title: Laparoscopic and robot-assisted laparoscopic digestive surgery: Present and future directions.
abstract: Laparoscopic surgery is applied today worldwide to most digestive procedures. In some of them, such as cholecystectomy, Nissen's fundoplication or obesity surgery, laparoscopy has become the standard in practice. In others, such as colon or gastric resection, the laparoscopic approach is frequently used and its usefulness is unquestionable. More complex procedures, such as esophageal, liver or pancreatic resections are, however, more infrequently performed, due to the high grade of skill necessary. As a result, there is less clinical evidence to support its implementation. In the recent years, robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery has been increasingly applied, again with little evidence for comparison with the conventional laparoscopic approach. This review will focus on the complex digestive procedures as well as those whose use in standard practice could be more controversial. Also novel robot-assisted procedures will be updated.
authors.affiliation: Juan C Rodríguez-Sanjuán, Marcos Gómez-Ruiz, Soledad Trugeda-Carrera, Carlos Manuel-Palazuelos, Antonio López-Useros, Manuel Gómez-Fleitas, Department of General Surgery, University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla, 39008 Santander, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Sanjuán
authors.affiliation: Juan C Rodríguez-Sanjuán, Marcos Gómez-Ruiz, Soledad Trugeda-Carrera, Carlos Manuel-Palazuelos, Antonio López-Useros, Manuel Gómez-Fleitas, Department of General Surgery, University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla, 39008 Santander, Spain.
authors.forename: Marcos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gómez-Ruiz
authors.affiliation: Juan C Rodríguez-Sanjuán, Marcos Gómez-Ruiz, Soledad Trugeda-Carrera, Carlos Manuel-Palazuelos, Antonio López-Useros, Manuel Gómez-Fleitas, Department of General Surgery, University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla, 39008 Santander, Spain.
authors.forename: Soledad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Trugeda-Carrera
authors.affiliation: Juan C Rodríguez-Sanjuán, Marcos Gómez-Ruiz, Soledad Trugeda-Carrera, Carlos Manuel-Palazuelos, Antonio López-Useros, Manuel Gómez-Fleitas, Department of General Surgery, University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla, 39008 Santander, Spain.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Manuel-Palazuelos
authors.affiliation: Juan C Rodríguez-Sanjuán, Marcos Gómez-Ruiz, Soledad Trugeda-Carrera, Carlos Manuel-Palazuelos, Antonio López-Useros, Manuel Gómez-Fleitas, Department of General Surgery, University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla, 39008 Santander, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: López-Useros
authors.affiliation: Juan C Rodríguez-Sanjuán, Marcos Gómez-Ruiz, Soledad Trugeda-Carrera, Carlos Manuel-Palazuelos, Antonio López-Useros, Manuel Gómez-Fleitas, Department of General Surgery, University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla, 39008 Santander, Spain.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gómez-Fleitas
mesh_terms: D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000639:trends; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D065287:Robotic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000639:trends; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Colectomy; Esophagectomy; Gastrectomy; Laparoscopic training; Laparoscopy; Liver resection; Obesity surgery; Pancreatectomy; Robotic surgery