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Semin Reprod Med 2011; 29(2): 155-168
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1272478
© Thieme Medical Publishers

Robot-Assisted Laparoscopy, Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopy, and Single-Site Laparoscopy in Reproductive Surgery

Antonio R. Gargiulo1 , Ceana Nezhat2
  • 1Center for Infertility and Reproductive Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Department of Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Harvard Medical School, at Boston, Massachusetts
  • 2Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Northside Hospital, Emory University School of Medicine, and Stanford University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
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Publication History

Publication Date:
24 March 2011 (online)

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ABSTRACT

Minimally invasive gynecologic surgery is continuously pushing its limits by embracing ever more sophisticated technology. This is also true for reproductive surgery, arguably the birthplace of gynecologic endoscopy, where minimally invasive treatment of uterine, tubal, ovarian, and peritoneal pathology has long become the gold standard. This article describes in some detail three novel minimally invasive surgery approaches that have seen the light during the past decade: robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery, natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery, and single-incision laparoscopic surgery. These fascinating technologies, far from being widely adopted, are sure to generate scientific controversy for years to come. Nonetheless, they follow in the footsteps of the tradition of innovation that is a defining aspect of our specialty and hold the promise to potentially revolutionize the field of reproductive surgery.

KEYWORDS

Robotic surgery - robotics - natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery - NOTES - single-incision laparoscopic surgery - SILS - laparoscopic single-site surgery - LESS - reproductive surgery

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Antonio R GargiuloM.D. 

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Email: agargiulo@partners.org