Laparoscopic Surgery: An Evolving Revolution

JSLS (2001)5:95-96 95 Over the past decade, stunning advances in laparoscopy have fueled the enthusiasm of surgeons who use new minimally invasive methods for treating patients who have a variety of conditions. Laparoscopy avoids the obvious burden of a large abdominal incision that not only requires significant care but also involves increased disability, cost, and pain for the patient. Laparoscopy was introduced into gynecology in the United States in the late 1960s and slowly advanced from a diagnostic procedure to a technique for minor pelvic surgery and tubal sterilization. In the early 1970s, Professor Kurt Semm of Germany expanded the therapeutic applications of laparoscopy by performing oophorectomies, appendectomies, myomectomies, and extensive adhesiolysis.1 However, his enthusiasm for advancing the use of this valuable tool was not immediately shared by other gynecologists. Laparoscopy, or pelviscopy as Semm called it, remained little used despite its demonstrated efficacy, safety, and acceptance by patients. Furthermore, the pelvic cavity remained the domain of the gynecologist and general surgeons paid little attention to their activities in this area.