Laparoscopic interventions in the gut: yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

The development of laparoscopic interventional surgery has brought about a revolution in general surgery over the past 5 years. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy has now become the treatment of choice for symptomatic cholelithiasis because of a reduction in access trauma, resulting in less postoperative pain and a faster recovery. Laparoscopic fundoplication for gastroeosophageal reflux also looks to be a promising procedure which will probably become generally accepted. Laparoscopic hernia repair, although widely practised, has raised question marks because of doubt about recurrence rates and major complications such as intestinal obstruction. Laparoscopic colectomy has similarly raised concerns about complication rates and tumour recurrence rates. Laparoscopic appendicectomy offers marginal benefits over open appendicectomy. Virtually every other intra-abdominal procedure has been performed laparoscopically, but most require further evaluation.