Transgastric endoscopic peritoneoscopy does not require decontamination of the stomach in humans

Introduction  Natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) is a rapidly evolving field that provides endoscopic access to the peritoneum via a natural orifice. One important requirement of this technique is the need to minimize the risk of clinically significant peritoneal contamination. We report the bacterial load and contamination of the peritoneal cavity in ten patients who underwent diagnostic transgastric endoscopic peritoneoscopy. Methods  Patients participating in this trial were scheduled to undergo diagnostic laparoscopy for evaluation of presumed pancreatic cancer. Findings at diagnostic laparoscopy were compared with those of diagnostic transgastric endoscopic peritoneoscopy, using an orally placed gastroscope, blinding the endoscopist to the laparoscopic findings. We performed no gastric decontamination. Diagnostic findings, operative times, and clinical course were recorded. Gastroscope and peritoneal fluid aspirates were obtained prior to and after the gastrotomy. Each sample was sent for bacterial colony counts, culture, and identification of species. Results  Ten patients, with an average age of 63.7 years, have completed the protocol. All patients underwent diagnostic laparoscopy followed by successful transgastric access and diagnostic peritoneoscopy. The average time for laparoscopy was 7.2 min, compared with 18 min for transgastric instrumentation. Bacterial sampling was obtained in all ten patients. The average number of colony-forming units (CFU) in the gastroscope aspirate was 132.1 CFU/ml, peritoneal aspirates prior to creation of a gastrotomy showed 160.4 CFU/ml, and peritoneal sampling after gastrotomy had an average of 642.1 CFU/ml. There was no contamination of the peritoneal cavity with species isolated from the gastroscope aspirate. No infectious complications or leaks were noted at 30-day follow-up. Conclusions  There was no clinically significant contamination of the peritoneal cavity from the gastroscope after transgastric endoscopic instrumentation in humans. Transgastric instrumentation does contaminate the abdominal cavity but, the pathogens do not mount a clinically significant response in terms of either the species or the bacterial load.     

Pure natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) nephrectomy using standard laparoscopic instruments in the porcine model

PURPOSE: Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES) is an emerging technology that uses endoscopic instruments passed into the peritoneal cavity through hollow viscera to perform surgical procedures without the use of abdominal incisions. There are, however, limitations regarding the equipment available to simulate traditional surgery. The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of a pure NOTES nephrectomy by using standard laparoscopic instruments through a modified transvaginal trocar. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One 40-kg female swine underwent transgastric peritoneoscopy. Transgastric endoscopic visualization guided the introduction of a second transvaginal endoscope through a novel laparoscopic trocar/endoscopic overtube device. The retroflexed transgastric endoscope provided triangulated visualization as standard endoscopic instruments provided retraction, which allowed dissection of the kidney with standard laparoscopic instruments through our modified transvaginal trocar device. Each renal hilum, artery, vein, and ureter was dissected and divided with a transvaginal laparoscopic stapler. RESULTS: Transgastric and transvaginal NOTES accesses were easily achieved, and bilateral nephrectomies were performed. Completion of peritoneoscopy revealed complete hemostasis and identification of ligated ureters and hilar vessels. Total operative time was 40 and 20 minutes for the right and left kidney, respectively. One kidney was captured with a laparoscopic retrieval sac and removed intact through the vaginal defect. CONCLUSIONS: Pure NOTES nephrectomies are technically feasible in the porcine model by using standard laparoscopic instruments. Survival studies are necessary to determine the long-term complications and physiologic implications of NOTES nephrectomy. The development of innovative NOTES access trocars may allow for an increased armamentarium of NOTES instruments.     

The diagnostic efficacy of natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery: is there a role in the intensive care unit?

Background  

Evaluation of a potential source for abdominal sepsis in a critically ill patient can be challenging. With flexible endoscopy readily available in this setting, we sought to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of a transgastric natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) peritoneoscopy vs. laparoscopic exploration in the identification of intra-abdominal pathology in a porcine model.     

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。     

Natural Orifice Translumenal Endoscopic Surgery: A Critical Review

Natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) involves the intentional puncture of one of the viscera (e.g., stomach, rectum, vagina, urinary bladder) with an endoscope to access the abdominal cavity and perform an intraabdominal operation. Early laboratory work focused on feasibility studies, including such accomplishments as pure transgastric splenectomy and gastrojejunostomy. Contemporary laboratory work is investigating the infectious and immunologic implications of NOTES and honing the tools and techniques required for complex abdominal operations. Today NOTES has entered the clinical arena in a few cases: the first clinical series of transgastric peritoneoscopy has recently been published; multiple groups are accumulating patients in studies of NOTES cholecystectomy, either via the transgastric or transvaginal route; and a series of transgastric appendectomies has been well publicized, yet it remains unpublished. Although clinical NOTES is gaining momentum, the field should remain in check while rigorous laboratory work is performed and cogent clinical trials are undertaken. The zeal for NOTES should not take precedence over the welfare of the patient.     

Natural orifices transluminal endoscopic surgery: Current development and future implications

The concept of natural orifices transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) started in 2000 when transgastric peritoneoscopy was experimental. Although numerous surgical procedures had been performed successfully in animal models, the application of NOTES in humans was limited. The main obstacles to the performance of NOTES in humans included the security of closing the gastrointestinal (GI) access site, the lack of a stable multi-tasking platform and prospective clinical studies. The present article reviews the current developments in the field of NOTES with special focus on developments in the closure of GI access, a multi-tasking platform and the potential future applications of NOTES.     

Transumbilical endoscopic appendectomy in humans: on the road to NOTES: a prospective study

BACKGROUND: Natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) is the newest technique emerging in the field of surgery. There are several techniques described in the literature, though there is no standardization yet. In this paper, we describe a transumbilical approach for the endoscopic appendectomy in humans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight of 12 patients with uncomplicated appendicitis successfully underwent a transumbilical endoscopic appendectomy. Patients with a mass, abscessed or perforated appendix, previous lower abdominal surgeries, and conversion to laparoscopy (4 patients) were excluded. RESULTS: The average age of the patients was 32.5 years. The mean operating time was 95 minutes, and the conversion rate was 33.3%. Only 1 dose of intravenous analgesics was administered postoperatively. Hospital stay was 1-3 days. The follow-ups were scheduled at 7, 30, and 90 days and 8 months. Six patients completed all the follow-ups and experienced no problems. DISCUSSION: So far, this transumbilical approach to the appendectomy in humans has not been reported. We think that this method of approach is an effective technique by itself and an ideal "stepping stone" to NOTES, as well as helpful to train laparoscopic surgeons to make the transition to full-fledged NOTES. Unlike the transgastric or transvaginal approaches, the umbilical approach allows an easy maneuverability of the endoscope, though at the cost of an umbilical scar. The technical ease of the procedure and early outcome seem satisfactory. This technique may be considered as a "precursor" to NOTES.     

Broad clinical utilization of NOTES: is it safe?

Background

Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) has been the focus of several studies as a less invasive alternative to conventional laparoscopy to access and treat intracavitary organs. For the last 5 years, much has been accomplished with animal studies, yet the clinical utilization of this novel technique is still modest. After 2 years of experience in the laboratory, we started our clinical experience. We report our experience with clinical utilization of NOTES procedures from 2007 to 2010.

Methods

Under UCSD institutional review board–approved trials, 104 patients were enrolled under seven different NOTES protocols from 2007 to 2010, where a NOTES procedure was offered as an alternative to conventional treatments. The treated pathologies were cholelithiasis, biliary dyskinesia, acute and chronic appendicitis, ventral hernias, morbid obesity, and achalasia. The access routes included transgastric (TG), transvaginal (TV), transesophageal (TE), and perirectal (PR).

Results

Among the 104 patients enrolled, 103 underwent a surgical procedure starting with diagnostic laparoscopy, and 94 cases were deemed appropriate to proceed via a NOTES approach. There were 9 aborted NOTES procedures at the time of the initial peritoneoscopy before creating a NOTES access route. The reasons to not proceed with a NOTES procedure in the TV cholecystectomy group (n = 5) were a large amount of pelvic adhesions in 4 patients and a severe inflammation of the gallbladder in 1 patient. In the TG cholecystectomy group (n = 1), it was severe inflammation of the gallbladder. In the TG appendectomy group (n = 1), it was the presence of localized peritonitis. In the TE endoscopic myotomy group (n = 2), it was the presence of megaesophagus with an inability to clean the esophagus of food debris. The NOTES procedures performed were 48 TV cholecystectomies, 4 TV appendectomies, 8 TG cholecystectomies, 2 PR peritoneoscopies, 3 TG appendectomies, 3 TV ventral hernia repairs, 5 TE endoscopic myotomies, 3 TV sleeve gastrectomies, and 18 TG sleeve gastrectomies. The average body mass indexes for those in the sleeve gastrectomy group was 42.1 kg/m² (TG route) and 40.6 kg/m² (TV route). There were no intraoperative complication and no conversions to standard laparoscopy during these procedures. The average hospital stay was 1–2 days. One patient who underwent TV cholecystectomy required an emergency department visit for nausea and vomiting. To date, 3 patients who underwent TV cholecystectomy have become pregnant and delivered normally.

Conclusions

NOTES is safe, feasible, and reproducible with previous training in the laboratory and a consistent team at a high-volume center. Prospective randomized studies of a large patient population are necessary to assess long-term results.     

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.     

PEG “Rescue”: a practical NOTES technique

Dislodged percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tubes occur commonly and may require urgent surgical intervention in a susceptible patient population. Natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) may facilitate PEG rescue and avoid the morbidity associated with contemporary surgical techniques. We report a case of a dislodged PEG tube in the early post-operative period with evidence of incomplete gastrocutaneous tract formation and intra-abdominal leakage. Bedside transgastric NOTES exploration facilitated peritoneoscopy, evacuation of intra-abdominal fluid, and re-establishment of the PEG tube through the original gastrotomy tract. Tube feeds were resumed and postoperative contrast fluoroscopy demonstrated no intra-abdominal leakage from the replaced PEG tube. No postoperative complications related to the NOTES procedure were noted at 30 days of follow-up. PEG rescue represents a unique, practical, and empowering application of the burgeoning experience of NOTES. Electronic Supplementary Material The online version of this article (doi: ) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users     

Diagnostic transgastric endoscopic peritoneoscopy: extension of the initial human trial for staging of pancreatic head masses

Background  

The validity of natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) was confirmed in a human trial of 10 patients undergoing diagnostic transgastric endoscopic peritoneoscopy (DTEP) for staging of pancreatic head masses. This report is an update with 10 additional patients in the series and includes bacterial contamination data.     

Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) as a diagnostic tool in the intensive care unit

Background Autopsy studies confirm that many intensive care unit (ICU) patients die from unrecognized sources of abdominal sepsis or ischemia. Computed tomography (CT) scans can be of limited use for these diagnoses and difficult to obtain in critically ill patients who require significant support for transport. Bedside laparoscopy has been described but still is cumbersome to perform. Bedside flexible endoscopy as a diagnostic tool or for placement of gastrostomy tubes is a standard ICU procedure. Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) can provide access to the peritoneal cavity as a bedside procedure and may decrease the number of patients with unrecognized intra-abdominal catastrophic events. Methods Pigs were anesthetized and peritoneal access with the flexible endoscope was obtained using a guidewire, needle knife cautery, and balloon dilatation. The transgastric endoscope was used to explore all quadrants of the abdominal cavity. The small bowel was visualized to complete the exploration. The transgastric access location was then managed with the use of a gastrostomy tube. The animals were euthanized and analyzed. Results Eight pigs were studied and complete abdominal exploration, including diaphragm visualization, was possible in all cases. Endoscopy-guided biopsies were performed, adhesions lysed, and the gallbladder successfully drained percutaneously. The small bowel was run successfully with percutaneous needlescopic suture graspers. Conclusions These animal studies support the concept that NOTES, with management of the gastric opening with a gastrostomy tube, may be another approach for finding unrecognized sources of abdominal sepsis or mesenteric ischemia in difficult ICU patients. These encouraging results warrant a prospective human trial to assess safety and efficacy. Presented at the Scientific Session of the Meeting of the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES), Dallas, TX, 26–29 April 2006 Disclosure: Case Western Reserve University, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Raymond P. Onders M.D., and Anthony Ignagni have the intellectual property of the devices used or equity in Synapse Biomedical which manufactured the diaphragm pacing technology used in this study     

Transgastric cholecystectomy: From the laboratory to clinical implementation

After the first report by Kalloo et al on transgastric peritoneoscopy in pigs, it rapidly became apparent that there was no room for an under-evaluated concept and blind adoption of an appealing (r)evolution in minimal access surgery. Systematic experimental work became mandatory before any translation to the clinical setting. Choice and management of the access site, techniques of dissection, exposure, retraction and tissue approximation-sealing were the basics that needed to be evaluated before considering any surgical procedure or study of the relevance of natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES). After several years of testing in experimental labs, the revolutionary concept of NOTES, is now progressively being experimented on in clinical settings. In this paper the authors analyse the challenges, limitations and solutions to assess how to move from the lab to clinical implementation of transgastric endoscopic cholecystectomy.     

Laparoscopic-assisted transgastric endoscopy: current indications and future implications.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic access to the proximal gastrointestinal tract may prove difficult for a variety of anatomic reasons. Under laparoscopic visualization, trocars can be placed into the stomach with the subsequent introduction of a flexible endoscope directly into the body of the stomach. The purpose of this study was to describe this technique and demonstrate that it is safe, effective, and feasible. METHODS: Six patients with altered proximal foregut anatomy were examined. Five patients had previously undergone laparoscopic Roux-Y gastric bypass, and one patient had severe distal esophageal stenosis precluding distal passage of an endoscope. All patients required endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), and one patient underwent closure of a symptomatic gastrogastric fistula. In each patient, two 5-mm ports were inserted and tacking sutures placed between the gastric body and the anterior abdominal wall. Subsequently, a flexible endoscope was inserted into the stomach through a gastrotomy under direct visualization. Picture-in-picture technology enabled simultaneous monitoring of the laparoscopic and endoscopic field. RESULTS: The operative time ranged from 64 minutes to 93 minutes. All therapeutic endoscopic procedures were successful. The anterior gastrotomies were either closed primarily or a feeding tube was placed. Patients reported minimal postoperative pain. No complications resulted from the procedures. CONCLUSION: In an age where surgeons and gastroenterologists are focusing on the stomach as an access point for transgastric endoscopic surgery, we view the stomach as a portal into the gastrointestinal tract. In patients with limited access for traditional endoluminal therapy, laparoscopic-assisted transgastric endoscopy can be performed safely and efficiently.     

Can Gastric Irrigation Prevent Infection During NOTES Mesh Placement?

Background  Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) ventral hernia repair could avoid abdominal wall incisions. The infectious risk for mesh placement is of concern. We compared NOTES with laparoscopic mesh placement. Methods  Thirty-seven swine were randomized to abdominal wall polypropylene mesh placement via NOTES or laparoscopy or NOTES control. All animals received antibiotics and gastric irrigation; the laparoscopy group also received preoperative acid suppression. In the NOTES mesh group, the 2-cm² polypropylene mesh was placed using a transgastric transportation device and clipped to the anterior abdominal wall. The control animals underwent endoscopy (no gastrotomy) followed by laparoscopic mesh placement or NOTES only without mesh placement. Necropsy was performed at 14 days. Results  One NOTES mesh placement was incomplete (endoscope failure). All mesh animals survived to 14 days. At necropsy, significantly more mesh infections were noted in the NOTES mesh versus laparoscopy group (4:11 vs 0:14; p = 0.03). Gastric irrigation reduced the bacterial load significantly in all groups (p < 0.001). Infection was independent of gastric bacterial load. No difference between acid suppressed and non-suppressed animals was seen. Conclusion  The mesh placement via NOTES is technically feasible but has a high infection rate despite irrigation. Sterile conduits are needed to enable NOTES-type hernia repair with mesh. Presented at the 49th annual meeting of the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, May 21, 2008, San Diego, CA.     

Immunologic parameters during NOTES compared with laparoscopy in a randomized blinded porcine trial

Background  It remains unclear if the natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) technique is less invasive than laparoscopy. Serum interleukins and peritoneal cellular response have been utilized to support the immunologic difference between open and laparoscopic surgery. We hypothesized that there would be no difference between cytokine levels during NOTES or laparoscopic peritoneoscopy. Methods  Twelve pigs were assigned to NOTES or standard laparoscopy with permuted block randomization. Each group underwent 90 min of diagnostic peritoneoscopy using CO₂ for laparoscopy and air for NOTES pneumoperitoneum. Blood draws were obtained at baseline, at procedure end, and on postoperative days (POD) 1, 2, and 7. Quantification of cytokines (IL-1b and TNF-α) was performed with a Duo Set Porcine enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Laboratory results were captured by a technician blinded to the research question, and data analysis was performed by an investigator blinded to the procedure using t-test and repeated measures linear model. The study was approved by the institutional animal care and use committee (IACUC). Results  All procedures were successfully completed. One NOTES animal succumbed to hemorrhagic gastritis (day 3). All other animals thrived to POD 14, with no gross infections at necropsy. Animals undergoing laparoscopy had lower mean arterial pH than NOTES animals (p < 0.001). Serum and intraperitoneal white blood cell (WBC) counts were similar between the groups. Mean interleukin-1b levels at baseline, at the end of the procedure and at 48 h did not differ (0.50 and 0.31; p = 0.65). TNF-α levels did not differ at baseline or procedure end but increased in the NOTES group on POD 1, persisting to POD 7. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) decreased in the laparoscopy group (p = 0.005). Conclusion  Cytokines and WBC did not differ between laparoscopic and NOTES groups during the initial 24 h. These findings do not currently support the assumption that NOTES is less invasive than laparoscopy. The late TNF-α elevation contradicts other studies and requires further examination. Presented at the 27th annual meeting of the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES), April 9–12th, Philadelphia, PA.     

Human applications of submucosal endoscopy under conscious sedation for pure natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery

Background

The submucosal endoscopy provide not only a reliable methods of access and closure for peritoneoscopy, but also an endoscopic working space for full-thickness resection. The aim of this study was to report the clinical outcome of submucosal endoscopy for pure natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery.

Methods

We prospectively evaluated 10 patients who received submucosal endoscopies. The indications of submucosal endoscopy were transgastric peritoneoscopy (TGP) and endoscopic full-thickness resection (EFTR) of a gastric subepithelial tumor. All procedures were performed with a standard gastroscope under conscious sedation with the balanced propofol method in the endoscopic unit. After a 40 mm submucosal tunnel was created using an endoscopic submucosal dissection technique, (1) in TGP, balloon dilation of a serosal puncture and intraperitoneal exploration was performed; (2) in EFTR, a full-thickness incision and snaring resection was performed. Closure of the mucosal incision was performed by endoclips.

Results

All cases were technically feasible. The mean times for creating the submucosal tunnel, main procedure (peritoneal exploration or resection), and closure were acceptable (10.44 ± 2.42 minutes, 18.80 ± 9.41 minutes, and 5.63 ± 2.17 minutes, respectively). The mean hospital stay was 3.8 ± 1.48 days. All TGPs were diagnostic (4 peritoneal carcinomatosis and 1 tuberculosis). En bloc and complete resections were possible in all EFTRs (3 gastrointestinal stromal tumors and 2 schwannomas; mean tumor size, 20.8 ± 3.27 mm). There were no procedure-related complications, such as significant bleeding or peritonitis.

Conclusions

Human applications of submucosal endoscopy under conscious sedation for pure NOTES were feasible and safe.     

Human NOTES Cholecystectomy: Transgastric Hybrid Technique

Background  Natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) is an emerging field in minimally invasive surgery that is driving the development of new technology and techniques. There are several proposed benefits to the NOTES approach, including potentially decreased abdominal pain, wound infections, and hernia formation Ko and Kalloo (Chin J Dig Dis 7:67–70, 2006); Wagh et al. (Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 3(9):892–896, 2005); ASGE/SAGES Working Group on Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery (Gastrointest Endosc 63(2):199–203, 2006); and Pearl and Ponsky (J GI Surg 12:1293–1300, 2008). Cholecystectomy has been one of the most commonly performed NOTES procedures to date, with the majority being performed through the transvaginal approach Marescaux et al. (Arch Surg 142:823–826, 2007); Zorron et al. (Surg Endosc 22:542–547, 2008); and Ramos et al. (Endoscopy 40:572–575, 2008). Transgastric approaches for cholecystectomy have been shown to be technically feasible in animal models and in several unpublished human patients Sumiyama et al. (Gastrointest Endosc 65(7):1028–1034, 2007). This video demonstrates the technique by which we perform transgastric NOTES hybrid cholecystectomy in human patients. Method  Patients with symptomatic gallstone disease are enrolled under an IRB approved protocol. A diagnostic EGD is performed to confirm normal anatomy. Peritoneal access is gained using a needle-knife cautery and balloon dilation under laparoscopic visualization. Dissection of the critical view of safety is performed endoscopically. The cystic duct and artery are clipped laparoscopically and the gallbladder is dissected off of the liver. The gastrotomy is closed intralumenally and over-sewed laparoscopically. The gallbladder is extracted out the mouth. Results  This technique was used to successfully perform four NOTES hybrid transgastric cholecystectomies without operative complications. Conclusions  NOTES hybrid transgastric cholecystectomy can be performed safely in human patients. This procedure is still technically challenging given the current instrumentation that is available. In order to perform a pure NOTES transgastric cholecystectomy, a safe blind access method, improved retraction, endoscopic hemostatic clips, and reliable closure methods need to be developed. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. Presented at SSAT/DDW, May 2008, San Diego, CA.     

Perioperative inflammatory response in natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery

Background

Natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) could offer multiple advantages compared with the laparoscopic approach. One such potential advantage, not yet proven, is the inferior inflammatory response, which translates into less significant operative stress. This study aimed to compare the immuno-inflammatory response between transgastric NOTES and laparoscopy for simple surgical procedures (oophorectomy) with reference to the cytokine levels.

Methods

For this study, 20 female pigs were randomly assigned to either NOTES or laparoscopic oophorectomy. Seven animals were used as a control group and received only general anesthesia, with no other procedure performed. Blood samples were obtained before surgery, 1 h after the start of the procedure, and at the end of the intervention. The serum levels of IL1β and IL6 were determined using a porcine enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. The mean operative time, intraoperative incidents, and postoperative complications were recorded. On postoperative day 14, the animals were killed, and gastric leak tests were performed.

Results

Both the NOTES and laparoscopic procedures were successfully completed. No gastric leaks were observed during necropsy. The transgastric oophorectomy required a significantly longer time to perform than the laparoscopic surgery. Compared with the NOTES procedures, laparoscopic oophorectomy resulted in significantly higher levels of interleukin-1β (IL1β) (42.34 ± 5.26 ng/ml with NOTES vs 46.93 ± 4.79 ng/ml with laparoscopy; p = 0.028) and IL6 (66.95 ± 7.29 ng/ml with NOTES vs 71.75 ± 4.76 ng/ml with laparoscopy, p = 0.049) during the postoperative phase. No statistical difference was detected between the pre- and postoperative cytokine levels in the NOTES group.

Conclusion

The study findings suggest that pure transgastric endoscopic surgery is a safe approach resulting in less perioperative inflammatory response than laparoscopy in the early postoperative phase.     

经自然腔道内镜手术腹腔内镜探查对腹膜恶性肿瘤的诊断价值

目的探讨经自然腔道内镜手术（NOTES）腹腔内镜探查对腹膜恶性肿瘤的诊断价值。方法回顾性分析腹膜恶性肿瘤患者NOTES腹腔内镜探查的内镜表现、肿瘤病理学诊断及肿瘤来源。结果53例腹膜恶性肿瘤患者中,腹膜结节型32．2％,腹膜溃疡型22．6％,腹腔肿块型22．6％,腹膜浸润型13．2％,网膜包裹型9．4％。腹膜恶性肿瘤肿瘤病理学诊断结果：淋巴瘤17．0％,间质瘤15．1％,腹膜粘液细胞癌11．32％,腹膜间皮瘤11．32％,腹膜转移癌45．3％。24例腹腔转移癌的组织来源：卵巢癌腹腔转移29．2％,胃癌腹腔转移16．6％,结肠癌腹腔转移12．5％,原发性肝癌腹腔转移12．5％,胰腺癌腹腔转移8．3％,十二指肠乳头癌腹腔转移4．2％、胆管细胞癌腹腔转移4．2％,原发病灶不明者12．5％。结论NOTES腹腔内镜探查对腹膜病变检查直观性强,获取病理标本靶向性好,是诊断腹膜恶性肿瘤的安全有前方法。