Surgery 2001

PrologueIt has become apparent over the past few years that technology is advancing at a rate beyond even the wildest expectations. It is difficult to keep up with all the aspects of a changing surgical practice let alone those technologies which promise to change the future of surgery. An example of this rapid change is laparoscopic surgery. The technologies behind this innovation have been in place in academia, business, and industry for a decade or two, even though they appear new to physicians. And when we are introduced to a new technology, it is usually difficult to completely understand and to put it into the perspective of a busy surgical practice.