Results of clinical applications of NOTES in the IMTN Study showed the feasibility of different methods of this new minimally invasive alternative for laparoscopic and open surgery.

Transgastric and transvaginal cholecystectomies are feasible. Although these NOTES procedures were laparoscopically assisted and current flexible endoscopes were used, it seems possible that major intra-abdominal surgeries may one day be performed without skin incisions. However, a learning curve is mandatory and, although there were no major bile duct injuries, there were NOTES-related complications. These trends toward incisionless surgery demand coordinated research in an interdisciplinary setting involving both surgeons and device manufacturers to further define appropriate indications, contraindications, and applications for natural-orifice surgery.

No abstract