In 1981 Philippe Mouret and Francois Dubois preformed what is deemed to be the first laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Following this, laparoscopy revolutionized surgery, all but replacing open procedures in the abdominal cavity. The new methodologies created such dramatic patient-care improvements that the exciting field expanded rapidly in a brief few years following Mouret's procedure. Today 90% of cholecystectomies are preformed laparoscopically, and almost any imaginable procedure within the peritoneal cavity has been preformed using laparoscopic surgery.

The breadth of procedures suitable for laparoscopic surgery expanded greatly as the medical device industry developed and refined appropriate surgical tools. During a procedure a laparoscope, light source, and the surgical instruments are all introduced into the abdominal cavity from separate ports called trocars, which require a 5-12mm opening. A general laparoscopic surgery may require from three to five trocars.

The laparoscope projects video to monitors in the surgical suite and provides the only visual source necessary during surgery. Today's laparoscope utilizes a digital imaging device mounted to the end of a maneuverable shaft, which feeds video through a processor the monitors. A separate fiber optic light source is used to illuminate the abdominal cavity.

During procedures a surgeon's hands operate the handles of the surgical instruments outside of the body, which translates to precise movements of end effectors internally. Initially basic surgical tools such as forceps, scissors, and clip appliers were adapted long shafts to facilitate laparoscopic surgery. These continue to be a primary component of surgeries. Recent innovations have expanded the surgical table with stapling devices and instruments such as the harmonic scalpel, which both cuts tissue and ligates vessels.

Today, procedures undertaken primarily with laparoscopic surgical methods include but are not limited to cholecystectomys, appendectomies, gastric bypasses, lap band placements, colectomies, and hernia repair. In the case of these procedures the transition to laparoscopic surgery has reduced in-hospital patient stays, often permitting out patient procedures, and allowed people to return to normal daily activities in a matter of days instead of weeks.

Many surgeons now feel that the advent of NOTES procedures could take the patient-care advantages of laparoscopic surgery one step further. By harnessing flexible surgical instrument technology the multiple, small, external incisions required by laparoscopic surgery will be replaced by a single internal access point. An ingress such as the stomach wall provides the dual benefits of being insensitive to pain and healing rapidly without the complications of external incisions, thereby reducing post surgical discomfort and recovery times.

Apollo Endosurgery is specialized in Laparoscopic surgery.Apollo Endosurgery is founded upon the initial work of the Apollo Group,an international think tank of world renowned gastroenterologists and surgeons. For more information, please visit: Laparoscopic Surgery