Minimally invasive (laparoscopic) surgery.

Minimally invasive (laparoscopic) surgery became a major part of general surgery with the introduction of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the late 1980s. This was the culmination of the development of instruments and techniques by many physicians; Kelling developing pneumoperitoneum, Zollikofer using carbon dioxide, Kalk designing a lens system and the dual-trochar technique, Veress using the Veress needle to create pneumoperitoneum, Hasson developing the Hasson trochar, Semm carrying out the first laparoscopic appendectomy, and Muhe and Perrisat carrying out and popularizing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. At the present time, minimal invasive surgery has become the most important part of general surgery.

Common bile duct stones: the role of preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative ERCP.

The indications for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) to demonstrate the presence of common bile duct stones has changed in the era of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Preoperative ERCP is indicated when there is strong evidence of common bile duct stones, ie, jaundice, cholangitis, ultrasound demonstration of a common bile duct stone, and specific enzyme elevations. Preoperative ERCP is not indicated in mild gallstone pancreatitis.

Preoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is not necessary in mild gallstone pancreatitis.

Background: The role of preoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in gallstone pancreatitis is unclear. Therefore, we designed a study to establish whether ERCP is indicated in these cases.

Method: We studied 55 patients who had been admitted with gallstone pancreatitis.