Profiles in laparoscopy: Mouret, Dubois, and Perissat: the laparoscopic breakthrough in Europe (1987-1988)

Abstract

In the late 1980s, laparoscopy was essentially a gynecologist's tool. One of the French private surgeons, Phillipe Mouret of Lyon, shared his surgery practice with a gynecologist and thus had access to both laparoscopic equipment and to patients requiring laparoscopy. In March of 1987, Mouret carried out his first cholecystectomy by means of electronic laparoscopy. Although he never published anything about this experience, the news on his technique reached Francois Dubois of Paris. Although having no prior laparoscopic experience, Dubois acted immediately. He borrowed the instruments from gynecologists, performed his first animal experiments and, in April 1988, carried out the first laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) in Paris. Inspired by Dubois, Jacques Perissat of Bordeaux, introduced endoscopic cholecystectomy in his clinic and presented this technique at a SAGES meeting in Louisville in April 1989. Very soon, news of the French work in LC soon swept beyond the country's borders. Dubois and Perissat spoke enthusiastically about their work at the meetings and were largely responsible for establishing what is today called the French technique.

Figure 1.

“I did not see any chance for publishing about laparoscopic cholecystectomy in a surgical journal.” Phillipe Mouret in his office in Lyon (1994). Fig. 16-3 in Highlights.

Figure 2.

“I had no prior experience with laparoscopy.” Francois Dubois of Paris (1995). Fig. 16-4 in Highlights.

Figure 3.

“I thought, this fellow (Dubois) has a good idea, remove the organ laparoscopically rather than leave it after lithotripsy.” Jacques Perissat of Bordeaux (1995). Fig. 16-5 in Highlights.