title: Minimal access surgery and the future of interventional laparoscopy.
abstract: Minimal access surgery is intended to minimize the trauma of access without compromising exposure of the operative field. Its major benefits include diminished cost of therapy due to a reduced hospital stay and accelerated recovery with early return to full activity. The approaches used in minimal access surgery are laparoscopic, endoluminal, perivisceral, intra-articular, and combined. Many abdominal and thoracic procedures are being adapted to the minimal access approach. Developmental requirements include improvements in light delivery systems; three-dimensional television imaging; better surgical instrumentation; ultrasound probes for internal and external scanning; stapling devices; and tunable, portable solid-state diode lasers. In addition, however, adequate prospective evaluation of laparoscopic procedures, established or new, must be undertaken in the major academic institutions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Scotland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cuschieri
mesh_terms: D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D020706:Laparoscopes; D010535:Laparoscopy; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008029:Lighting; D013525:Surgical Instruments; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000379:methods*; D013528:Surgical Staplers; D013536:Suture Techniques; D014463:Ultrasonography