Professor Frank Frizelle, Our people, University of Otago, Christchurch, University of Otago, New Zealand

Professor of Surgery
Colorectal Surgeon

MB ChB MMedSc(Otago) FACS FRACS FNZMA FASCRS FRCSI

Frank is Professor of Colorectal Surgery at the University of Otago, Christchurch, Colorectal Surgeon at Christchurch Hospital with the Canterbury District Health Board, and Editor in Chief of the New Zealand Medical Journal.

He trained in general surgery in New Zealand before undertaking post fellowship training in colorectal surgery at the Mayo Clinic, and Scotland.

He returned to New Zealand in 1996 as senior lecturer in surgery at the University of Otago, Christchurch, before being appointed Professor of Colorectal Surgery in 2000, and became Head of the Academic Department of Surgery in January 2006. Frank relinquished this role in 2019 after 13 years as HoD, and became Convenor of the Trainee Intern Surgery module for 6th Year medical students.

He has been Editor in Chief of the New Zealand Medical Journal since 2002.

Frank has published over 400 publications in peer reviewed journals and given more than 250 presentations at national and international meetings.

Research interests

Management and outcomes of patients with colorectal diseases especially colorectal cancer, locally recurrent rectal cancer, anal cancer and diverticular disease
The role of surgery in the management of inflammatory bowel disease
Medical legal and publication issues related to medicine in general and surgery specifically.

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Publications

Lee, M. S., Thomas, A., Pearson, J. F., Purcell, R., Frizelle, F., & Glyn, T. (2022). Risk of colorectal cancer in patients with appendicitis over the age of 40 years. Colorectal Disease. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1111/codi.16429

COVIDSurg Collaborative, and GlobalSurg Collaborative, including, Wright, D., Kieser, D., Clifford, Z., Frizelle, F., Glyn, T., Lim, E., Lyons, O., O'Grady, M., Roake, J., Ailabouni, R., Alqassab, M., Amer, M., Egbuji, J., Haddow, J., Hawkins, R., Oliver, T., Saw, K. S., & Lahood, Z. (2022). SARS-CoV-2 infection and venous thromboembolism after surgery: An international prospective cohort study. Anaesthesia, 77(1), 28-39. doi: 10.1111/anae.15563

Sulit, A. K., Pearson, J., Liu, W., Silander, O. K., Wilson, K., Heriot, A., Frizelle, F., & Purcell, R. (2022, August). Human gene and microbial analyses suggest immunotherapy-like mechanisms in complete response to radiotherapy in rectal cancer. Verbal presentation at the Cancer Satellite Meeting: Queenstown Research Week, Queenstown, New Zealand.

Frizelle, F., Tierney, G., Ziyaie, D., & Vimalachandran, D. (2022, July). Consultants' corner. Panel discussion at the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain & Ireland (ACPGBI) Annual Meeting, Edinburgh, UK.

Frizelle, F. (2022, July). Research fraud. Verbal presentation at the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain & Ireland (ACPGBI) Annual Meeting, Edinburgh, UK.

Chittleborough, T., Beadel, G., & Frizelle, F. (2022). Extended exenterative resections involving bone. In M. E. Kelly & D. C. Winter (Eds.), Surgical management of advanced pelvic cancer. (pp. 97-109). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. doi: 10.1002/9781119518495.ch11

Chapter in Book - Research

Eglinton, T. W., & Frizelle, F. A. (2019). Laparoscopic sigmoid colectomy for diverticular disease. In M. Parker & W. Hohenberger (Eds.), Lower gastrointestinal tract surgery: (Vol. 1): Laparoscopic procedures. (pp. 285-306). Cham, Switzerland: Springer Nature. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-05240-9_9

Chapter in Book - Research

Eglinton, T. W., & Frizelle, F. A. (2010). Investigation and management of complications after coloproctological surgery. In G. A. Santoro, A. P. Wieczorek & C. I. Bartram (Eds.), Pelvic floor disorders: Imaging and multidisciplinary approach to management. (pp. 713-723). Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-88-470-1542-5_93

Chapter in Book - Research

Nguyen, T., & Frizelle, F. A. (2010). Invited commentary. In G. A. Santoro, A. P. Wieczorek & C. I. Bartram (Eds.), Pelvic floor disorders: Imaging and multidisciplinary approach to management. (pp. 679-684). Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-88-470-1542-5_89

Chapter in Book - Research

Nyam, D. N., Frizelle, F. A., & Pemberton, J. H. (1998). Physiologic derangements of the rectum and anus. In T. A. Miller (Ed.), Modern Surgical Care. Physiologic Foundations and Clinical Applications, 2nd Edition. (pp. 702-727). St Louis, Missouri: Quality Medical Publishing.

Chapter in Book - Research

Wolff, B. W., & Frizelle, F. A. (1998). Recurrent Diverticulitis Following Resection. In J. P. Welch, J. Cohen, W. Sardella & P. Vignati (Eds.), Diverticular Disease, Management of the Difficult Surgical Case, 1st edition. (pp. 343-351). Williams and Wilkins.

Chapter in Book - Research

Frizelle, F. A., & Nelson, H. (1997). Psychological Factors of IBD including Sexual Function. In R. N. Allen, M. R. B. Keighley, J. Alexander-Williams, V. W. Fazio, S. Hanauer & J. M. Rhodes (Eds.), Inflammatory Bowel Disease, 3rd edition. (pp. 943-947). Churchill-Livingston.

Chapter in Book - Research

Bower, T. C., Wolff, B. W., & Frizelle, F. A. (1995). Ischaemic cokitor. In Current Therapy. 5th edn. (pp. 182-186). St Louis: Mosby.

Chapter in Book - Research

Frizelle, F. A., & Nelson, H. (1995). Recurrent colon cancer. In S. D. Wexner & A. M. Vernava (Eds.), Clinical Decision Making in Colorectal Surgery. (pp. 389-395). New York: Igaku-Shoin.

Chapter in Book - Research

Frizelle, F. (2013). Surgery. In P. Joyce, G. Nicholls, K. Thomas & T. Wilkinson (Eds.), The Christchurch experience: 40 years of research and teaching. (pp. 60-66). Christchurch, New Zealand: University of Otago.

Chapter in Book - Other

Frizelle, F., & Barclay, M. (2008). Constipation in adults. In C. Young (Ed.), Clinical evidence handbook: The international source of the best available evidence for effective health care. (pp. 167). UK: BMJ: Evidence Centre.

Chapter in Book - Other

Aitchison, A., Pearson, J. F., Purcell, R. V., Frizelle, F. A., & Keenan, J. I. (2022). Detection of Fusobacterium nucleatum DNA in primary care patient stool samples does not predict progression of colorectal neoplasia. PLoS ONE, 17(6), e0269541. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0269541

Journal - Research Article

Kim, E., Fernando, C., McCombie, A., Bailey, W., Frizelle, F., Glyn, T., Porter, C., Wakeman, C., & Creagh, T. (2022). Abdominal and perineal hernia rates following vertical rectus abdominis myocutaneous (VRAM) flap reconstruction : A supraregional experience. Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery, 75, 1158-1163. doi: 10.1016/j.bjps.2021.11.002

Journal - Research Article

O'Grady, M. J., Turner, G. A., Sulit, A., Frizelle, F. A., & Purcell, R. (2022). Distinct changes in the colonic microbiome associated with acute diverticulitis. Colorectal Disease. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1111/codi.16271

Journal - Research Article

Turner, G., O'Grady, M., Hudson, D., Morgan, X., Frizelle, F., & Purcell, R. (2022). Rectal swabs are a reliable method of assessing the colonic microbiome. International Journal of Medical Microbiology, 312(2), 151549. doi: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2022.151549

Journal - Research Article

COVIDSurg Collaborative, and GlobalSurg Collaborative, including, Wright, D., Kieser, D., Rennie, S., Clifford, Z., Frizelle, F., Glyn, T., Lim, E., Lyons, O., O'Grady, M., Roake, J., Ailabouni, R., Alqassab, M., Amer, M., Haddow, J., Hawkins, R., Oliver, T., Saw, K. S., Gaston, M., & Haimona, M. (2021). SARS-CoV-2 vaccination modelling for safe surgery to save lives: Data from an international prospective cohort study. British Journal of Surgery, 108, 1056-1063. doi: 10.1093/bjs/znab101

Journal - Research Article

COVIDSurg Collaborative, and GlobalSurg Collaborative, including, Wright, D., Kieser, D., Rennie, S., Clifford, Z., Frizelle, F., Glyn, T., Lyons, O., O'Grady, M., Roake, J., Ailabouni, R., Alqassab, M., Amer, M., Haddow, J., Hawkins, R., Oliver, T., Saw, K. S., Gaston, M., & Haimona, M. (2021). Timing of surgery following SARS-CoV-2 infection: An international prospective cohort study. Anaesthesia, 76, 748-758. doi: 10.1111/anae.15458

Journal - Research Article

Cross, A. J., Kornfält, P., Lidin, J., Buchwald, P., Frizelle, F. A., & Eglinton, T. W. (2021). Surgical outcomes following colorectal cancer resections in patients aged 80 years and over: Results from the Australia and New Zealand Bi-national Colorectal Cancer Audit. Colorectal Disease, 23, 814-822. doi: 10.1111/codi.15445

Journal - Research Article

Fischer, J., Eglinton, T. W., & Frizelle, F. A. (2021). Clinical predictors of response to chemoradiotherapy for rectal cancer as an aid to organ preservation. ANZ Journal of Surgery, 91, 1190-1195. doi: 10.1111/ans.16531

Journal - Research Article

Lau, Y. C., Schmeier, S., Frizelle, F., & Purcell, R. (2021). Consensus molecular subtypes of primary colon tumors and their hepatic metastases. Future Science OA, 7(7), FSO722. doi: 10.2144/fsoa-2021-0021

Journal - Research Article

McCombie, A. M., Frampton, C. M., & Frizelle, F. A. (2021). Quality of life preferences in colorectal cancer patients aged 80 and over. ANZ Journal of Surgery, 91, 1859-1865. doi: 10.1111/ans.16739

Journal - Research Article

Reynolds, M., McCombie, A., Jeffery, M., Mulder, R., & Frizelle, F. (2021). Impact of burnout on empathy. New Zealand Medical Journal, 134(1530), 12-20. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Journal - Research Article

Richards, S. J. G., Cherry, T. J., Frizelle, F. A., & Eglinton, T. W. (2021). Pre-operative frailty is predictive of adverse post-operative outcomes in colorectal cancer patients. ANZ Journal of Surgery, 91, 379-386. doi: 10.1111/ans.16319

Journal - Research Article

Turner, G. A., O'Grady, M. J., Senadeera, S. C., Wakeman, C. J., McCombie, A., Purcell, R. V., & Frizelle, F. A. (2021). The prevalence of right-sided colonic diverticulosis in a New Zealand population. ANZ Journal of Surgery, 91, 2110-2114. doi: 10.1111/ans.16995

Journal - Research Article

Aitchison, A., Hakkaart, C., Day, R. C., Morrin, H. R., Frizelle, F. A., & Keenan, J. I. (2020). APC mutations are not confined to hotspot regions in early-onset colorectal cancer. Cancers, 12, 3829. doi: 10.3390/cancers12123829

Journal - Research Article

Aitchison, A., Hakkaart, C., Whitehead, M., Khan, S., Siddique, S., Ahmed, R., Frizelle, F. A., & Keenan, J. I. (2020). CDH1 gene mutation in early-onset, colorectal signet-ring cell carcinoma. Pathology: Research & Practice, 216, 152912. doi: 10.1016/j.prp.2020.152912

Journal - Research Article

Chittleborough, T. J., Gutlic, I., Pearson, J. F., Watson, A., Bhatti, L. A., Buchwald, P., … Wakeman, C., Eglinton, T., & Frizelle, F. (2020). Increasing incidence of young-onset colorectal carcinoma: A three-country population analysis. Diseases of the Colon & Rectum, 63, 903-910. doi: 10.1097/DCR.0000000000001631

Journal - Research Article

Glyn Mullaney, T., & Frizelle, F. (2020). Quality of life outcomes in patients undergoing surgery for locally recurrent rectal cancer. Seminars in Colon & Rectal Surgery, 31, 100767. doi: 10.1016/j.scrs.2020.100767

Journal - Research Article

Hawkins, A. T., Wise, P. E., Chan, T., Lee, J. T., Glyn Mullaney, T., Wood, V., Eglinton, T., Frizelle, F., … Lightner, A. L. (2020). Diverticulitis: An update from the age old paradigm. Current Problems in Surgery, 57, 100862. doi: 10.1016/j.cpsurg.2020.100862

Journal - Research Article

O'Grady, M., Clarke, L., Turner, G., Doogue, M., Purcell, R., Pearson, J., & Frizelle, F. (2020). Statin use and risk of acute diverticulitis: A population-based case-control study. Medicine, 99(20), e20264. doi: 10.1097/md.0000000000020264

Journal - Research Article

O'Grady, M., Turner, G., Currie, W., Yi, M., Frizelle, F., & Purcell, R. (2020). Acute diverticulitis: An ongoing economic burden on the health system. ANZ Journal of Surgery, 90, 2046-2049. doi: 10.1111/ans.16234

Journal - Research Article

Peacock, O., Waters, P. S., Kong, J. C., Warrier, S. K., Wakeman, C., Eglinton, T., … Frizelle, F. A., & McCormick, J. J. (2020). Complications and 5-year survival after radical resections which include urological organs for locally advanced and recurrent pelvic malignancies: Analysis of 646 consecutive cases. Techniques in Coloproctology, 24(2), 181-190. doi: 10.1007/s10151-019-02141-4

Journal - Research Article

Peacock, O., Waters, P. S., Kong, J. C., Warrier, S. K., Wakeman, C., Eglinton, T., … Frizelle, F. A., & McCormick, J. J. (2020). Complications after extended radical resections for locally advanced and recurrent pelvic malignancies: A 25-year experience. Annals of Surgical Oncology, 27, 409-414. doi: 10.1245/s10434-019-07816-8

Journal - Research Article

PelvEx Collaborative, including Eglinton, T., Frizelle, F. A., & Wakeman, C. (2020). Management strategies for patients with advanced rectal cancer and liver metastases using modified Delphi methodology: Results from the PelvEx Collaborative. Colorectal Disease, 22, 1184-1188. doi: 10.1111/codi.15007

Journal - Research Article

PelvEx Collaborative, including Eglinton, T., Frizelle, F., & Wakeman, C. (2020). Simultaneous pelvic exenteration and liver resection for primary rectal cancer with synchronous liver metastases: Results from the PelvEx Collaborative. Colorectal Disease, 22, 1258-1262. doi: 10.1111/codi.15064

Journal - Research Article

Proctor, M. J., Westwood, D. A., Donahoe, S., Chauhan, A., Lynch, A. C., Heriot, A. G., … Frizelle, F. A., & Wakeman, C. J. (2020). Morbidity associated with the immediate vertical rectus abdominus myocutaneous (VRAM) flap reconstruction after radical pelvic surgery. Colorectal Disease, 22(5), 562-568. doi: 10.1111/codi.14909

Journal - Research Article

Richards, S. J. G., Jerram, P. M., Brett, C., Falloon, M., & Frizelle, F. A. (2020). The association between low pre-operative step count and adverse post-operative outcomes in older patients undergoing colorectal cancer surgery. Perioperative Medicine, 9, 20. doi: 10.1186/s13741-020-00150-8

Journal - Research Article

Richards, S. J. G., Senadeera, S. C., & Frizelle, F. A. (2020). Sarcopenia, as assessed by psoas cross-sectional area, is predictive of adverse postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing colorectal cancer surgery. Diseases of the Colon & Rectum, 63, 807-815. doi: 10.1097/dcr.0000000000001633

Journal - Research Article

Smith, B. K., Roberts, R. H., & Frizelle, F. A. (2020). O₂ no longer the Go₂: A systematic review and meta-analysis comparing the effects of giving perioperative oxygen therapy of 30% FiO₂ to 80% FiO₂ on surgical site infection and mortality. World Journal of Surgery, 44, 69-77. doi: 10.1007/s00268-019-05224-3

Journal - Research Article

Taylor, W. S., Pearson, J., Miller, A., Schmeier, S., Frizelle, F. A., & Purcell, R. V. (2020). MinION sequencing of colorectal cancer tumour microbiomes: A comparison with amplicon-based and RNA-sequencing. PLoS ONE, 15(5), e0233170. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0233170

Journal - Research Article

Turner, G. A., O'Grady, M., Frizelle, F. A., Eglinton, T. W., & Sharma, P. V. (2020). Influence of obesity on the risk of recurrent acute diverticulitis. ANZ Journal of Surgery, 90, 2032-2035. doi: 10.1111/ans.15784

Journal - Research Article

Waddell, O., McCombie, A., & Frizelle, F. (2020). Colostomy and quality of life after spinal cord injury: Systematic review. BJS Open, 4, 1054-1061. doi: 10.1002/bjs5.50339

Journal - Research Article

Al-Busaidi, I. S., Bailey, T., Dobbs, B., Eglinton, T. W., Wakeman, C. J., & Frizelle, F. A. (2019). Complete resection of colorectal cancer with ovarian metastases combined with chemotherapy is associated with improved survival. ANZ Journal of Surgery, 89, 1091-1096. doi: 10.1111/ans.14930

Journal - Research Article

Keenan, J., Aitchison, A., Leaman, J., Pearson, J., & Frizelle, F. (2019). Faecal biomarkers do not always identify pre-cancerous lesions in patients who present in primary care with bowel symptoms. New Zealand Medical Journal, 132(1501), 48-56. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Journal - Research Article

Lau, Y. C., Jongerius, K., Wakeman, C., Heriot, A. G., Solomon, M. J., Sagar, P. M., … Frizelle, F. A. (2019). Influence of the level of sacrectomy on survival in patients with locally advanced and recurrent rectal cancer. British Journal of Surgery, 106, 484-490. doi: 10.1002/bjs.11048

Journal - Research Article

Peacock, O., Waters, P. S., Bressel, M., Lynch, A. C., Wakeman, C., Eglinton, T., … Frizelle, F. A., & Heriot, A. G. (2019). Prognostic factors and patterns of failure after surgery for T4 rectal cancer in the beyond total mesorectal excision era. British Journal of Surgery, 106(12), 1685-1696. doi: 10.1002/bjs.11242

Journal - Research Article

PelvEx Collaborative, including Eglinton, T., Frizelle, F. A., & Wakeman, C. (2019). Changing outcomes following pelvic exenteration for locally advanced and recurrent rectal cancer. BJS Open, 3(4), 516-520. doi: 10.1002/bjs5.50153

Journal - Research Article

PelvEx Collaborative, including Eglinton, T., Frizelle, F. A., & Wakeman, C. (2019). Palliative pelvic exenteration: A systematic review of patient-centered outcomes. European Journal of Surgical Oncology, 45(10), 1787-1795. doi: 10.1016/j.ejso.2019.06.011

Journal - Research Article

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