A review of gynaelogical laparotomy

Abstract

Laparoscopy is the ability to see inside the abdominal cavity via stainless steel tube containing a series of optic lenses. Historically the first laparoscopy was performed by H.C Jacobaeus in 1910 in Stockholm he used a direct technique not creating a Pneumoperitoneum ^1. Pneumoperitoneum prior to laparoscopy was introduced by Orndoff in Chicago about a decade later (1920). In an attempt to reduce the injuries to adjacent structures while creating a pneumoperitoneum, Verress from Budapest introduced the retractable needle which retracts the sharp edge on entering the peritoneal cavity ². In its early history, laparoscopy was entirely diagnostic until 1959 when Raoul Palmer in Paris and Hans Frangenheimin Konstanz pioneered the operative techniques. Hans Frangenheim wrote the first textbook on operative laparoscopy, the book was tittled "De Laparoskopie und die culdoskopie in der Gynaecologie” ³. The followership of these pioneers was such that centres of excellence emerged in this new operative technique. Two of these centres were Clemont - Ferrand located in France and Kiel in Germany, headed by Prof. Maurice Bruhat and Prof. Kurt Semm respectively. Prof. Kurt Semm a trained engineer was involved in the development of much of the original instrumentation. One of the 1^st major achievements of laparoscopy was in 1967 when Patrick Steptoe wrote the first English monologue on this technique and this was closely followed with the help of Prof. Robert Edward of Cambridge resulted in the birth of Louise Brown in 1979. This was the first recorded successful IVF birth. Now over 80% of gynaecological surgeries can be performed by laparoscopy. It is worthy of note to acknowledge Harry Reich of Kingston as the first person to perform a laparoscopic hysterectomy ⁴.