Natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery applications in clinical practice

To review natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) applications in clinical practice and assess the evidence base for each application as reported in the literature.An electronic literature search was performed.Inclusion criteria were publications relating to NOTES applications in humans.For each type of operation the highest level of evidence available for clinical NOTES publications was evaluated.Morbidity and short-term operative outcomes were compared with gold standard published evidence where available.Finally,registered trials recruiting patients for NOTES applications were identified.Human NOTES publications with the highest level of evidence in each application are identified.There were no RCTs in the literature to date.The strongest evidence came in the form of large,multi-centre trials with 300-500 patients.The results are encouraging,comparable with gold standard techniques on morbidity and mortality.While short-term operative outcomes were also simi-lar when compared to the gold standard techniques,other than improved cosmesis little else can definitely be concluded as a clear benefit of a NOTES procedure.The most common procedures are cholecystectomy,appendicectomy and peritoneoscopy mainly performed via transvaginal access.It is evident that morbidity appears to be higher when the transgastric route is used.The safety profile of hybrid NOTES transvaginal procedures is beginning to be confirmed as is evident from the large number of procedures presented in this review.A number of authors have presented work on pure NOTES procedures but the results are inconsistent and thus the vast majority of NOTES procedures worldwide are performed in a hybrid fashion with a variable amount of laparoscopy.This review of the clinical applications of NOTES summarises the growing evidence behind this surgical discipline and highlights NOTES procedures with an acceptable safety profile.     

Evaluation for transvaginal and transgastric NOTES cholecystectomy in human and animal natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery

Background/purpose

Natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) is a novel concept using an endoscope via a translumenal access for abdominal surgery. This study was designed to evaluate the feasibility and technical aspects of NOTES cholecystectomy from our experience on humans and animals.

Methods

NOTES cholecystectomies were performed in 12 animal experiments, including 8 pigs (6 by transgastric and 2 by transvaginal accesses) and 4 dogs (4 transvaginal accesses), and a human female cadaver.

Results

The entire gallbladder could be removed under direct vision in all experiments. The average time was 60 min by transgastric and 40 min by transvaginal in animals. It was 87 min for human transvaginal cholecystectomy. In all animal and human procedures, there was no major complication concerning the operation.

Discussion

The transvaginal route may be the easiest route for abdominal NOTES. Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) allowed the safe performance of a controlled gastric perforation and shortened the time. The hybrid method allowed performance of a safe procedure and shortened the time.

Conclusions

Transvaginal and transgastric NOTES cholecystectomy is technically feasible and safe in both humans and animals. New instrumentation needs to be developed to perform a pure NOTES cholecystectomy without transabdominal assistance.     

Rendezvous gastrotomy technique using direct percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy for transgastric cholecystectomy in hybrid natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery

Background/purpose

Transgastric access is a major route in natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES); gastrotomy should be performed unless it would damage surrounding organs in the peritoneal cavity. This article describes a novel rendezvous gastrotomy technique over a direct percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG).

Methods

In six live porcines, the gastrotomy involved applying a direct PEG through the abdominal wall into the stomach and exchanging to a needle trocar. An endoscopic balloon catheter was passed through the trocar by rendezvous technique. Then the inflated balloon and endoscope were advanced to the peritoneal cavity through the gastrotomy. Transgastric cholecystectomy was performed with a hybrid needle grasper through the same percutaneous site and the gastrotomy was closed with endoscopic clips.

Results

The rendezvous gastrotomy technique could reduce guidewire exchange. The success rate was 100% (6/6). Mean times for transgastric peritoneoscopy and cholecystectomy were 25.5 and 83.5 min. Mortality and morbidity was 0%. The addition of the extra trocar was unnecessary in all procedures.

Discussions/conclusions

The advantage of this introduction system includes the creation of controlled gastric perforation, which is easier to close. It provides reliable transgastric access and increases safety. It simplifies transgastric NOTES and provides less invasive hybrid NOTES procedure.     

Single-port endoscopic cholecystectomy: a bridge between laparoscopic and translumenal endoscopic surgery

Background and objective

The intentional puncture of the normal viscera is likely the most important issue limiting the widespread use of natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES). We developed a new procedure for cholecystectomy using a flexible endoscope via a single port placed in the abdominal wall without visceral puncture (single-port endoscopic cholecystectomy; SPEC) as a bridge between laparoscopic surgery and NOTES. This study aimed to evaluate the technical feasibility of SPEC.

Methods

Five pigs were subjected to SPEC. An endoscope was inserted through a 12-mm port placed in the right upper abdomen. After grasping and retracting the gallbladder using a 2-mm retractor that was directly introduced into the peritoneal cavity, gallbladder excision with ligation of the cystic artery and duct using endoclips was carried out.

Results

A complete gallbladder excision was carried out easily and safely in all cases. No major adverse events occurred. The mean operating time was 67 min (range 52–84 min).

Conclusions

SPEC is a technically feasible procedure. It is simpler, easier, and safer than NOTES cholecystectomy. SPEC could be a less invasive alternative to the conventional four-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy.     

Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) for clinical management of intra‐abdominal diseases

Clinical research on natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) has been increasingly reported over the past 5 years and more than 1200 patients have received various NOTES procedures. The present article reviews the clinical practice of NOTES for the treatment of intra‐abdominal diseases, and was carried out through systematic search with specific keywords in major databases for NOTES‐related clinical literature. The last date of the search was 15 August, 2012. Transvaginal cholecystectomy is the commonest NOTES procedure reported, and its clinical feasibility and safety was established through prospective case series and randomized trials. There is a regional difference in NOTES development with the majority of NOTES fromCaucasian countries being transvaginal cholecystectomy and most reports from Asian countries being NOTES‐related procedures. Safe closure of gastrointestinal access remains challenging, and novel endoscopic instruments are essential to enhance future development of NOTES.     

自然腔道内镜外科经胃路径两种造瘘术的对比实验研究

目的 对比研究自然腔道内镜外科（NOTES）中PEG胃造瘘术及针刀胃造瘘术在操作过程、并发症及瘘口愈合方面的差异.方法 实验犬随机分为4组,每组4只,每只犬胃前壁分别行内镜下PEG胃造瘘及针刀胃造瘘（两瘘口相距2 cm）,瘘口长1.5 cm,内镜进入腹腔进行探查,后均以3个内镜夹闭合瘘口;记录操作耗时、术中并发症;第一组实验犬在操作完成后即刻进行剖腹探查并取胃在体外进行胃抗压测试（0 d组）;其他3组实验犬分别在术后第3天（3 d组）、7天（7 d组）及14天（14 d组）处死,进行腹腔探查,观察瘘口愈合、腹腔内粘连情况,并进行瘘口抗压测试.结果 实验动物均完成了两种胃造瘘术,虽然PEG胃造瘘术在操作耗时方面长于针刀胃造瘘术[（8.4±2.2）min比（5.3±1.5）min,P＜0.05],但其术中出血的并发症明显减少（6.2%比37.5%,P＜0.01）;在瘘口抗压测试方面,0 d组、3 d组及7 d组PEG胃造瘘口和针刀胃造瘘口的平均突破阈值分别为（12.3±2.3）mm Hg比（11.4±2.6）mm Hg（P＞0.05）、（32.4±6.7）mm Hg比（23.7±7.7）mm Hg（P＜0.05）和（76.8±9.6）mm Hg比（52.4±8.8）mm Hg（P＜0.05）;14 d组实验动物两种方法胃造瘘口受压均超过160 mm Hg而末发生瘘口破裂.大体病理观察显示,相同时间点PEG方法所形成的瘘口具有更好的愈合表现;所有存活动物无腹腔内出血、周围脏器损伤或感染表现.结论 与针刀胃造瘘术相比,PEG胃造瘘术虽操作耗时略有延长,但其具有更好的安全性和术后瘘口愈合更快的明显优势.     

NOTES瘘口闭合技术的研究及应用

正在兴起的经自然腔道内镜外科(NOTES)是一门基于微创新理念、多学科交叉的内镜治疗新技术。过去数年来尽管人们在NOTES领域进行了大量努力和探索,但似乎NOTES由动物实验转向大规模临床应用仍有很长的路要走,且有很多技术问题需要解决。在所有NOTES未解决的技术难题中,可靠的内脏瘘口闭合技术必须优先解决。本文,我们将对NOTES瘘口闭合方面的努力和进展进行回顾和述评。     

Lymph node navigation for pancreatic and biliary malignancy by NOTES

Background

Lymph node navigation and accurate staging of liver or peritoneal metastasis leads to better selection of the optimal treatment for patients with pancreatic and biliary malignancy. Less invasive techniques of detecting lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis would be valuable. Natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) is a new, evolving concept of minimally invasive surgery that may be useful for the staging of intraabdominal cancers.

Methods

Review of the literature regarding peritoneoscopy and lymph node mapping and biopsy by NOTES.

Results

NOTES peritoneoscopy for accurate diagnosis and staging of intraabdominal cancers is already in clinical use, and two case reports have shown the safety and feasibility of this technique. Previous experimental studies have also shown that lymph node mapping by NOTES is technically feasible with the currently available devices.

Conclusions

With the continued development of the techniques and technology of NOTES, peritoneoscopy and lymph node mapping by NOTES may become an alternative method for preoperative staging for patients with pancreatic and biliary malignancy.     

经自然腔道内镜手术

在过去的几年中,内镜领域出现了一种新型介入操作-经自然腔道内镜手术(natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery,NOTES),这一创新的内镜操作是经由自然腔道(口腔、肛门、阴道等)进入腹腔进行各种诊断和治疗.同时,也可经由自然腔道进入胸腔等其他体腔进行内镜手术. 与传统的剖腹手术不同,经自然腔道内镜手术避免了腹壁的切口,并且能够给患者带来特殊的好处. 尽管仍有许多难点需要突破,经自然腔道内镜手术这一无疤痕,安全的微创手术方式必将快速发展. 本文就该项新型手术方式的发展历史,实验研究,临床应用及前景等作一综述.     

Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery in pancreatic diseases

Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) is a surgical technique that has received considerable interest in recent years. Although minimal access surgery has increasingly replaced traditional open abdominal surgical approaches for a wide spectrum of indications, in pancreatic diseases its widespread use is limited to few indications because of the challenging and demanding nature of major pancreatic operations. Nonetheless, there have been attempts in animal models as well as in the clinical ...     

Early clinical experience with a new flexible endoscopic suturing method for natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery and intraluminal endosurgery (with videos)

BACKGROUND: To perform advanced endoscopic treatments, one has to be able to close defects and perforations. Many devices have been constructed to perform endoscopic suturing, but all are rather complicated, expensive, and difficult to use. OBJECTIVE: To develop and use a new simple stitching technique at intraluminal flexible endoscopy. DESIGN: A flexible 19-gauge needle, loaded with a metal tag attached to a 3-0 polypropylene thread is passed down the working channel of a conventional endoscope. Two tags are placed into the stomach or the intestinal wall, 1 on each side of the defect. The threads are then locked together and cut. Precise stitch positioning is possible. Multiple stitches can be placed quickly, without removal of the endoscope. SETTING: Surgical department at Sahlgrenska University Hospital in G?teborg, Sweden. PATIENTS: Three patients in whom other conventional treatments had failed. INTERVENTIONS: Initially, survival studies in pigs were performed, and full-thickness resections, pyloroplasty, and gastrojejunostomies could be completed. The technique was subsequently used in patients when surgery was not feasible and when other endoscopic interventions had failed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Clinical evaluation; successful sealing of defects, leaks, or a bleeding vessel. RESULTS: We present 3 human cases and describe endoluminal closure of a perforated duodenal ulcer, a leaking gastroenteroanastomosis after gastroplasty, and successful treatment of upper-GI bleeding by oversewing a bleeding vessel. CONCLUSIONS: This stitching technique is easy to use and makes endoscopic suturing possible for closure of perforations and tissue approximation almost anywhere in the GI tract that can be reached by a flexible endoscope.     

Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery: new minimally invasive surgery come of age

Although in the past two decades,laparoscopic surgery,considered as a great revolution in the minimally inva-sive surgery field,has undergone major development worldwide,another dramatic surgical revolution has quietly appeared in recent years.Ever since Kalloo's first report on transgastric peritoneoscopy in a porcine model in 2004,interest in a new surgical procedure named natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery(NOTES)has blossomed worldwide.Considering that a NOTES procedure could theoretically a...