Adrenal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES): a step too far?

Surgical approach to adrenal gland has evolved from open to minimally invasive surgery. With the advent of technology, multiple techniques and approaches are available in a surgeon’s armamentarium today to deal with adrenal nodules that require surgical intervention. Each approach has its own advantages and disadvantages. The era of minimal invasive surgery has fuelled our quest for better cosmesis, faster recovery, early return to work and reduced hospital stay. While minimal invasive method is the preferred approach for most benign adrenal masses less than 6 cm, its application for large adrenal lesions as well as adrenocortical carcinoma is still debatable. Single incision minimal invasive procedures further try to reduce the incisions and wound morbidity. With the aim to completely remove visible scars and possibly reduced morbidity, the concept of natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) has been proposed by some surgeons as well as interventional gastroenterologist. In NOTES, the peritoneal cavity is accessed through a hollow viscus to perform therapeutic as well as diagnostic procedures. While the theoretical advantages of scar less surgery and its advantages sound encouraging, the precise indications and its potential advantages for adrenal pathologies is yet to be defined. It should in no way, compromise our goal of safe patient surgery and outcomes.