[Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery: current situation].

Area of Science:

• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Gastroenterology
• Surgical Innovation

Context:

• Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) emerged in 2004 as an experimental surgical alternative.
• It combines endoscopic and laparoscopic techniques to access abdominal organs via natural orifices.
• This approach aims to eliminate abdominal incisions and associated complications.

Purpose:

• To explore the potential of NOTES as a less invasive surgical option.
• To review the current status and limitations of transluminal surgery.
• To provide recommendations for advancing NOTES toward human clinical trials.

Summary:

• NOTES accesses the abdominal cavity through a natural orifice under endoscopic visualization.
• Preliminary studies in animal models show the technique's feasibility.
• Significant research is still needed to establish its safety and effectiveness in humans.

Impact:

• Potential to revolutionize abdominal surgery by eliminating external incisions.
• Could reduce patient recovery times and surgical site infections.
• Highlights the need for rigorous validation before widespread human application.