Original broadcast date: March 30, 2008

In mid March 2008, surgeons at UC San Diego Medical Center performed what is the first removal of a diseased appendix through the mouth in the United States. One of the first reactions and questions from people who hear this story is amazement and wonder how the surgery was done. The second question that follows is the reason for this surgical approach.

• Dr. Mark Talamini, M.D., F.A.C.S, Professor of Surgery
  Chairman, Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego
  President-elect of the Society of Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons for minimally invasive surgery