Editorial
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World J Gastrointest Surg. Jun 27, 2010; 2(6): 177-178
Published online Jun 27, 2010. doi: 10.4240/wjgs.v2.i6.177
NOTES-Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery: Why not?
Antonello Forgione
Antonello Forgione, AIMS Advanced International Mini-invasive Surgery Academy; Department of General and Emergency Surgery, Niguarda Ca’ Granda Hospital, Piazza Ospedale 3, Milan 20162, Italy
Author contributions: Forgione A solely contributed to this paper.
Correspondence to: Antonello Forgione MD, PhD, MBA, Department of General and Emergency Surgery, Niguarda Ca’ Granda Hospital, Piazza Ospedale 3, Milan 20162, Italy. antonello.forgione@aimsacademy.org
Telephone: +39-2-64447600 Fax: +39-2-64447603
Received: May 26, 2010
Revised: June 20, 2010
Accepted: June 24, 2010
Published online: June 27, 2010
Abstract

Since natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) was first described by Anthony Kalloo, it has attracted tremendous interest from surgeons and gastroenterologist all around the world. This special issue of the World Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery explores the current possibilities and future potential of the most disruptive revolution in the field of surgery represented by the NOTES approach. In the future, new technologies developed for this approach and deeper insight into several gastrointestinal diseases will lead to the design of completely new interventional procedures and change the way we will operate, bringing us to the previously unimaginable goal of “no scar surgery”.

Keywords: Gastrointestinal surgery; Minimally invasive surgery; Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery; Microrobotics