[Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery: current situation]

Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) is the paradigm of the evolution of minimally invasive surgery. The laparoscopic <> has introduced new ideas in general surgery, one of them being that modern surgery is the work of multidisciplinary teams. A clear example of this is provided by NOTES. The aim of this type of surgery is to perform conventional laparoscopic procedures without incision, using flexible endoscopic technology usually employed in the diagnosis and treatment of intraluminal lesions and reaching the inside of the abdominal cavity through natural orifices (mouth, anus, vagina and even urethra). This type of access opens a highly interesting field for certain types of patients, such as those with high surgical risk, the morbidly obese, and those with multiple prior abdominal interventions or surgical wound infections. Animal models have shown that a wide variety of interventions (cholecystectomy, appendicectomy, splenectomy, hysterectomy, tubal ligations, gastroenteroanastomosis, peritoneoscopy, liver biopsy and herniorrhaphy, among others) can be performed. However, before use in humans, this new technique must be shown to be safe and to provide real advantages for patients. To do this, a series of issues, including safe methods for closure of the gastric incision and the avoidance of infections, among others, must be solved. Another critical element for the development of this new type of surgery is the creation of appropriate instrumentation, requiring input not only from medical professionals but also from engineers and industry. The present article describes the major advances made in NOTES since this technique was first described and analyzes the risks and potential benefits associated with this novel procedure.