Current status of therapeutic endoscopy in hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery.

As in any other facets of our medical practice, the successful management of patients with different hepato-biliary and pancreatic disease depends on the conjoint efforts of a well coordinated team of different disciplines. In addition of ERCP/ES, interventional radiology and laparoscopic surgery are becoming indispensable tools for surgeons and are providing us with new therapeutic options. Although the conventional territory of surgery is shrinking, the improved outcome of patients remains as the best testimony for our continuing support to the team approach. Hopefully, data from well conducted clinical studies which could help us to elucidate the best measure for our patients would be available from China and elsewhere.