[Laparoscopic surgery--where do we stand?]

Area of Science:

• Minimally invasive surgery
• Surgical techniques
• Abdominal surgery

Context:

• Laparoscopic surgery has become prevalent in abdominal procedures over the last decade.
• Despite widespread adoption, international consensus on indications for laparoscopic versus open surgery is lacking.
• There is insufficient analysis of the economic consequences associated with transitioning to laparoscopic surgery.

Purpose:

• To highlight the need for international consensus on laparoscopic surgery indications.
• To address the insufficient analysis of economic consequences of laparoscopic surgery.
• To call for comparative studies evaluating laparoscopic versus open surgery within optimized perioperative care.

Summary:

• The widespread use of laparoscopic surgery in abdominal procedures is noted.
• Key issues include the absence of international consensus on indications and inadequate economic impact analysis.
• A lack of robust comparative studies on laparoscopic versus open surgery, particularly concerning optimized perioperative care, is identified.

Impact:

• Informing clinical guidelines for laparoscopic surgery indications.
• Guiding economic evaluations for surgical practice changes.
• Promoting research into optimized perioperative protocols for enhanced patient recovery and reduced work absence.