The incidence of esophageal perforation (EP) has risen with the increasing use of endoscopic procedures, which are currently the most frequent causes of EP. Despite decades of clinical experience, innovations in surgical technique and advances in intensive care management, EP still represents a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. EP is a devastating event and mortality hovers close to 20%. Ambiguous presentations leading to misdiagnosis and delayed treatment and the difficulties in management are responsible for the high morbidity and mortality rates. A high variety of treatment options are available ranging from observational medical therapy to radical esophagectomy. The potential role of interventional endoscopy and the use of stents for the treatment of EP seem interesting but remain to be evaluated. Surgical primary repair, with or without reinforcement, is the preferred approach in patients with EP. Prognosis is mainly determined by the cause, the location of the injury and the delay between perforation and initiation of therapy.

In the management of Hinchey 3 diverticulitis, laparoscopic peritoneal lavage does not result in excess morbidity or mortality, it reduces the length of hospital stay and avoids a stoma in most patients, and it is, therefore, a reasonable alternative to primary anastomosis with defunctioning stoma.

Laparoscopic liver resection for HCC is feasible and well tolerated. Midterm survival and recurrence rates are similar to those after laparotomy.

Outpatient unilateral thyroid lobectomy is feasible and safe in the setting of appropriate facilities and management protocol. Strict control of postoperative nausea is essential, and a preoperative education for ambulatory surgery is useful to minimize patient anxiety and increase acceptability.

By applying simple measures, it is possible to decrease the operating room cost of laparoscopic cholecystectomy whilst maintaining good results. Such measures should be applied to other laparoscopic procedures.