Many a times cases of malignancy are opened to realize that the disease is inoperable and abdomen is closed (Non Therapeutic Exploration). Diagnostic Laparoscopy and staging Laparoscopy offers a great advantage in avoiding non malignancy therapeutic exploration in such cases of stomach, colon and pancreatic malignancies. Many malignant conditions like colonic growth can be comfortably managed laparoscopically. There are enough large randomized controlled trials (RCT) to prove that laparoscopic colonic resection is comparable to open surgery in terms of disease control and recurrence. Even laparoscopic hepatic resections are done for metastatic liver disease in dedicated centres with excellent results. The use of endostapler is a must.

The harmonic scalpel has made this surgery less time consuming and bloodless and with experience, the conversion to open surgery is considerably reduced.