1) Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) is a surgical technique that uses an endoscope passed through natural openings like the mouth, vagina, or anus to perform internal surgery without external incisions.
2) NOTES was first described in animal models in the early 2000s and the first human transgastric cholecystectomy was reported in 2007.
3) While offering advantages over laparoscopy by avoiding external incisions, NOTES faces challenges of developing improved flexible instruments, closing access sites without leaks, and standardizing safe techniques.
2. INTRODUCTION
Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic
Surgery (NOTES) is a surgical technique whereby a
flexible endoscope passed through a natural orifice
(mouth, vagina, urethra and anus) thus avoiding any
external incisions or scars.
NOTES
Halim I, Tavakkolizadeh A (August 2008). "NOTES: The next surgical revolution?". International Journal
of Surgery. 6 (4): 273–6. doi:10.1016/j.ijsu.2007.10.002. PMID 18614409.
4. NOTES was originally described in animals by
researchers at Johns Hopkins University (Dr. Anthony
Kalloo et al.).
The first NOTES transgastric appendectomy performed
by Rao and Reddy in 2004.
The first transvaginal appendectomy performed by
Bernhardt in 2007.
NOTES
Introduction
Rolanda C, Lima E, Pêgo JM, et al. (January 2007). "Third-generation cholecystectomy by natural orifices:
transgastric and transvesical combined approach (with video)". Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. 65 (1): 111–
7. doi:10.1016/j.gie.2006.07.050. PMID 17185089.
5. On June 25, 2007 Swanstrom and colleagues reported
the first human transgastric cholecystectomy.
In late 2008 surgeons from Johns Hopkins School of
Medicine removed a healthy kidney from a woman donor
using NOTES.
NOTES
Introduction
"Surgeons Remove Healthy Kidney Through Vagina". InfoNIAC.com. Retrieved 2009-02- 03.
6. Hybrid NOTES
Are procedures which
combine a NOTES approach
usually with laparoscopic
instrumentation.
NOTES
Introduction
Palanivelu C, Rajan PS, Rangarajan M, Parasarathi R, Senthilnathan P, Praveenraj P. Transumbilical flexible endoscopic
cholecystectomy in humans: first feasibility study using a hybrid technique. Endoscopy.2008;40:428–32.
7. TIPS AND JUSTIFICATIONS
Peritoneal access;
The principles of safe and reproducible NOTES are;
Minimal tissue injury
Good exposure
Safety (avoiding vascular and visceral injury)
Ability to maintain a seal and manipulate the
instrument.
Ryou M, Fong DG, Pai RD, Rattner DW, Thompson CC. Transluminal closure for NOTES: an ex vivostudy comparing leak
pressures of various gastrotomy and colostomy modalities. Endoscopy. 2008;40:432–7.
8. Favoured routes for NOTES;
1. Transvaginal
2. Transgastric
3. Transcolonic
4. Transvesical
All routes are under experimental usage.
In clinical application Transvaginal access appears to be the safest,
most feasible and potentially less complications but only possible in
women.
14. COMMON PROCEDURES THAT CAN BE DONE USING “NOTES”
Transgastric cholecystectomy
Transgastric appendectomy
Transvaginal cholecystectomy
Transrectal colectomy
15. SUTURING AND CLOSURE
Two issues of suturing during NOTES deserve special mention
First “closure of the access site”
must ensure no anastomotic breakdown and subsequent leak
Second “the need for suturing during the procedure”
to secure haemostasis or complete the operation
The instrumentation currently available is not consistently
capable of permitting safe suturing of tissues.
Voermans RP, Worm AM, Van Berge Henegouwen MI, Breeveld P, Bemelman WA, Fockens P. In vitrocomparison and
evaluation of seven gastric closure modalities for natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery
(NOTES) Endoscopy. 2008;40:595–602.
17. COMPLICATIONS OF NOTES
Visceral injury
Vascular injury
Infection
Delayed anastomotic or entry site leaks
Adhesion formation
Dyspareunia
Vascular and visceral injuries can both passed unrecognized and
difficult to control due to the position and orientation of the endoscope
Pham BV, Morgan K, Romagnuolo J, Glenn J, Bazaz S, Lawrence C, Hawes R. Pilot study of adhesion formation following
colon perforation and repair in a pig model using transgastric, laparoscopic or open surgical repair. Endoscopy. 2008;40:664–
70.
18. NOTES INSTRUMENTATION TECHNOLOGY
The ultimate goal remains the design and production of a flexible endoscope
or NOTES platform that is;
Multichannelled,
Can bend in more than two axes
Can be stabilized once the correct operating position
has been reached.
Pham BV, Morgan K, Romagnuolo J, Glenn J, Bazaz S, Lawrence C, Hawes R. Pilot study of adhesion formation following
colon perforation and repair in a pig model using transgastric, laparoscopic or open surgical repair. Endoscopy. 2008;40:664–
70.
19. THE ANUBIS® PLATFORM FROM KARL-STORZ
IS AN ADVANCED FLEXIBLE NATURAL ORIFICE
TRANSLUMENAL ENDOSCOPIC SURGERY
PLATFORM
21. ETHICS AND ACCEPTABILITY
NOTES indications and techniques should be practiced in non-human
models followed by human research projects.
Appropriate institutional and regional ethical committee approval before
its role in clinical practice.
Close collaboration with industry partners is key to the future
development of NOTES.
Annals of The Royal College of Surgeons of England
22. RESEARCH
Although there are now rapidly increasing publications on NOTES, it is
imperative to emphasize the importance of high-quality research
which is adequately funded.
For the investigator starting NOTES, it is essential that further
knowledge on outcome in animal research is available before this
technique can be applied directly into human clinical studies.
Annals of The Royal College of Surgeons of England
23. TRAINING
Training in NOTES will be a key issue in the future and
will improve the surgeon’s experience.
Mandatory animal laboratory training would be a
prerequisite of any training course and accreditation
programme.
Annals of The Royal College of Surgeons of England
24. CONCLUSION
NOTES is an entirely novel method of surgical therapy that
needs more research and training on animal models before
its application on human.
Although there are many reasons for scepticism, there is
undoubted interest in this field from both the medical
profession and the general public.
Annals of The Royal College of Surgeons of England