Collaboration between laparoscopic surgery and endoscopic resection: an evidence-based review

Developments in endoscopy and laparoscopy have made monumental changes to the way gastrointestinal diseases are being managed. Many diseases that were traditionally managed by open surgical resection could now be treated by endoscopy alone. However, there are still instances where endoscopic treatment alone is inadequate for disease control and laparoscopic surgery is required. In addition, the collaboration between laparoscopic surgery and endoscopic submucosal dissection or other endoscopic resectional techniques represents a new frontier for further research. The present manuscript aims to discuss the complementary role of laparoscopic surgery to endoscopic resection in the traditional context and also its future development.