This focused issue on “Laparoendoscopic Surgery for Benign Esophagogastric Conditions” is edited by Prof. Muhammed Ashraf Memon, from Mayne Medical School, School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, and Prof. Abe Fingerhut, from Section for Surgical Research, Department of Surgery, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.

Prof. Muhammed Ashraf Memon is a general surgeon of over 25 years’ experience. Encompassing both open and minimally-invasive techniques, Prof. Memon offers open and laparoscopic upper and lower gastrointestinal surgery for benign and malignant conditions and undertakes both diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy and capsule endoscopy. His ongoing commitment to research is demonstrated through his active participation in evidence based clinical research projects and his publications in high impact medical journals. He has published more than 150 papers in various international journals.

Prof. Abe Fingerhut received his medical degree from the University of Paris in 1971. Prof. Fingerhut is author or co-author of more than 700 articles or book chapters in peer-reviewed journals and major textbooks and has participated as speaker, chairman, or organizer in more than 950 National and International meetings. His current research involves the potential role of indocyanine green fluorescent techniques in the prevention of bile-duct injury during laparoscopic cholecystectomy and intraoperative detection of vascular insufficiency for gastro-intestinal operations with anastomoses.

Disclosure:
The series “Laparoendoscopic Surgery for Benign Oesophagogastric Conditions” was commissioned by the editorial office, Annals of Laparoscopic and Endoscopic Surgery without any sponsorship or funding. Muhammed Ashraf Memon and Abe Fingerhut served as the unpaid Guest Editors for the series.