Anaesthetic Concerns of Laparoscopic Surgery

Abstract

Laparoscopic surgery is one of the key diagnostic and therapeutic tools in the current surgical era.¹ It is a principle technique for minimally invasive surgery, and has been used in procedures ranging across various surgical subspecialities.² Recent technological advances have enabled major progress and extension of the technique from gynaecologic surgery to major general surgical procedures. The greatest clinical advantages are probably in the area of abdominal general surgery, which is the main focus of this article.³ Since the first laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed in the late 1980's, the technique has developed as the treatment of choice for patients with gallstone disease. It has also been applied to various thoracic, upper and lower abdominal procedures including fundoplication, vagotomy, hemicolectomy, herniorrhaphy, nephrectomy, pelvic lymph node dissection, bariatric surgery, hysterectomy and oesophagectomy, to name a few.⁴