• Natural orifi ce translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) involves passing instruments through a natural orifi ce (mouth, anus, vagina) then through a surgically created hole in a hollow viscous into the peritoneal cavity.• NOTES surgery has several different categories: pure NOTES procedures, hybrid NOTES procedures, and natural orifi ce specimen extraction (NOSE).• Colorectal surgeons possess the fundamental skill sets to perform NOTES surgery.• NOSE of the sigmoid colon during laparoscopic sigmoid resection can safely be performed in experienced hands.• Transanal NOTES surgery is currently in an investigational phase of development.• Transanal total mesorectal excision is a favorable candidate for NOTES transanal surgery.