Includes Index

The success of the first version of the Atlas of Upper
Gastrointestinal and Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, published in 2007, encouraged us to prepare
an updated version keeping the spirit of the original
Atlas, and adding modifications, novelties, and new
innovations in the technical aspects of these operative
procedures. For the new edition, we added a leader
in the field of Liver and Biliary Surgery from Asia,
Dr. Masaru Miyazaki. Modifications of the text were
needed in about 60% of the chapters, and modifications and additions in the artwork in about 30% of
the chapters. To follow emerging developments in surgery, we added new approaches in laparoscopic and
robotic surgery in many chapters. Also to enhance
clarity, the liver section is now divided into transplant
and non-transplant procedures. New procedures are
described, such as the new two-staged liver resection
ALPPS or the use the new electroporation technology
for targeted tumor ablation. Two new chapters were
added to Section 1 on general principles including:
general surgical devices for cutting and sealing and an
introduction to robotic surgery, because this section
showed highest rank in online downloads for the first
edition of the Atlas.
Knowledge of anatomy and precise surgical technique remain the foundation of high-quality surgery.
A knowledgeable surgeon, equipped with excellent
theoretic and clinical skills, will only be accomplished
when he or she masters the operative techniques of
the practice of surgery. The legacy of an academic surgeon or a surgical educator relies in great part on the
transmission of his or her surgical abilities to handson clinical practice. During the last few years, we as
surgical educators felt more and more that teaching
surgical skills and techniques are compromised due
to the plethora of new information dealing with other
aspects of surgery. The number of new procedures and
techniques developed since the early 1990s, as for example, laparoscopic liver resection or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, although offering obvious advantages for
the patients, constitute a real technical challenge for us
surgeons. Therefore, possibly more than ever before,
surgeons need to update their knowledge about the
various surgical procedures and techniques available.
In bringing forth the first and second editions of the
atlas, our goal was to create a comprehensive and
educational tool focusing on the upper abdomen
and emphasizing all details of operative techniques
including “tricks” from experienced surgeons. In view
of the availability of many textbooks describing nontechnical aspects of surgery, we purposely avoided
writing a text addressing the disease processes, but
instead concentrated on the operative techniques,
which are evolving rapidly. The technical aspects described are the real message of the atlas. We standardized the text associated with each procedure, covering
a list of the most common indications and contraindications, a step-by-step description of the procedure,
a list of the most common complications, and finally
the insightful tricks of the experienced surgeon. We
also included an introductory section covering basic
principles of operative surgery including operative
accesses, positioning of the patient, and the use of
retractors, drains, staplers, and the newer devices to
facilitate dissection, transection, and hemostasis both
for laparoscopy and open surgery.
While a surgeon 50 years ago could treat diseases from
head to toe, this concept has evolved, and today some
degree of specialization is the rule worldwide. Most
countries or accrediting authorities have designed
various boards for sub-specializations; indeed, after
a broad training in general surgery, many young surgeons will move on further into a specific field. Upper
gastrointestinal and hepato-pancreato-biliary surgery
have emerged as specialized fields of general surgery,
including common procedures belonging to the scope
of general surgery as well as complex procedures, that
probably should be performed only by specialized
surgeons. We opted for a comprehensive approach of
upper gastrointestinal and hepato-pancreato-biliary
surgery, covering most open and laparoscopic procedures ranging from straightforward procedures such
as laparoscopic cholecystectomy to the more complex
procedures, such as spleno-renal shunt and liver or
pancreas transplantation.
This second edition of the Atlas of Upper Gastrointestinal and Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery presents
consistent illustrations created by a single artist. This
approach is key to following a procedure, step-by-step,
in a consistent and attractive manner. In selecting
contributors from literally all around the world, we
sought surgeons who had extensive and recognized
experience with the procedure. The contributors are
established educators and have successfully mentored
many young surgeons.
The Atlas of Upper Gastrointestinal and Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery is subdivided into seven sections, each coordinated by a section editor in a close
collaboration with the artist. A balance was achieved
in each procedure to highlight the educational message in combination with the art of medical drawing. Based on the personal experience of the expert authors, a few tricks are presented at the end of each
procedure. Some procedures, such as those related to
portal hypertension, are becoming less popular. This
atlas may contribute significantly to preserving the accumulating knowledge of these demanding surgical
procedures as these procedures become less frequent.
The second edition of the Atlas of Upper Gastrointestinal and Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery is intended
for students and residents in surgery and for fellows
specializing in upper gastrointestinal and hepato-pancreato-biliary surgery preparing themselves for the
operation. At the same time, this atlas will be useful
for specialists and general surgeons who may compare
their techniques with the one described herein or find
some additional help or tricks when performing rare
procedures.
In summary, we believe that the second edition of the
Atlas of Upper Gastrointestinal and Hepato-PancreatoBiliary Surgery is truly a new atlas, new in concept,
and new in scope.
We hope that specialists as well as surgeons at various
levels of training will benefit from this huge effort,
combining the work of many experts, a gifted artist,
and the publisher.