Current Status of Endoscopic Surgery in Japan: The 15th National Survey of Endoscopic Surgery by the Japan Society for Endoscopic Surgery

Abstract

In Japan, the first endoscopic surgery, a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, was performed in 1990. Since then, operative procedures have been standardized, and the safety and efficacy of endoscopic surgery have been evaluated. In accordance with the social acceptance of endoscopic surgery as a less invasive type of surgery, the number of endoscopic procedures performed has increased in all surgical domains. The Japan Society for Endoscopic Surgery (JSES) has played an important role in the development of endoscopic surgery in Japan. Notably, a technical skills certification system for surgeons was established by the JSES to train instructors on how to teach safe endoscopic surgery. Furthermore, the JSES has conducted a national survey every 2 years. In 2019, 291,792 patients underwent endoscopic surgery in all surgical domains, such as abdominal, thoracic, mammary and thyroid gland, cardiovascular, obstetrics and gynecology, urologic, orthopedic, and plastic surgery. The 15th National Survey of Endoscopic Surgery conducted by the JSES demonstrated the status of laparoscopic surgery in Japan in 2018–2019.

Benefits of a laparoscopic approach for second colorectal resection after colectomy or proctectomy

“…Notably, there were no conversion cases when considering patients who had undergone preceding colorectal surgery via a laparoscopic approach presumably owing to less intraabdominal adhesion [36][37][38]. The number of patients receiving minimally invasive surgery is increasing worldwide [39,40]. This trend will lead to more opportunities for repeated laparoscopic surgery for colorectal lesions.…”

Laparoscopic jejunostomy for enteral nutrition in gastric cancer patients: A report of two cases: A case report

“…The number of laparoscopic procedures for various diseases and organs has been increasing in Japan in recent years [22] . Additionally, the results of the JLSSG0901 study reported at the 94th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Gastric Cancer Association demonstrated non-inferiority of laparoscopic distal gastrectomy to open approaches in advanced gastric cancer in terms of the 5-year recurrence-free survival rate.…”

Pure endoscopic resection versus laparoscopic assisted procedure for upper gastrointestinal stromal tumors: Perspective from a surgical endoscopist

“…Indeed, the utility of various resection methods for upper gastric SETs was quite different across different countries. LECS was initially developed in Japan, and the number of LECS being performed annually has thus been consistently rising locally since it was covered by Japanese public medical insurance in 2014 44,45 . On the other hand, endoscopic resection has been extensively applied in China and outcomes of different EFTR procedures were reported predominantly from researchers in China.…”

“…LECS was initially developed in Japan, and the number of LECS being performed annually has thus been consistently rising locally since it was covered by Japanese public medical insurance in 2014. 44,45 On the other hand, endoscopic resection has been extensively applied in China and outcomes of different EFTR procedures were reported predominantly from researchers in China. A Chinese consensus guideline was one of the first to support the use of endoscopic resection for upper GI SETs including low-risk GIST.…”