It is now more than a decade since the first description of the concept of natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES). The first decade was characterized by a substantial number of experimental studies conducted to develop optimal techniques and overcome various challenges. Reports of clinical NOTES procedures in humans began to appear in 2007 and increased in subsequent years. The gastroenterologist performing early experimental studies in animals has now been largely replaced by a surgeon, operating mainly in a hybrid fashion (with laparoscopic assistance) and often using rigid instruments, sparing the flexible endoscope.
The abstracts presented at the 2011 Digestive Disease Week (DDW, 7 – 10 May, Chicago, Illinois, USA) showed that advances in NOTES continue to be made, but that the rate may be slowing. There were 25 abstracts related to NOTES at DDW 2011, as many as last year but significantly fewer than the year before. Most of the abstracts are summarized below.
References
1 Azadani A, Jonsson H, Park PO et al. Closure of a gastric NOTES®-incision using several techniques: in-vivo comparison of the closure leak pressure with the gastric yield pressure. Gastrointest Endosc 2011; 73: 131
3 Ryska O, Martinek J, Filipkova T et al. Single loop-and-clip rectal closure (KING Closure) – a novel technique for natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery. Gastrointest Endosc 2011; 73: 315-315
4 Dubcenco E, Grantcharov T, Streutker C et al. A long-term, randomized, comparative, survival, porcine model study evaluating effectiveness of adhesiolysis (adhesion reformation): transgastric NOTES® vs. laparoscopy. Gastrointest Endosc 2011; 73: 311
5 Bernhardt J, Ludwig K, Schneider-Koriath S et al. Pure NOTES® sigmoid resection in an animal survival model: three luminal action with a two luminal access to the abdominal cavity. Gastrointest Endosc 2011; 73: 312-313
8 Bergström M, Azadani A, Jonsson H et al. Transgastric NOTES® surgery is well tolerated and induces a decreased postoperative stress response in a pig uterine horn resection model. Gastrointest Endosc 2011; 73: 313-314
9 Rezende MF, Rodrigues R, Gomes GF et al. Effect of transgastric peritoneoscopy on the systemic cytokines in acute inflammatory response in swines. Gastrointest Endosc 2011; 73: 315
10 Rodrigues R, Rezende MF, Gomes GF et al. Effect of transgastric peritoneal access on the peritoneal innate cellular immunity: experimental study in swines. Gastrointest Endosc 2011; 73: 314
11 Wang A, Li W, Wu L et al. Comparative study of laparoscopy with transgastric NOTES® peritoneoscopy using small and big sized endoscopes on inflammatory response in a dog model. Gastrointest Endosc 2011; 73: 316-317
12 Al-Haddad MA, McKenna D, Selzer DJ et al. Propofol sedation vs. inhalant anesthesia in NOTES®: a comparative study in dogs. Gastrointest Endosc 2011; 73: 315
14 Garud S, Davis SS, Lewis MM et al. Human hybrid endoscopic and laparoscopic management of mass lesions of the foregut. Gastrointest Endosc 2011; 73: 130
15 Dray X, Dico RL, Pautrat K et al. Single-incision laparoscopic evaluation of peritoneal carcinomatosis: first human cases with combined flexible endoscopy. Gastrointest Endosc 2011; 73: 312
16 Miyahara R, Hirooka Y, Funasaka K et al. A study of endoscopic full-thickness incision and endoscopic gastric plication using NOTES® techniques. Gastrointest Endosc 2011; 73: 316
17 Nijhawan S, Majid SF, Sedrak M et al. First human NOTES® experience for sleeve gastrectomy at University of California at San Diego (UCSD). Gastrointest Endosc 2011; 73: 147
18 Chiu PW, Teoh AY, Wu JC et al. Per oral endoscopic myotomy (P.O.E.M.) for treatment of esophageal motility disorders – from bench to bedside. Gastrointest Endosc 2011; 73: 147-148
19 Dubcenco E, Phillips H, Baker JP et al. Transvaginal NOTES® cholecystectomy using a novel reusable vaginal access system (VAS): early human experience. Gastrointest Endosc 2011; 73: 312
20 Verlaan T, Voermans RP, van Wagensveld BA et al. NOTES® versus laparoscopy: what is the perception of patients undergoing bariatric surgery?. Gastrointest Endosc 2011; 73: 316
