The lateral decubitus position improves transoral endoscopic access to the posterior aspects of the thorax

Background The success of natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) depends on an adequate exploration of surgical regions. Currently, limited data are available regarding the optimal position for the NOTES approach for thoracic surgery. This study therefore aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of transoral thoracic exploration in a canine model placed in a lateral decubitus position.