[Indications for and limitations of celioscopic digestive surgery]

Digestive laparoscopic surgery, which appeared in 1987, has developed rapidly, and has effected many procedures. After seven years, the time has come for surgeons to analyse whether their operative results are conclusive in justifying the continual use of this surgical procedure. If laparoscopic surgery respects the basic principles of conventional surgery, it should increase the patient's comfort during the postoperative period. In this article we shall consider similar fields where this new surgical technique could be beneficial.