Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the present status of minimally invasive surgery in the Czech Republic. Methods: A questionnaire was sent to all public hospitals in the Czech Republic with the aim to find out absolute numbers of all minimally invasive surgeries in 2004. Consequently the spectrum and extent of miniinvasive procedures in hospitals and the proportion of selected laparoscopic operations in the Czech Republic was evaluated. Results: A total of 109 (67%) of public hospitals replied to the questionnaire. 34 273 minimally invasive surgeries were performed in the Czech Republic in 2004. 33 721 of these operations were laparoscopic, 441 thoracoscopic and 111 of them were performed by means of TEM (transanal endoscopic microsurgery). Laparoscopic cholecystectomies comprised 51% of all laparoscopic operations in the abdominal cavity. Elective cholecystectomies comprised 87%. Laparoscopic appendectomies comprised 19% of all laparoscopic operations in abdominal cavity. The indication was acute appendicitis in 46%. 92% of laparoscopic hernia repairs were inguinal repair, 94% of which were performed with transperitoneal approach. Laparoscopic adhesiolyses comprised 3.8%, laparoscopic fundoplications 2.7% and laparoscopic colorectal procedures 1.3% of all laparoscopic operations in the abdominal cavity. Other surgeries with lower absolute numbers comprised of operations in the regions of oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, liver, spleen, pancreas, kidneys, adrenal glands, vascular system, lumbar sympaticus, gynecological procedures and some diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Laparoscopic cholecystectomies were performed by all questioned surgical departments, 94% of questioned hospitals performed laparoscopic appendectomy, 85% performed laparoscopic hernia repair and 26% practiced laparoscopic colorectal surgery. In the Czech Republic 76% of cholecystectomies, 38% of appendectomies, 19% of hernia repairs and 7% of colorectal surgeries are performed laparoscopically. Conclusion: Minimally invasive surgery is an established and respected method with wide a spectrum of performed operations and increasing numbers of procedures.

        Key words: miniinvasive surgery – laparoscopy – national survey