经自然腔道内镜手术的进展

经自然腔道内镜手术是一种新兴的微创外科技术,它通过在自然腔道（如胃、阴道、直肠、膀胱）人为造口,然后置入软式内镜经造口进入腹腔完成手术.因其可以避免腹部切口从而实现了体表无瘢痕的目的 .尽管经自然腔道内镜手术目前还处于早期阶段,但随着技术的发展,必将开创微创外科的新纪元.     

经自然腔道内镜手术研究进展及其在泌尿外壳领域的应用

腹腔镜手术技术的引人及发展对于患者的治疗起到了非常重要的作用.经自然腔道内镜手术（natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery,NOTES）是一种新出现的、结合内镜与腹腔镜技术经由自然腔道（如：口、肛门、阴道、尿道等）对腹腔内病变进行诊断和治疗的手术方法.因其具有无需腹部手术切口、消除了切口相关并发症、减少腹腔内粘连、术后疼痛轻、恢复快等潜在优势而得以迅速发展.本文将对NOTES在泌尿科的应用及发展史作一综述.     

经自然腔道内镜手术的研究进展

近年来,经自然腔道内镜手术已在全球取得了长足的发展.目前,已有大量经自然腔道内镜手术应用于实验动物及人体,如经阴道胆囊切除术、经阴道阑尾切除术、经胃阑尾切除术、经膀胱腹腔镜检术等.本文就目前经自然腔道内镜手术的研究进展及面临的挑战作一综述.     

经自然腔道内镜手术：临床应用与未来展望

目的可弯曲内镜经自然腔道进入腹腔进行手术,标志着微创治疗在追求无瘢痕手术目标的重大进步。在众多研究机构数年的共同努力之下,自然腔道手术逐渐成为一种可靠的治疗方法,既能采用完全内镜方式,又可结合腹壁微创辅助支持。充满希望的手术结果,及能左右患者决定并可引起极大关注的总是寻找疗效确切、微创、恢复迅速的治疗手段。上述因素不断推动相应专业的发展,而各种技术壁垒的突破将使自然腔道-无瘢痕手术更为简便,并能重复进行,甚至用于治疗复杂病例。自然腔道手术具有结束外科手术与瘢痕疼痛如影随形历史的潜能,并因高度重视患者身心健全,成为一种极具吸引力的手术选择。     

经自然腔道内镜外科手术

21世纪风起云涌的微创外科理念和层出不穷的微创治疗手段改变了传统外科的面貌,昭示着一个微创外科时代的到来。纵览历史长河,微创理念早已有之．历来的外科医生都在思考如何使外科手术减少创伤而有更好的疗效。腹腔镜胆囊切除术已走过10余年的历程．现在几乎所有疾病的治疗都有可能用腹腔镜技术完成。     

微创手术新概念—经自然腔道内镜手术的现状与发展

微创外科成为21世纪发展的重要趋势,层出不穷的微创治疗手段昭示着一个微创外科时代的到来,随着腹腔镜技术和理念的普及、内镜治疗器械和技术的进步等,腹壁无瘢痕手术(scarless surgery)成为人们追求的新的目标,现将经自然腔道内镜手术的现状与发展作一综述。     

经自然腔道内镜技术和单孔腹腔镜技术在结直肠外科手术中的应用

经自然腔道内镜手术（NOTES）和单孔腹腔镜手术（LESS）是当今国际微创外科领域的研究与临床应用热点。NOTES技术尚待进一步的发展．而LESS技术是现阶段最可行的体表“无疤痕”技术。是NOTES技术的过渡阶段。虽然腹腔镜辅助的NOTES结直肠手术和完全的NOTES结直肠手术已经见诸报道．但是该手术目前仍然主要处于动物试验阶段。LESS技术在结直肠手术中的应用已经较为广泛．其可行性已经为较多的文献资料证实．而其是否符合肿瘤根治原则尚需进一步的研究确定。     

经自然腔道内镜手术的研究进展

经自然腔道内镜手术( natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery,NOTES)是国内外研究的热点,目前已从动物实验进入初步临床应用阶段,然而NOTES进入临床所面临的问题仍然很多.现对其研究进展进行总结回顾.     

经自然腔道内镜手术实验研究

目的探讨NOTES完成动物腹部多种手术成功与失败的原因,为其应用于临床提供实验依据。方法回顾分析2007年8月～2009年9月完成的全部动物实验数据。研究分为急性实验和存活实验2部分,采用雌性小型猪和成年杂种犬,分别开展了单纯NOTES和腹腔镜辅助的NOTES。进行诊断性腹腔探查和肝脏活检术,治疗性胆囊切除、输卵管结扎切除、卵巢切除、脾切除和胃空肠吻合等腹部手术。记录术中和术后并发症的发生情况,以及操作过程中遇到的技术难题。结果采用37只小型猪和16只杂种犬,完成急性实验22例,存活实验31例。共开展各种NOTES手术91例次,其中单一经胃路径25例次,单一经结肠路径8例次,经胃和结肠联合路径16例次,经胃和阴道联合路径6例次,传统腹腔镜辅助经胃路径26例次,单孔腹腔镜辅助经胃路径10例次。完成诊断性腹腔探查术33例,成功率100%（33/33）,肝脏活检术11例,成功率100%（11/11）,输卵管结扎切除术11例,成功率100%（11/11）,卵巢切除术6例,成功率100%（6/6）,胆囊切除术27例,成功率44.4%（12/27）。另行脾切除术1例和胃空肠吻合术2例,均未成功。总的并发症发生率为39.6%（21/53）,其中穿孔8例,脏器损伤5例,出血4例,腹腔感染3例,腹压过高导致动物死亡1例。结论NOTES用于诊断性腹腔探查和简单治疗是安全有效的,但完成腹部较复杂的手术尚不可行。腹腔镜辅助NOTES的方法或许是此项技术从动物实验过渡到临床应用的桥梁。     

经自然腔道内镜外科的发展趋势

Natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery(NOTES)is a surgical technique which is performed with an endoscope passed through a natural orifice,and then through an internal incision in the viscera(stomach,vagina or rectum)to perform intraabdominal operations.Since the first successful transgastric appendectomy performed by Dr.Rao and Reddy in 2004,NOTES is developing rapidly.The advantages of NOTES include no injury and scar in the body surface;lower anesthesia requirements;faster recovery and shorter hospital stays;avoidance of transabdominal wound infections.NOTES can also be applied to patients who are not suitable for open surgery and lapascopic surgery.NOTES has the potential to revolutionize the field of minimally invasive surgery by eliminating abdominal incisions,however,the safety and efficacy of NOTES still needs to be investigated in lhe future.     

Pure natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) cholecystectomy

Enthusiasm for natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) has been partly tempered by the reality that most NOTES procedures to date have been laparoscopically assisted. After safely performing transvaginal cholecystectomy in an IACUC-approved porcine model, the authors embarked on an institution review board (IRB)-approved protocol for ultimate performance of pure NOTES cholecystectomy in humans. They describe their experience performing a true NOTES transvaginal cholecystectomy after safely accomplishing three laparoscopically assisted or hybrid procedures in humans. One of the patients was a 35-year-old woman presenting with symptoms of biliary colic. Ultrasound confirmed gallstones, and her liver enzymes were normal. Pneumoperitoneum to 15 mmHg was obtained via a transvaginal trocar placed through a colpotomy made under direct vision. A double-channel endoscope then was advanced into the abdomen. To overcome the retracting limitations of currently available endoscopes, the authors used an extra-long 5-mm articulating retractor placed into the abdomen via a separate colpotomy made under direct vision using the flexible endoscope in a retroflexed position. Endoscopically placed clips were used for control of both the cystic duct and the artery. These techniques obviated the need for any transabdominally placed instruments or needles. This patient was the first to undergo a completely NOTES cholecystectomy at the authors’ institution, and to their knowledge, in the United States. She was discharged on the day of surgery and at this writing has not experienced any complication after 1 month of follow-up evaluation. Performance of NOTES transvaginal cholecystectomy without aid of laparoscopic or needleoscopic instruments is feasible and safe for humans. Additional experience with this technique are required before studies comparing it with standard laparoscopy and hybrid techniques are appropriate.     

Transgastric cecectomy in canine models: natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES)

Background  

Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) for bowel resection is a challenging procedure. We studied the feasibility and safety of NOTES by performing cecectomy in dogs, which is equivalent to simple bowel resection in man.     

Quantifying mental workloads of surgeons performing natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) procedures

Background

During natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES), surgeons often have difficulties orienting the surgical view and manipulating instruments accurately, which increases their level of mental and physical fatigue. This study quantified mental workload by measuring the spared mental resources of surgeons performing NOTES training tasks.

Methods

Assessment of mental workload was conducted in both a benchtop and a hybrid animal model. Using the benchtop model, surgeons were required to pass a ring as many times as possible in 6?min. Using the hybrid model, surgeons were required to dissect the gallbladder. While performing those primary tasks, the surgeon was required to identify true visual signals among many false signals displayed on an adjacent monitor. They were asked to repeat the trials using laparoscopy. The surgeons’ performance on the primary and secondary tasks using the NOTES and laparoscopic approaches were recorded and compared.

Results

The nine surgeons who completed the trials in the benchtop model successfully transferred 13?±?4 rings between targets using laparoscopy compared with a mean of 1.2?±?1.0 rings transferred using NOTES (P?P?=?0.005). Using the hybrid model, 10 surgeons achieved a 55% accuracy rate performing the laparoscopic task. This was found to be significantly higher (P?=?0.006) than when the task was performed using the NOTES platform (39%).

Conclusion

The results showed that performance of a task using the NOTES platform increases surgeons’ mental workload. Because difficulty performing NOTES is associated with flexible endoscopy, the authors expect that new operating systems providing stable platforms will help to decrease the mental workload of surgeons and enhance eye–hand coordination in performing NOTES.     

Transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES)-assisted laparoscopic adrenalectomy: first clinical experience

Background

This study aimed to describe the initial clinical experience of transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES)-assisted laparoscopic adrenalectomy (TNLA) and to evaluate its feasibility and efficacy.

Methods

Between May and December 2010, 11 consecutive women were subjected to TNLA for adrenal tumors at the authors?? center. With the patient under general anesthesia, a 5-mm trocar and a 10-mm trocar were inserted in the umbilical edge for conventional operating apparatus, and a 10-mm trocar was inserted in the posterior vaginal fornix for a conventional 30o laparoscope. Dissection was performed according to the method of a standard laparoscopic adrenalectomy. The adrenal gland, its tumor, or both were put into a homemade bag and then removed via the incision of the posterior vaginal fornix after complete resection.

Results

A total of 11 TNLAs were performed in this series. Only one conversion to open surgery was performed for one patient with Cushing disease, who was subjected to a splenectomy synchronously for an injury of the spleen. Except for this patient, no patients required a blood transfusion. The median operative time was 102?min (range 80?C310?min), and the median estimated blood loss was 80?ml (range 30?C800?ml). The median size of the mass in terms of the largest diameter was 4.7?cm (range 2.2?C6.6?cm). There was no difference between pre- and postoperative median Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) total scores (P?=?0.102). All the patients except the one who had conversion to open surgery were very satisfied with the cosmetic result.

Conclusions

The findings show TNLA to be a feasible and effective surgical technique that results in excellent cosmesis. It may be an alternative technique for the treatment of properly selected female patients with adrenal tumor.     

Gastric lymphatic mapping for sentinel node biopsy by natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES)

Background  Sentinel node biopsy is proposed as sufficiently reliable in determining the lymph node status of early gastric cancer to justify curtailed resection margins if negative. Its performance by natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) could therefore expand the patient cohort able to undergo solely endoscopic resection of their primary. Methods  A transvaginal NOTES technique was utilized in six pigs (mean weight 30 kg). The posterior colpotomy and pneumoperitoneum was created by a standard double-channel flexible videoendoscope which was then used to perform peritoneoscopy. Concomitant gastroscopy allowed selection of a site along the greater curvature for lymphatic mapping by submucosal injection of methylene blue (3 ml). Furthermore, torque upon this endoscope allowed the posterior surface of the stomach and retrogastric space to become accessible to the transvaginal endoscope. In surveying the mapping in vivo, the intraperitoneal scope could follow blue-stained efferent lymphatic channels to their first-order draining nodes (i.e., sentinel nodes). Conventional instruments worked down the scope’s channels were then used to perform the excisional biopsy. At procedure end, the animals underwent immediate laparotomy to ensure the safety and adequacy of the procedure. Results  Each procedure was technically successful. Colpotomy, pneumoperitoneum, and peritoneoscopy were promptly achieved (mean 8 min). Post injection, blue efferent lymphatic channels were immediately appreciable in every animal. Five animals had sentinel nodes in their retropyloric region while the last mapped cephalad towards the esophagogastric junction. Two animals had alternative drainage channels identifying additional sentinel nodes. All blue nodes were dissected cleanly by the intraperitoneal scope and retrieved intact per vaginam. Mean lymphadenectomy time was 19 min. At laparotomy, there was no hematoma, ongoing hemorrhage, or visceral injury in any pig. There were no residual, missed stained nodes or channels. Conclusion  NOTES sentinel node biopsy for the stomach is technically accomplishable in this experimental model. This proof of concept should encourage serious consideration of its applicability to clinical practice. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Deep sedation in natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES): a comparative study with dogs

Background

Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) has been mostly performed with the animal under general and inhalational anesthesia (IA-NOTES). To date, NOTES using propofol sedation (PS-NOTES) has not been investigated. This study aimed to assess the feasibility and safety of PS-NOTES for transgastric oophorectomy with carbon dioxide insufflation and to compare its success rates with those of conventional IA-NOTES.

Methods

In this prospective randomized study, NOTES oophorectomy was performed for 19 female dogs randomized to two conditions: PS (study group) and IA (control group). Sedation success rates (ability to visualize and resect ovaries without converting to IA), operative success rates (ability to resect and retrieve both ovaries in full using only NOTES), and vital parameters including hemodynamic and respiratory changes were documented.

Results

In the PS-NOTES group (n?=?9), the sedation success rate was 100?%. The operative success rate was 67?% (6 of 9 animals) compared with 80?% (8 of 10 animals) in the IA-NOTES group. No purposeful movement occurred during surgical manipulation and no respiratory or cardiovascular complications in occured the PS group. Heart rate (HR) and end-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO₂) were significantly higher in the PS group than in the IA group. Blood pressure (BP) was significantly higher in the PS group only during the middle part of the procedure. Only mild respiratory depression was noted in the PS group, as indicated by elevated but acceptable ETCO₂. Elevations in BP and HR are thought to be related to elevated CO₂ but did not appear to have an adverse impact on the course of the procedure. Recovery was uneventful for all the animals.

Conclusion

The use of PS-NOTES appears to be feasible, resulting in outcomes comparable with those for IA in dogs. Further studies are needed to determine the applicability of this concept in human NOTES.