JLAST —Celebrating 25 Years

Abstract

Comments from the Editor-in-Chief

On behalf of the editors, the editorial board, and the contributors, we welcome you to the JOURNAL OF LAPAROENDOSCOPIC SURGERY. The goal of this new journal is to provide the surgical community with a vehicle for discussing, evaluating, and disseminating new surgical techniques. We believe that the application of new instrumentation, such as laparoscopies, endoscopes, lasers and associated tools, will transform the face of surgery. The surgical community cannot afford to ignore the change that will result from the impact of these new technologies. However, the need for good judgment, technical expertise, and careful review of experience remain an essential part of surgical practice.

This was the opening paragraph of an editorial in the inaugural issue of the Journal of Laparoscopic and Advanced Surgical Techniques (JLAST), Volume 1, Issue 1, the year, 1990 (see cover photo). January 2015 marks the beginning of the 25th year of JLAST. This journal has been continuously published for the past 25 years, continuing to fulfill those goals outlined above, and the words above remain as true today as 25 years ago. Additionally outlined 25 years ago was that:

This journal seeks to cover controversial issues such as the role of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the management of cholelithiasis and cholecystitis, the need for cholangiography in laparoscopic cholecystectomy, and the reimbursement patterns in endoscopically performed procedures across the country. In order to fairly cover such topics, a series of round table discussions with experts in the field will be a prominent feature of this journal.

To commemorate the 25th year of JLAST's publication, we will highlight controversial issues through a series of provocative conversations with experts in the field. We hope that this not only helps readers realize the long and significant contribution JLAST has made to the surgical literature, but also continues to bring value to you and leverages the journal's goals and reputation in laparoendoscopic and advanced surgical techniques. This first issue includes a conversation with Professor Santiago Horgan on the topic of surgical robotics. I hope you find this and subsequent expert conversations interesting and valuable to your practice of surgery.

Comments from the Pediatric Editor

The landscape of surgery has changed tremendously over the last 25 years. Through it all, JLAST has been a source of sharing these advancements to our professions. Its growth with regard to volume as well as distribution has been nothing short of remarkable. Without doubt, the Journal owes this growth to the commitment of its leadership. However, the dedication of the pioneering surgeons who take the seemingly impossible and forge new unique techniques for others to both use and build upon is the basis of why JLAST has been so successful. We are fortunate to participate in the leadership direction of JLAST during a small portion of this timeline.

As we celebrate our 25^th year, we would be remiss to not remember those individual “pioneers” who have brought us to the level of minimally invasive techniques at which we are today. To this end, it gives us great pleasure to highlight 12 areas of specific interest, one in each issue this year. We look forward to sharing with the readership of JLAST one-on-one interviews with individuals who were personally dedicated to the development of a pioneering technique or program, or intimately associated with an individual who is no longer able to conduct a personal interview. It has been an honor to participate in these conversations, and I hope that you all find them as interesting to read as I have in preparing them.

With warmest regards,

—Daniel J. Ostlie, MD

Pediatric Editor