World Journal of Surgery publishes original articles that offer significant contributions to knowledge in the broad fields of clinical surgery, experimental surgery and related sciences, surgical education and history, and the socioeconomic aspects of surgical care. The Journal has an international circulation and is designed to serve as a medium for rapid dissemination of new and important information about the science and art of surgery throughout the world. In the interests of a wide international readership, use of the English language is required. Articles that are accepted for publication are done so with the understanding that they, or their substantive contents, have not been and will not be submitted to any other publication.