The definitive reference source on endoscopic surgery! In the past two years, the field of endoscopic -- or minimally invasive surgery --has grown significantly. Some experts have predicted that by the turn of the century, these techniques will account for 50 to 75 percent of all surgery, up from about 20 percent of all general surgical operations involving entry into a major abdominal cavity today. Because of the rapid growth in the field, there is a great demand for information on the latest laparoscopic and endoscopic techniques, as well as on safety and training issues. This book is designed to satisfy that need. Packed with illustrations, photographs and tables, this comprehensive text covers all major advances in the field. Its aim is two-fold:: to provide hands-on advice practical enough for daily clinical use, and to give readers the bigger picture -- an overview of worldwide advances in minimally invasive surgery, which its internationally renowned authors are well positioned to do.