I consider it an honor to be asked by Professor RK Mishra to write the foreword to his Textbook of Laparoscopy for Surgeons and Gynecologists (Previously known as Textbook of Practical Laparoscopic Surgery). Almost 30 years ago, laparoscopy was a revolutionary technology available in a few selected centers and its indications unclear at best. Currently, laparoscopy is the gold standard method of surgery for a wide range of pathology, ranging from cholecystitis and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) to morbid obesity and colon cancer. At present, every gastrointestinal tract surgery is feasible laparoscopically. In most scenarios, the laparoscopic approach has been proven superior with less pain, morbidity, and cost along with shorter hospital stay. Besides, it has gained much popularity for urologic, gynecologic and other intra-abdominal diseases. The demand for education and training in laparoscopic surgery remains high, reflecting its overwhelming surgeon and patient preference. Although many textbooks have been written to help satisfy this void, a few are as easy-to-read and as informative about the gamut of laparoscopic themes. The 50 chapters allow those budding surgeons completely new to laparoscopy to rapidly understand the technical considerations related to these procedures. However, the depth and breadth of the well-illustrated volume also allows the experienced laparoscopic general, urologic, or gynecologic surgeon to become familiar with the new and exciting areas such as robotics and hepatopancreatic operations. The illustrations are all crystal clear, the cutaway enlargements very helpful, and the text explaining them is easy-to-read. The subject matter has been well researched and is written in an authoritative, although not pedantic way as could only be done by a highly experienced laparoscopic surgeon with a wonderful aptitude for sharing his knowledge. Professor RK Mishra has beautifully detailed each area ranging from the history of sterilization techniques to the physics of energy sources to practical methods of port site closure. The constant thread throughout the book is its practical nature this is not a book to be taken from the shelf on rare occasions to use as a reference prior to performing the occasional obscure operation. This book instead one to read cover-to-cover and then to share with one's residents, fellows, theater staff, and associates to ensure that each of them is fluent in the practicalities of laparoscopy. Having written a few books, I know how much work is required to produce such a well-illustrated and superbly written comprehensive textbook. It was immediately apparent to me during my reading that the textbook of practical laparoscopy was a labor of love for Professor RK Mishra and thus will become a cherished and favorite resource for all its readers, including me. I wish to congratulate him on his outstanding achievement and thank him for having allowed me to review it and to write this brief foreword.

Textbook of Laparoscopy for Surgeons and Gynecologists was previously known as the Textbook of Practical Laparoscopic Surgery. Textbook of Practical Laparoscopic Surgery was well received and has become one of the best-selling books on laparoscopic surgery since its being published in 2007. This book has gained support from surgeons and gynecologists from all over the world for its rich content, concise text, and clinical practicability in operation with helpful tips and notes of laparoscopic surgery. Now this new edition of the book which is in your hand has condensed 50 chapters full of technical detail and clinical skill. To share and exchange information and skills of minimal access surgery is my primary goal in writing this book. The field of laparoscopic and robotic surgery has undergone many changes over the past three decades and minimal access surgery has seen tremendous advances during this period. These innovations in minimal access surgery have contributed to improved diagnosis, faster recovery time, smaller scars, less adhesion formation, fewer complications, lower cost, and, most importantly, better results. I have added in this edition of the book all the latest breakthroughs in 4K video technology, infrared advanced instrumentation, adhesion prevention, the latest technique of tissue extraction, and the latest robotic technology. These new chapters will certainly allow surgeons and gynecologists to routinely perform a number of procedures laparoscopically rather than by laparotomies.

When I was to finish my Master's in Minimal Access Surgery from Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, UK, I was one among the few fortunate students who was called by Chancellor Sir James W Black (Nobel Prize Winner in Medicine 1988) for special meeting. Sir Black advised us to start training of minimal access surgery after completing our degree. He realized the great lack of university trained well-qualified personnel who could propagate art and science of minimal access surgery to the medical fraternity. Sir Black emphasized that training of minimal access surgery is going into the profit-making hands of the industry; and as a qualified minimal access surgeon, this is our duty to disseminate the knowledge of our skill to the entire specialty who wants to use this surgical proficiency. Keeping in mind this instruction of my Chancellor, I started teaching laparoscopy to surgeon gynecologists, urologists and pediatric surgeons all over the world. This book is based on seven years of my teaching experience in minimal access surgery. Within seven years, I have trained more than 1,500 surgeons and gynecologists from every corner of the world.

I would like to express my gratitude to all those who gave me the inspiration to write this book. I want to thank my colleagues at surgical skill unit, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, UK. I express my gratitude to all my fellow doctors and students whose constructive criticism in words of encouragement motivated me to accomplish this work.