
Dr. Sandra Kavalukas, originally from Pittsburgh, PA, USA, came to Louisville after completing her General Surgery Residency at Vanderbilt University and Colorectal Surgery Fellowship at Cleveland Clinic Florida. Her clinical interests include inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), colorectal and anal cancer, constipation/motility disorders, diverticulitis, and anorectal problems. She performs both laparoscopic and robotic surgery. With an academic appointment at the University of Louisville, she is involved in educating medical students as well as the clinical training of residents and fellows. She is the Associate Program Director of the Colorectal Surgery Fellowship Program at the University of Louisville. Academically, her background research is in wound healing and fibrotic/inflammatory pathways, which she intends on extending into the realm of inflammatory bowel disease as well as exploring interactions with the microbiome. She has done extensive research on adhesion formation and prevention prior to specializing in colorectal surgery. She sits on numerous committees for the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgery and is a regular manuscript reviewer for several peer-reviewed journals in the colorectal field.
Selected publications from PubMed
Environmental Exposures to Metal Toxins as a Risk Factor for Colorectal Cancer: A Case-Control Study.
Kavalukas S, Jin A, Babarinde O, Lorkiewicz P, Adhikari J, Xu J, Cai L, DuPre N
J Surg Res. 2025 May;309:269-276 doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2025.03.017.
Management of Complications in Crohn's Disease.
Carroll D, Kavalukas S
Adv Surg. 2024 Sep;58(1):19-34 doi: 10.1016/j.yasu.2024.04.002.
Early experience with focused telemedicine implementation in an academic colorectal surgery practice.
Wise AK, Bhutiani N, Werthmann N, Kavalukas SL, Galandiuk S, Farmer RW
Surgery. 2022 Jul;172(1):83-88 doi: 10.1016/j.surg.2022.01.033.
Clinical role of fluorescence imaging in colorectal surgery - an updated review.
Ghuman A, Kavalukas S, Sharp SP, Wexner SD
Expert Rev Med Devices. 2020 Dec;17(12):1277-1283 doi: 10.1080/17434440.2020.1851191.
Anal dysplasia as an incidental finding: the importance of specimen evaluation.
Kavalukas SL, Yang F, Wexner SD, Nogueras JJ
Colorectal Dis. 2020 Nov;22(11):1597-1602 doi: 10.1111/codi.15244.

Anastomotic leaks are among the most feared complications in colorectal surgery, prompting the utilization of numerous pre- and intra-operative strategies to mitigate this risk. This program, the second of a four-part series, thoroughly explores every aspect of anastomotic leaks in colorectal surgery practice. It will concentrate on critical technical variables that influence the risk of such leaks. Renowned experts will share their perspectives on optimizing outcomes by reducing the incidence of anastomotic leaks.
With Medtronic
Published
May 2024

Welcome & Introduction - Dr. Steven Wexner (USA) The incidence of adhesions - Dr. Dana Hayden (USA) The medical cost: morbidity - Dr. Sandy Kavalukas (USA) The financial burden - Prof. Mike Parker (UK) The challenges of adhesions to re-operative surgery - Dr. David Beck (USA) Adhesion-related problems of infertility and pain - Dr. Kaylen Silverberg (USA) Pre-recorded surgery – technical challenges of adhesions – Dr. Steven D. Wexner (USA) Pre-recorded surgery – second look surgery – Dr. Allen P. Chudzinski (USA) Discussion and closing remarks - All faculty moderated by Dr. Steven Wexner (USA)
With Baxter
Published
Feb 2023
Help your network discover Dr. Sandy Kavalukas's clinical expertise.