Year

Events

(a) Minimal invasive surgery

1901

German Dr. Georg Kelling pioneered laparoscopy with advanced fiber-optic lens system.

1959

Endoscopy for visualize common bile duct and for gall stone removal was greatly improved through application of the Hopkin’s rod-lens system.

1987

The 1st vido-cholecystectomy was performed by Dr. Philippe Mouret in France.

1992

Dr. Camran Nezhart reported the 1st laparoscopic radical hysterectomy and lymphadenectomy.

2007

First trans-gastric cholecystectomy and first trans-vaginal appendectomy.

(b) Robotic surgery revolution

1985

A robot, using a software developed by Dr. Yik San Kwoh, assisted in performing a brain biopsy.

1994

Dr. Camran Nezhart, considered the father of operative video-laparoscopy used the 1st robotic arm to hold a camera/instrument.

1998

Robot 1st assisted in the open heart coronary artery bypass graft (CAGB) operation.

2000

Robot 1st assisted in operations of esophagus and pancreas.

2001

First “Lindbergh Operation”: a robot did a cholecystectomy in Paris under the direction of a surgeon in New York

2006

First “Un-manned Operation”: a robot placed a defibrillator in a patient in Milan using logic of thousands of operative data stored in a computer in Boston.

2008

Robot performed resection of part of a liver donated by a person.