Laparoscopic-assisted and hand-access laparoscopic surgery

Therapeutic laparoscopy has developed rapidly since the first report of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in 1986. Several other reports followed before the end of that decade. Recent developments have resulted from a combination of the many technical improvements in laparoscopic equipment, together with the innovation and increasing experience of those performing laparoscopic surgery. Cholecystectomy, appendectomy, gastric fundoplication, and preperitoneal hernia repair are all now widely practiced and often laparoscopy is the favored approach.