Natural Orifice Translumenal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES) Towards Brighter Future

Kalloo’s publication of transgastric peritoneoscopy in 20041 has led to evolution of field of natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES). In a short time period, NOTES has been shown to be feasible in numerous laboratory animal studies and NOTES-specific instrumentation have already reached the research and development stages. Furthermore, the infectious and immunologic impact of NOTES has, in many cases, shown the equivalence of NOTES to laparoscopy and conventional abdominal surgery. As of now careful clinical trials of NOTES peritoneoscopy and cholecystectomy are being conducted, and as the data accumulate and instrumentation improves, NOTES will play a major role in the future of abdominal surgery.