MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY - SURGICAL PRO SPECTS

In recent years, laparoscopic and thoracoscopic surgery has undergone extremely rapid development. Cholecystectomy using this technique to t reat patients with gallstones has already become standard procedure in some hospitals. The development of new instruments permits the use of this surgical modality for numerous other indications as well. The ad vantages and disadvantages of this new form of surgery vis-a-vis conve ntional surgery have yet to be established. It is, however, already cl ear that minimally invasive surgery is no passing fad, but. that it wi ll change the face of modern surgery.