The second volume of Operative Manual of Endoscopic Surgery covers some
of the operative endoscopic procedures which have been introduced into
clinical practice since the publication of VoI. 1. In the general
section, we have included an updated chapter on instrumentation and new
chapters on anaesthetic manage- ment of patients undergoing endoscopic
surgery and on video image and record- ing. Both topics are of
importance to the practice of endoscopic surgery and have not been
adequately covered in the reported literature. Volume 2 deals with
endoscopic procedures)nthechest and abdomen. There have been significant
advances in thoracoscopic surgery duririg the past 2 years; particular
reference rs made to anatomical pulmonary resections and oesophageal
resections. As far as the gastrointestinal trad is concerned, we have
included gastric and allied operations but have not covered the
colorectal region as we believe that more evaluation is needed before
definitive accounts can be written on endoscopic colorectal resections,
especially for cancer. For this reason, we have decided to defer this
important topic to VoI. 3, which is in preparation. The same applies to
laparoscopic repair of abdominal hernias. The same layout has been
adopted as in VoI. 1 of the series, with heavy em- phasis on
illustrative representation of the operative steps and techniques. In
the diagrams on sites of trocar/cannulae, we have indicated not only the
site and size but also the functional role of each port.
