title: Advances in laparoscopic colorectal surgery: a review on NOTES and transanal extraction of specimen.
abstract: Laparoscopic colorectal surgery has rapidly developed since the 1980s. Relative to open surgery, it offers the benefits of less invasiveness and earlier recovery. However, when a mini-laparotomy wound is needed to retrieve the specimen, the benefits of minimally invasive surgery may be compromised as a result of pain- and wound-related complications. The introduction of natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) makes "scarless" surgery a possibility; pain- and wound-related complications are totally abolished. However, a number of technical issues need to be overcome before this technique can be used widely. The development of natural orifice specimen extraction surgery abandons the need for a specimen-retrieval incision and helps overcome the technical hurdles of NOTES. As a bridge between true "scarless" surgery and conventional laparoscopic surgery, hybrid procedures combining laparoscopic resection and natural orifice specimen extraction surgery currently play an important role in minimally invasive colorectal surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Chai Wan, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Alex Lik Hang
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: Hester Yui Shan
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: Michael Ka Wah
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D003082:Colectomy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D057605:Natural Orifice Endoscopic Surgery / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D012007:Rectum / Q000601:surgery*
keywords: Hybrid; natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES); transanal extraction of specimen