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.
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 |
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
Clinical Trials
- Biofeedback Treatment for Functional Constipation (NCT00502957)Related Conditions: Constipation, Functional Constipation| Start Date: | End Date:
Publications
MOST RECENT PUBLICATIONS FROM A TOTAL OF 72
- Multi-Disciplinary Management in Rectal Cancer Survivorship: A Clinical Practice Review.| | View in PubMed
- Association between adherence to the American Cancer Society Nutrition and Physical Activity Guidelines and stool frequency among colon cancer survivors: a cohort study.| | View in PubMed
- Robotic transanal excision of rectal lesions: expert perspective and literature review.| | View in PubMed
- Robotic repair of perineal hernias: a video vignette and review of the literature.| | View in PubMed
- Proof-of-concept for intervention to prevent post-operative ileus in patients undergoing ileostomy formation.| | View in PubMed
- Organ Preservation in Patients With Rectal Adenocarcinoma Treated With Total Neoadjuvant Therapy.| | View in PubMed
- Comparison of advanced techniques for local excision of rectal lesions: a case series.| | View in PubMed
- Risk factors and outcomes associated with postoperative ileus following ileostomy formation: a retrospective study.| | View in PubMed
- Survival impact of bowel resection at the time of interval cytoreductive surgery for advanced ovarian cancer.| | View in 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.| | View in PubMed
- Vitamin D Levels in Patients with Colorectal Cancer Before and After Treatment Initiation.| | View in PubMed
- Consolidation mFOLFOX6 Chemotherapy After Chemoradiotherapy Improves Survival in Patients With Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer: Final Results of a Multicenter Phase II Trial.| | View in PubMed
- Does Extended PET Acquisition in PET/MRI Rectal Cancer Staging Improve Results?| | View in PubMed
- Consensus Statement of Definitions for Anorectal Physiology Testing and Pelvic Floor Terminology (Revised).| | View in PubMed
- Expert Commentary on Rectal Prolapse.| | View in PubMed
- SNMMI Comment on the 2016 Society of Surgical Oncology "Choosing Wisely" Recommendation on the Use of PET/CT in Colorectal Cancer.| | View in PubMed
- Characteristics Associated With Successful Fitting of a Vaginal Bowel Control System for Fecal Incontinence.| | View in 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.| | View in PubMed
- A Novel Decision Aid for Surgical Patients with Ulcerative Colitis: Results of a Pilot Study.| | View in PubMed
- The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons' Clinical Practice Guideline for the Evaluation and Management of Constipation.| | View in PubMed
- Impact of a Novel Vaginal Bowel Control System on Bowel Function.| | View in PubMed
- Impact of Surgery on Relationship Quality in Patients With Ulcerative Colitis and Their Partners.| | View in PubMed
- Differences in Symptom Severity and Quality of Life in Patients With Obstructive Defecation and Colonic Inertia.| | View in PubMed
- Faecal incontinence in men referred for specialty care: a cross-sectional study.| | View in PubMed
- Impact of Patient Age on Procedure Type for Ulcerative Colitis: A National Study.| | View in PubMed
- Outcomes Analysis of Biologic Mesh Use for Abdominal Wall Reconstruction in Clean-Contaminated and Contaminated Ventral Hernia Repair.| | View in PubMed
- Effect of adding mFOLFOX6 after neoadjuvant chemoradiation in locally advanced rectal cancer: a multicentre, phase 2 trial.| | View in PubMed
- The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons' Clinical Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Fecal Incontinence.| | View in PubMed
- Outcomes after ileoanal pouch surgery in frail and older adults.| | View in PubMed
- A vaginal bowel-control system for the treatment of fecal incontinence.| | View in PubMed
- The evolution of evaluation and management of urinary or fecal incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse.| | View in PubMed
- The evolution of evaluation and management of urinary or fecal incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse.| | View in PubMed
- Perineal flap reconstruction following oncologic anorectal extirpation: an outcomes assessment.| | View in PubMed
- Treatment of fecal incontinence: state of the science summary for the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases workshop.| | View in PubMed
- Simple interventions for complex complications: moving surgery forward.| | View in PubMed
- Impact of depression and anxiety on the quality of life of constipated patients.| | View in PubMed
- Exacerbation of symptom severity of pelvic floor disorders in women who report a history of sexual abuse.| | View in PubMed
- Outcomes after rectal cancer surgery in elderly nursing home residents.| | View in PubMed
- Fecal incontinence decreases sexual quality of life, but does not prevent sexual activity in women.| | View in PubMed
- Practice parameters for anal squamous neoplasms.| | View in PubMed
- A randomized controlled trial of anorectal biofeedback for constipation.| | View in PubMed
- Development and assessment of the constipation-related disability scale.| | View in PubMed
- Practice parameters for the management of rectal prolapse.| | View in PubMed
- Chromosomal copy number alterations are associated with tumor response to chemoradiation in locally advanced rectal cancer.| | View in PubMed
- Gender-specific differences in pelvic organ function after proctectomy for inflammatory bowel disease.| | View in PubMed
- Sew or staple: does it make a difference?| | View in PubMed
- Age differences in patients evaluated for constipation: constipation characteristics, symptoms, and bowel and dietary habits.| | View in PubMed
- Validation of the risk index category as a predictor of surgical site infection in elective colorectal surgery.| | View in PubMed
- An increase in compliance with the Surgical Care Improvement Project measures does not prevent surgical site infection in colorectal surgery.| | View in PubMed
- Pelvic floor disorders and quality of life in women with self-reported irritable bowel syndrome.| | View in PubMed
- A valid and reliable measure of constipation-related quality of life.| | View in PubMed
- Gender differences in self-reported constipation characteristics, symptoms, and bowel and dietary habits among patients attending a specialty clinic for constipation.| | View in PubMed
- Treatment of transsphincteric anal fistulas: are fistula plugs an acceptable alternative?| | View in PubMed
- Hospitalized ulcerative colitis patients have an elevated risk of thromboembolic events.| | View in PubMed
- Factors that increase risk of colon polyps.| | View in PubMed
- A review of the literature on gender and age differences in the prevalence and characteristics of constipation in North America.| | View in PubMed
- Pathophysiology of constipation in the older adult.| | View in PubMed
- Surgery for inflammatory bowel disease.| | View in PubMed
- Implementation of quality measures to reduce surgical site infection in colorectal patients.| | View in PubMed
- Obstructive defecation in middle-aged women.| | View in PubMed
- Fecal incontinence: does age matter? Characteristics of older vs. younger women presenting for treatment of fecal incontinence.| | View in PubMed
- Review article: self-report measures to evaluate constipation.| | View in PubMed
- The constipation severity instrument: a validated measure.| | View in PubMed
- Dartos muscle interposition flap for the treatment of rectourethral fistulas.| | View in PubMed
- Small bowel bezoar in a patient with Noonan syndrome: report of a case.| | View in PubMed
- Fecal incontinence in females older than aged 40 years: who is at risk?| | View in PubMed
- Faecal incontinence in adults.| | View in PubMed
- Gross versus microscopic pancolitis and the occurrence of neoplasia in ulcerative colitis.| | View in PubMed
- Conserved motifs in somatostatin, D2-dopamine, and alpha 2B-adrenergic receptors for inhibiting the Na-H exchanger, NHE1.| | View in PubMed
- Local therapy for rectal cancer.| | View in PubMed
- Local excision of rectal carcinoma.| | View in PubMed
- Evaluation of plasma insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 as a potential predictor of preeclampsia.| | View in PubMed
In the News
July 14, 2015
UCSF Department of Surgery
December 14, 2013
Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Program
June 12, 2010
UCSF Colorectal Surgery
March 10, 2009
UCSF Department of Surgery
July 01, 2009
UCSF Colorectal Surgery
Research
- 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