Minimally invasive gastrointestinal surgery: From past to the future

The improvement of the science and art of surgery began over 150 years ago. Surgical core tasks, “cutting and sewing” with hand and direct contact with the organs, have remained the same. However, in the 21st century, there has been a shifting paradigm in the methodology of surgery. The joint union between innovators, engineers, industry, and patient demands resulted in minimally invasive surgery (MIS). This method has influenced the techniques in every aspect of abdominal surgery, such as surgeons are not required to direct contact or see the structures on which they operate. Advances in the endoscope, imaging, and improved instrumentations convert the essential open surgery into the endoscopic method. Furthermore, computers and robotics show a promising future to facilitate complex procedures, enhance accuracy in microscale operations, and develop a simulation to improve the ability to face sophisticated approaches. MIS has been replacing open surgery due to improved survival, fewer complications, and rapid recoveries in recent years. Minimally invasive surgery's further research in diagnostic and therapeutic modalities is under investigation to achieve genuinely “noninvasive” surgery. Thus, MIS has gained interest in recent days and has been improving with promising outcomes.