title: Minilaparoscopy, needlescopy and microlaparoscopy: decreasing invasiveness, maintaining the standard laparoscopic approach.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the development of miniaturized laparoscopic instruments with particular attention to the urological field and focusing on nomenclature, history and  outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  A comprehensive literature search was conducted in order to find articles related to Minilaparoscopy, Needlescopy, Microlaparoscopy. The most relevant papers over  the last 30 years were selected in base to the experience from the panel of experts, journal, authorship and /or content.
  
  
  RESULTS
  258 manuscripts were found, 14 of them review, 126 about general surgery, 86 gynecology, 55 urology, 31 thoracic surgery. Minilaparoscopy is the main topic in 169  papers, Needlescopy in 58 and Microlaparoscopy in 32. No clinical randomized trials are available in urology. Most significant articles are 4 prospective non-randomized match-case control.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We are facing a Minilaparoscopy of second-generation with superior performance granted by new endoscopes and most effective instruments. Up to date,  Minilaparoscopy has demonstrated in almost all urologic indication to be feasible, safe and able to improve cosmetic and postoperative pain control. Anyway,  clinical randomized trials are still lacking and only studies from other discipline can corroborate this trend.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, SLK Kliniken Heilbronn, University of Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Giovannalberto
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pini
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Porpiglia
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Micali
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rassweiler
mesh_terms: D000758:Anesthesia; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D057605:Natural Orifice Endoscopic Surgery / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011446:Prospective Studies; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D013520:Urologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods