
Kirk A. Ludwig, MD, FACS, FASCRS
Chief, Professor
Location
- Cancer Center - Froedtert Hospital
- 8800 West Doyne Ave.
- Milwaukee, WI 53226
Specialties
- Colorectal Surgery
Overview
Diseases and Conditions
- Anal Cancer
- Anal Fissure
- Benign and Malignant Diseases of the Small Intestines, Colon, Rectum and Anus
- Colon Cancer
- Diverticular Disease
- Familial Adenomatous Polyposis
- Fecal Incontinence
- Hemorrhoids
- Hereditary Non-Polyposis Colon Cancer Syndrome
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
- Rectal Cancer
- Rectal Prolapse
Treatments and Services
- Anorectal Abscess and Fistula Surgery
- Complex Pelvic Surgery
- Ileal Pouch (J-pouch) Surgery
- Laparoscopic Treatment for Colorectal Disease
- Pre-Sacral or Retro-Rectal Tumors Surgery
- Rectal and Anal Ultrasound
- Recto-Vaginal Fistula Repair
- Restorative Proctocolectomy
- Small Intestinal Tumor Surgery
- Sphincter-sparing Techniques for Rectal Cancer
- Surgical Treatment for Constipation
- Trans-Anal Excision of Rectal Polyps
- Anorectal Physiology Laboratory Testing
- Virtual Visit
Patients Ages Seen
- Infant
- Child
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Senior
Languages
- English
Hospital Affiliations
- Froedtert Hospital – Milwaukee
Board Certifications
- Surgery
- Colon and Rectal Surgery
Clinic Locations
Cancer Center - Froedtert Hospital
- 8800 West Doyne Ave.
- Milwaukee, WI 53226
- (866) 680-0505
- Get Directions
Center For Advanced Care - Froedtert Hospital
- 8900 West Doyne Ave.
- Milwaukee, WI 53226
- (414) 805-3666
- Get Directions

Biography
Dr. Ludwig is a member of the Colorectal Surgery team. This team is comprised of surgeons, nurses and support staff who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of benign and malignant diseases of the colon, rectum, and anus. They work closely with colleagues in Surgical Oncology, Gastroenterology, Medical Oncology, and Radiation Oncology to ensure that patients get the very finest medical and surgical care for the full range of benign and malignant colorectal disorders.
The Colorectal Surgery team is committed to providing outstanding and compassionate care to patients with colorectal diseases. The team believes that this type of care comes from the intense dedication and specialization of the staff to specific colorectal disease processes and that coordinating efforts with their medical and surgical colleagues ensures patients get the best multidisciplinary care available.
Education and Training
Doctor of Medicine - University of Cincinnati Medical Center - Cincinnati, OH (1988)
Internship in Surgery - Medical College of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, WI (1988-1989)
Residency in General Surgery - Medical College of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, WI (1989-1994)
Fellowship in Colon and Rectal Surgery - Cleveland Clinic - Cleveland, OH (1994-1996)
Publications
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A Cautionary Note Regarding Obesity and Young Adult Rectal Cancer.
(Peterson KJ, Blank JJ, Deshpande RR, Liu Y, Peterson CY, Ludwig KA, Ridolfi TJ.) J Gastrointest Surg. 2022 04;26(4):927-928 PMID: 34647224 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85117153577 10/15/2021
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Saddle block anesthetic technique for benign outpatient anorectal surgery.
(Peterson KJ, Dyrud P, Johnson C, Blank JJ, Eastwood DC, Butterfield GE, Stekiel TA, Peterson CY, Ludwig KA, Ridolfi TJ.) Surgery. 2022 03;171(3):615-620 PMID: 34887088 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85120816955 12/11/2021
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Sphincter-Sparing Resection for Rectal Cancer. Clin Colon Rectal Surg 2007;20:203-212.
(Ludwig KA..) Clin Colon Rectal Surg 2007. 01/19/2022
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(Blank JJ, Liu Y, Yin Z, Spofford CM, Ridolfi TJ, Ludwig KA, Otterson MF, Peterson CY.) Dis Colon Rectum. 2021 02 01;64(2):225-233 PMID: 33417346 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85099721640 01/09/2021
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Racial and Ethnic Variation Associated With Human Papillomavirus Genotype in Anal Dysplasia.
(Mather TL, Hu KY, Rein LE, Szabo A, Lundeen SJ, Peterson CY, Ludwig KA, Ridolfi TJ.) J Surg Res. 2020 12;256:311-316 PMID: 32712446 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85088388259 07/28/2020
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Laparoscopic Versus Robotic Proctectomy Outcomes: An ACS-NSQIP Analysis.
(Hu KY, Wu R, Szabo A, Ridolfi TJ, Ludwig KA, Peterson CY.) J Surg Res. 2020 11;255:495-501 PMID: 32622164 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85087220088 07/06/2020
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Mediocre Mountaineers: Who, How, Where, and Why?
(Reynolds H, Ludwig KA.) Dis Colon Rectum. 2020 10;63(10):1350-1354 PMID: 32969875 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85091671930 09/25/2020
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(Blank JJ, Gibson EK, Peterson CY, Ridolfi TJ, Ludwig KA.) Surg Endosc. 2020 08;34(8):3408-3413 PMID: 31506794 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85072047772 09/12/2019
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Response to: Alvimopan and outcome after colectomy?
(Hu KY, Peterson CY, Ludwig KA, Ridolfi TJ.) Surgery. 2020 03;167(3):677 PMID: 31785823 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85079128159 12/02/2019
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Initial Experience With Staging Rectal Adenocarcinoma Using 7T Magnetic Resonance Imaging
(Blank J, Berger N, Knechtges P, Prost R, Peterson C, Ludwig K, Ridolfi T.) Journal of Surgical Research. January 2020;245:434-440 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85070873216 01/01/2020
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Use of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in the Treatment of Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer.
(Hu KY, Simpson MT, Blank JJ, Szabo A, Eastwood D, Ludwig KA, Peterson CY, Ridolfi TJ.) J Surg Res. 2019 11;243:447-452 PMID: 31376796 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85069946509 08/04/2019
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You Are Only as Frail as Your Arteries: Prehabilitation of Elderly Surgical Patients
(Durand MJ, Beckert AK, Peterson CY, Ludwig KA, Ridolfi TJ, Lauer KK, Freed JK.) Current Anesthesiology Reports. 1 December 2019;9(4):380-386 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85079022988 12/01/2019