Minimally Invasive Surgery in Gynecology

Abstract

The first laparoscopic procedure was performed by 1901 by Georg Kelling in dogs while the first laparoscopic procedure in humans was performed by Hans Chrisitan Jacobaeus in 1910. Minimally invasive surgery offers multiple advantages over conventional laparotomy and is associated with reduced estimated blood loss, a lower incidence of complications and a shorter hospital stay and recovery. Over a century later, the vast majority of surgical procedures in gynecology are performed via minimal invasive technique. These include laparoscopy, minilaparoscopy, robotic surgery, laparoendoscopic single site surgery (LESS) and natural orifices transluminal endoscopic surgery. In this chapter we review these surgical techniques, analyze the main differences among these techniques and comment on their advantages and disadvantages.