This textbook is designed for use in medical and paramedical training and is also suitable for programmes in nursing, human movement sciences, and medical biology. It serves as a reference for doctors and paramedics such as physiotherapists in clinical practice. This 2nd edition was written parallel with the 19th edition of the Dutch textbook, that has been used in medical and paramedical curricula in the Netherlands and Belgium for many years. The authors used their broad experience in medic...

The introduction of laparoscopic surgery as a standard technique marked a revolution in operating theaters around the globe. Over thirty years later, almost every disorder in the thorax and abdomen eligible for surgery can be approached by endoscopic techniques. We have witnessed a unique journey of technical innovations that enables surgeons to work with this minimally invasive approach in the most complex procedures.

Benefits to the patient are clear, by reducing external and internal t...