Minimally Invasive Techniques in Trauma: Above and Below the Diaphragm

Once thought to only be of use in elective general surgery specialties, minimally invasive surgery is gaining popularity in the fields of emergency general surgery and trauma. In this chapter we explore the uses of minimally invasive techniques in trauma surgery. Since its acceptance by general surgeons in the 1990s, laparoscopy has become the gold standard in several arenas. Its adoption in trauma patients, however, has been slow to gain traction. Major concerns surrounding laparoscopy in trauma address the increased expenses of laparoscopy, ineffectiveness at visualizing the entire abdomen, increased length of time in the operating room, and missed injuries.