The Evolution of Laparoscopy and the Revolution in Surgery in the Decade of the 1990s

“Incredibly, laparoscopy has been almost neglected by surgeons, except for pelviscopy, a highly perfected technique used effectively by gynecologists. This procedure has, in fact, revolutionized the science of gynecology. The degree to which we as surgeons ignore this sophisticated technology and refuse to test its suitability for surgical application is astonishing.” These were the words of Hans Troidl in his presidential address at the International Congress on Surgical Endoscopy, Ultrasound and Interventional Techniques in Berlin, 1988.1 By using the word, “revolutionized,” Dr. Troidl was ignoring almost a century of evolution in endoscopy and another 80 years in laparoscopy.