Encounter with Laparoscopic Surgery and Starting from Zero

Abstract

In 1990, the first laparoscopic cholectomy in Japan was performed, having a marked impact on extended laparotomy and extended operation which had been used for a long time. I initiated laparoscopic colectomy in 1993.At the beginning, no surgical text on laparoscopic surgery (LAP) was available and there was no instructor showing me a model, so that everything started from zero. I actively introduced LAP mainly for colorectal and gastric cancers and promoted its development.A quarter of a century has passed since the initiation of LAP for colorectal cancer. Laparoscopic colectomy has gained popularity recent years. At present, 60-70% of surgical colorectal cancer patients in Japan receive laparoscopic surgery, which is markedly different from the situation at the beginning. Actually, laparoscopic surgery has become the main surgery for colorectal cancer. It is essential for young surgeons responsible for the next generation to acquire the skills of laparoscopic surgery. It was my fortunate that I could be involved to a significant extent in the history of the marked changes in colorectal surgery.