ABSTRACT
Minimal access surgery is an umbrella term that encompasses an ever-expanding variety of surgical procedures. In this chapter we will consider those that you will be most likely to encounter and of which you will be expected to have some fundamental knowledge:
From its origins in gynaecology, laparoscopic surgery has become increasingly common in general surgery. Since the first laparoscopic cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal) performed in Lyon in 1987, the technique spread rapidly and now the majority of cholecystectomies are carried out laparoscopically. Laparoscopy has both diagnostic and definitive capabilities, making it an ideal instrument for the management of acute appendicitis. The range and volume of procedures being carried out in this way are also rapidly increasing, with some traditionally
open procedures, such as a colonic resection, now frequently being carried out laparoscopically. Even complex liver and pancreatic procedures are performed laparoscopically, or with laparoscopic assistance.
