General considerations when planning laparoscopic surgery

The first laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed in 1985 and since then the growth of technology and innovation in laparoscopic surgery has been phenomenal. Today, operations can be performed through a single incision in the umbilicus or through a natural orifice such as the vagina, leaving no visible scars. Major operations such as colonic resections are now routinely performed using a laparoscopic approach. The benefits of laparoscopic surgery include reduced postoperative pain, improved cosmetic results and patient satisfaction, and reduced hospital stays (Perrin & Fletcher 2004).