History of laparoscopy.

The history of laparoscopic surgery demonstrates how a close interaction between technology and medical-surgical innovators permitted its ultimate development. Similar revolutions have occurred in information and communication technology and in molecular biology. Within less than 2 decades, surgical management has moved from a disease-oriented approach to one that is more patient-oriented. While the past decade was characterized by the issue of what could be accomplished laparoscopically, the future will focus on the question of which operations should really be performed by this approach.