Minimally invasive surgery is replacing the traditional open surgical approach for many abdominal procedures. The benefits of reduced pain, quicker return of oral intake, shorter hospitalizations, and improved cosmetic results all support the increasing use of the laparoscopic approach. This review identifies important articles published in the literature on minimally invasive surgery from June 2002 to August 2003, with the objective of identifying future trends and directions in laparoscopic surgery. The topics of articles reviewed in detail include minimally invasive techniques applied to esophageal tumors, morbid obesity, malignant liver tumors, gallbladder disease, pancreatic pathology, colon cancer, and robotic prostatectomy.