation.| | PubMed
- The constipation severity instrument: a validated measure.| | PubMed
- Dartos muscle interposition flap for the treatment of rectourethral fistulas.| | PubMed
- Small bowel bezoar in a patient with Noonan syndrome: report of a case.| | PubMed
- Fecal incontinence in females older than aged 40 years: who is at risk?| | PubMed
- Faecal incontinence in adults.| | PubMed
- Gross versus microscopic pancolitis and the occurrence of neoplasia in ulcerative colitis.| | PubMed
- Conserved motifs in somatostatin, D2-dopamine, and alpha 2B-adrenergic receptors for inhibiting the Na-H exchanger, NHE1.| | PubMed
- Local therapy for rectal cancer.| | PubMed
- Local excision of rectal carcinoma.| | PubMed
- Evaluation of plasma insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 as a potential predictor of preeclampsia.| | PubMed