Laparoscopic surgery has grown gradually out of endoscopy and arrived at its present form progressively through leaps of intuition, making it difficult to attribute credit to its discovery.1 A history of laparoscopy is the history of endoscopy and of light sources and optics. The history begins with Hippocrates (460~375 BC) who used a rectal speculum.2 Throughout the ages, the management of disease processes has been particularly exemplified in the open cavity.3 The establishment of open-cavity endoscopic procedures was followed by the development of closed-cavity endoscopy.2Since the beginning of the 20th century, physicians have promoted laparoscopy as a valuable adjunct to the diagnosis of diseases of the abdominal cavity.4 The first laparoscopy was carried out using a cystoscope (a rigid telescopic endoscope) with distal light illumination.5 The historical chronicle may actually provide surgeons with a secure foundation as they embark on the new era of video laparoscopy.6 In 1997, Law et al. classified the era of laparoscopic surgery into three main areas: diagnostic, therapeutic, and modern laparoscopy.7 The era of modern laparoscopy began with the invention of the charge coupled device (CCD) camera.Era of Diagnostic Laparoscopy (1901~1933)Era of Operative Laparoscopy (1933~1987)Modern Era of Laparoscopy (1987 to Present)In September 1985, a German surgeon, Erich M. Mühe, performed the first laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) in humans using a modified rectoscope and pistol grip instruments with an optic and CO2 insufflation in a single puncture approach in 1986 (Fig. 1).8 The CCD camera was invented in 1986. In 1987, the first video-assisted LC was performed, and a full LC was performed in 1988. Using video laparoscopy, the surgeon’s hand has freedom, which helped promote the widespread use of laparoscopic surgery (Fig. 2). Within a few months, laparoscopic surgery became quite popular and with academic interest and the developments from industry and medicine, the new surgical approach has evolved quickly.
Fig. 1
German surgeon Erich M Mühe performed the first laparoscopic cholecystectomy in a human using a modified rectoscope and pistol grip instruments with an optic and CO2 insufflation. a = side-view optics; b = instrumentation channel with valves; c = light conductor; d = gas channel.
Fig. 2
(A) Side-view laparoscopy. (B) Video laparoscopy.
WEIGHT OF LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY
LC is a very important operation in the history of surgery. The advent of LC was a revolution of laparoscopy, from diagnosis to treatment, and was the single most important stimulus to the development of operative laparoscopy in the history of surgery.7 Laparoscopy, however, failed to become popular among abdominal surgeons until the advent of LC. The general surgeon has again become the leader in the introduction of this new paradigm of surgery.4 LC is now used to test all types of innovations related to instruments, such as telemedicine, as well as new modes of hospitalization, such as ambulatory surgery, because LC is rather difficult but relatively common procedure.In 1990, the first LC was performed in Seoul and in 1991 many laparoscopic surgery workshops were held. In 1996 the Korean Society for Endoscopic and Laparoscopic Surgeons were established. Since the Society was formed, there has been the rapid development of laparoscopic surgery.In 1991, the first LC was done by Dr. Eddie J. Reddick, USA, at the authors’ hospital (Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea). In 1993, I successfully performed my first LC and then gradually performed advanced laparoscopic surgery (Table 1).9–13 According to the medical records of the first case, the gall bladder showed inflammation and omental adhesion. The operation time was 120 minutes using four trocars; the postoperative hospital stay was six days, and the pathologic diagnosis was acute (empyema) and chronic cholecystitis (Fig. 3). In the early 1990s, acute cholecystitis was a contraindication for LC for most surgeons.
CBD = common bile duct; TEP = totally extraperitoneal.
Fig. 3
Medical records of the first case at Kyung Hee University Medical Center.
BENEFITS AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVE
Laparoscopic surgery has benefits over open surgery because of its minimal invasiveness. Recently, the cosmetic effect has been emphasized. For more benefits, new methods have appeared, such as needlescopic surgery, single incision surgery, and NOTES. While each method can increase the benefits, they have their advantages and disadvantages. Single port surgery appears to be the best method to achieve cosmetic benefits, but more patients than expected show a very good cosmetic effect when multi-port surgery is performed, particularly in patients undergoing low abdominal surgery (Fig. 4 and 5). Most patients who underwent laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal (TEP) hernia repair using three trocars showed excellent cosmetic results. On the other hand, multiple and/or large trocars are inevitably needed in patients with acute cholecystitis, with a history of previous abdominal surgery, or with large masses. Indeed, there are so many factors except for the cosmetic effect that meet the patient’s satisfaction in laparoscopic surgery. The number and/or size of trocars is only a small factor in laparoscopic surgery.
Fig. 4
Postoperative scar after laparoscopic cholecystectomy using a four trocar method (10 mm, 5 mm, 2 mm ×2).
Fig. 5
Postoperative scar after laparoscopic TEP hernia repair using three trocars (10 mm, 5 mm ×2).
What is the most important factor in laparoscopic surgery? What can satisfy the patients? What is the ultimate goal of laparoscopic surgery? How will future laparoscopic surgery be performed? All of these are complex and a mission that we need to carry out with passion and humanity (Table 2).
Table 2
Final destination and future requirements of laparoscopic surgery
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