Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES): implications for anesthesia.
Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) has recently evolved as a novel approach for abdominal surgery with great potential to further improve the advantages of laparoscopy over laparotomy. The first patients undergoing NOTES cholecystectomy or appendectomy reported no or only minimal pain, required no narcotic analgesics, and were discharged early from the hospital and immediately resumed daily activities. If this is confirmed by randomized controlled clinical trials, what are the potential implications for anesthesia?
Schaefer
Michael
M
Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Charité University Berlin Campus Virchow Klinikum, Augustenburgerplatz 1, 13353 Berlin Germany.