When I was a medical student I was assisting on an operation when I let loose with a horrible sulfurous fart. I was sly about it and made no noise. At some point the surgeon made a comment about how "it didn't smell too good in there" so I had to come clean; didn't want him further exploring and maybe cutting the abdomen to track down the smell.

I tell this because that story is rarely relevant in my life and also to tell you that farts actually are relevant in a surgical context. The study is not as silly as it sounds