Minimally invasive surgery in trauma: technology looking for an application.
BACKGROUND
Minimally invasive surgery has achieved pre-eminence for certain operations in general surgery over the last two decades, as the reduction in surgical insult has produced faster recovery with enhanced patient satisfaction and favourable health economics. Minimally invasive techniques have been less enthusiastically adopted by the trauma surgical community, despite some evidence of efficacy for nearly 40 years.


METHODS
The literature on minimally invasive techniques in trauma was reviewed.


CONCLUSIONS
To date, minimally invasive surgery has played only a small role in trauma surgery. As clearer indications emerge and technology improves, surgeons should be encouraged to incorporate laparoscopy and video-assisted thoracoscopy (VATS) into their protocols and gain familiarity and expertise with their use.
Degiannis
Elias
E
Department of Surgery, University of the Witwatersrand Medical School, Johannesburg, South Africa. degiannis@yebo.co.za
Bowley
Douglas M G
DM
Smith
Martin D
MD
D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000191:economics / Q000601:surgery*