Editorial
Copyright ©2010 Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastrointest Surg. Feb 27, 2010; 2(2): 35-38
Published online Feb 27, 2010. doi: 10.4240/wjgs.v2.i2.35
Natural orifice surgery applied for colorectal diseases
Ricardo Zorron
Ricardo Zorron, Department of Surgery, University Hospital Teresopolis HCTCO-FESO, Rio de Janeiro 22790-700, Brazil; Department of Surgery, Hospital Municipal Lourenço Jorge, Rio de Janeiro 22790-700, Brazil
Author contributions: Zorron R contributed solely to this review.
Correspondence to: Ricardo Zorron, MD, PhD, Professor, Department of Surgery, University Hospital Teresopolis HCTCO-FESO, Rio de Janeiro 22790-700, Brasil. rzorron@terra.com.br
Telephone: +55-21-91914698 Fax: +55-21-22747700
Received: December 1, 2009
Revised: January 6, 2010
Accepted: January 13, 2010
Published online: February 27, 2010
Abstract

Clinical natural orifice surgery has been applied to abdominal surgery in recent years, mostly using transvaginal and transgastric access. Rectal and transcolonic natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) were tested in animal and cadaver models by a few research groups. Despite the potential advantages of transcolonic NOTES for colorectal diseases, it has not yet been clinically applied. The first successful series of human applications of transcolonic NOTES in the literature from the NOTES Research Group in Brazil provide new possibilities in the field in new transrectal procedures for rectal cancer and benign disease. Successful first human reports on Transcolonic NOTES potentially brings new frontiers and applications for minimally invasive surgery. The treatment of colorectal diseases through flexible Perirectal NOTES Access is a promising new approach alongside existing laparoscopic and open surgery to improve patient care.

Keywords: Rectal cancer; Total mesorectal excision; Colorectal surgery; Natural orifice surgery; Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery; Minimally invasive surgery.