Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES)

Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) is still a matter of scientific research, and indeed, the total number of peer-reviewed original papers published on NOTES has increased recently compared with previous years. This holds true for all types of NOTES-related research topics ([Fig. 1]).

In addition, various surgical procedures such as hybrid-NOTES, single-incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS), transvaginal surgery with rigid endoscopes, and transumbilical surgery with flexible endoscopes (E-NOTES), all of them adopting the concept of scarless surgery, have recently been integrated into clinical routine medicine, at least in highly specialized centers. The phrase ”NOTES” has become a trademark for innovative, minimally invasive surgery. Terminological standards have therefore been agreed on by various societies to avoid further confusion [1] [2]. The present summary therefore includes only manuscripts covering the ”classical” NOTES approach, i. e. access via natural orifices (excluding the umbilicus) using only flexible instruments.

Fig. 1 The frequency of peer-reviewed articles on natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) from September 2008 to August 2009 (red column) compared with the same time period in the previous 2 years (blue column). Non-English publications are excluded.

References

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• 3 Fritscher-Ravens A, Ghanbari A, Cuming T. et al . Comparative study of NOTES alone vs. EUS-guided NOTES procedures.  Endoscopy. 2008;  40 925-930
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• 18 Bingener J, Krishnegowda N K, Michalek J E. Immunologic parameters during NOTES compared with laparoscopy in a randomized blinded porcine trial.  Surg Endosc. 2009;  23 178-181
• 19 McGee M F, Schomisch S J, Marks J M. et al . Late phase TNF-alpha depression in natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) peritoneoscopy.  Surgery. 2008;  143 318-328
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