New tools and techniques enhance laparoscopic gallbladder removal

Surgical outcomes continue to improve as new techniques and tools become available for performing laparoscopic gallbladder surgery, and these advances are highlighted in “Advances in Cholecystectomy Surgery (http://online.liebertpub.com/toc/lap/22/6),” a comprehensive special issue of Journal of Laparoendoscopic & Advanced Surgical Techniques (JLAST), a peer-reviewed journal published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. publishers (http://www.liebertpub.com). The issue is available free online at the Journal of Laparoendoscopic & Advanced Surgical Techniques (http://www.liebertpub.com/lap) website.

Samer Bessa, MD and coauthors, University of Alexandria, Egypt, compared the feasibility, safety, and side effects of laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed with general anesthesia, the standard of care, or with spinal anesthesia. In the accompanying Commentary on “Spinal Versus General Anesthesia for Day-Case Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Prospective Randomized Study,” (http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/lap.2012.9992) Fred Luchette, MD, MSc, considers whether the risks of spinal anesthesia outweigh its potential benefits for this procedure.

Rajeev Sinha, MS, and Sharad Chandra, MD, DM, M.L.B. Medical College, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, India, described a group of patients who developed biliary peritonitis, a potentially serious adverse event, following laparoscopic gallbladder removal using a “scarless” single-site surgical technique known as LESS. L. Michael Brunt, MD, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, provides his insights on this study and its implications in Commentary on “Cystic Duct Leaks After Laparoendoscopic Single Site Cholecystectomy (LESS)”: A Word of Caution (http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/lap.2012.9993).

The issue also features articles on long-term experience with post-cholecystectomy bile duct injuries and outcomes of laparoendoscopic surgery, as well as experience with robotic surgery to remove bile duct cysts in pediatric patients.

Videos illustrating cutting-edge techniques in cholecystectomy (http://www.liebertpub.com/lpages/highlighted-cholecystectomy-videos/25/) are available in Videoscopy™ (http://www.liebertpub.com/vor), the videojournal component of Journal of Laraoendoscopic & Advanced Surgical Techniques.

“The modern era of laparoscopic surgery all started over 20 years ago with laparoscopic cholecystectomy,” says Editor-in-Chief C. Daniel Smith, MD, Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL. “Despite this long experience with MIS, the advancements in gallbladder surgery continue today. This special issue includes several manuscripts highlighting continued advancements in the care of patients with gallbladder disease and will provide even surgeons with extensive experience new insights into gallbladder procedures.”

About the Journal

Journal of Laparoendoscopic & Advanced Surgical Techniques (JLAST) (http://www.liebertpub.com/lap), published in print and online, is the leading international peer-reviewed journal for practicing surgeons who want to keep up with the latest thinking and advanced surgical technologies in laparoscopy, endoscopy, NOTES, and robotics. JLAST is ideally suited to surgeons who are early adopters of new technology and techniques, and includes pediatric procedures as well as adult procedures. The Journal is increasing frequency to monthly in 2013. Its video component, Part B, Videoscopy (http://www.liebertpub.com/vor), (bimonthly) publishes fully peer-reviewed surgical and micro-invasive demonstrations of the latest techniques and technologies used to optimize surgical patient outcomes. The videos can be easily searched and shared with colleagues to provide education and enable discussion. JLAST and Videoscopy are the Official Journals of the International Pediatric Endosurgery Group (http://www.ipeg.org/). Complete tables of content and a sample issue for JLAST may be viewed online at the JLAST (http://www.liebertpub.com/lap) website, complete tables of content and sample videos may be viewed at the Videoscopy (http://www.liebertpub.com/vor) website.

About the Publisher

Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers (http://www.liebertpub.com) is a privately held, fully integrated media company known for establishing authoritative peer-reviewed journals in many promising areas of science and biomedical research, including Journal of Endourology, Journal of Gynecologic Surgery, Bariatric Surgical Patient Care, and Surgical Infections. Its biotechnology trade magazine, Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (GEN), was the first in its field and is today the industry's most widely read publication worldwide. A complete list of the firm's 70 journals, books, and newsletters is available at the Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. publishers (http://www.liebertpub.com) website.