Natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery: Current status and future technical development

The technology behind NOTES, an evolutionary endoscopic surgery conducted through the natural orifices of the patient to completely eliminate external post-operative scars, has been substantially improved in the last decade. The scarless nature of NOTES is believed to decrease the chance of wound infections and incision hernias, improve recovery times and increase the cosmetic satisfaction of patients. Although various animal and human studies have extended our understanding of physiology and the requirements of NOTES procedures, current NOTES technology is still too rudimentary to be applied to various clinical settings due to the technical and instrumental limitations. Recently, numerous efforts have been made in the development of proper surgical instruments for NOTES procedures. A secure closure method for luminal perforation is one of the most actively investigated areas, and several promising devices have already been introduced. A virtual navigation system for flexible endoscopic instruments would be beneficial for surgical reliability and safety issues by assisting the narrow endoscopic visual field. Various retraction devices are also necessary to enable complex endoscopic surgical maneuvers. Unfortunately, engineers have only taken supportive roles in the history of NOTES development, though engineering experience and knowledge are crucial for the development of complicated and miniaturized endoscopic devices. The active involvement of engineers in NOTES technology is required for the realization of NOTES in routine clinical practice.