Transgastric Endoscopic Cholecystectomy of the Pig

Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) is the new therapeutic technique. This procedure stands on the cutting edge of minimal invasive surgery that accesses the abdominal cavity through a natural orifice under the endoscopic image. There have been many animal experiments, and clinical trials of NOTES. We performed a transgastric endoscopic cholecystectomy of a pig using conventional endoscopic instruments through a natural orifice and the assistance of a 5㎜ laparoscopic trocar.