The field of general surgery has changed dramatically over the last
ten years with the acceptance of laparoscopy as an extension of the scalpel.
Once ridiculed by most academic centers, laparoscopy has revolutionized
the management of biliary tract disease and has led to a critical
reassessment of how patients with other general surgical problems are
managed. The rapid advancement and acceptance of laparoscopy as a
part of general surgery is apparent today since most academic centers
have laparoscopic sections and many offer laparoscopic fellowships.