Editorial

Dear Friends,

The instability of our world is increasing, and we are gradually becoming accustomed to new international conflicts emerging ever closer to us. Despite these challenges, the scientific community continues its intensive research efforts, with the aim of improving treatment outcomes and patient quality of life. The studies published here reflect international collaboration and demonstrate that progress in medicine—built on knowledge, innovation, and the exchange of experience—remains one of the foundations of the modern world. 

Therefore, as every quarter, we are pleased to present to you another issue of Videosurgery, in which you will find 15 very interesting papers from different parts of the world. They reflect current directions in the development of minimally‑invasive surgery—from the optimization of surgical techniques, through the use of artificial intelligence (AI), to the evaluation of treatment outcomes in specific patient populations. As usual, this edition includes meta‑analyses as well as articles focused on surgical techniques (technical notes).
The issue opens with a publication illustrating the dynamically developing application of AI in medicine. A meta‑analysis on the prediction of lymph node metastases in early gastric cancer confirms a growing potential of AI models as tools supporting clinical decision‑making, and will certainly be of interest not only to surgeons. Three subsequent papers focus on bariatric surgery and its clinical consequences. The MOMBARIS study analyzes the impact of prior pregnancy on the outcomes of surgical treatment of obesity, indicating that obstetric history may influence weight loss results as well as postoperative course. This topic is complemented by a meta‑analysis on acute kidney injury in patients with obesity undergoing bariatric surgery, identifying the main risk factors for this complication. There is also a multicenter study analyzing long‑term remission of diabetes following surgical treatment of obesity. The remaining papers will also be of interest to surgeons of other specialties, as they address the use of minimally‑invasive techniques in the treatment of thoracic, urinary, reproductive, and spinal disorders. I warmly encourage you to read them.
For the coming year, I wish you all peace, stability, and many ideas for new clinical studies to be published in Videosurgery and Other Miniinvasive Techniques.

Kindest regards,
Prof. Jacek Szeliga
VSJ Editor‑in‑Chief