Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery An Issue Of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Clinics

Since 2000, there has been an impressive and growing body of published data dedicated to natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) from all over the world. This issue of the Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Clinics of North America seeks to harness this data and place perspective on the current and future position of NOTES for surgical interventions. The Natural Orifice Surgery Consortium for Assessment and Research (NOSCAR) has been instrumental in organizing, directing, and funding research with a mantra for safe introduction of NOTES to clinical practice. This issue focuses on topics that NOSCAR has touted for safe promulgation of NOTES.

In this issue of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Clinics of North America, we invited pioneers and experts in this field to share recent advancements and expansions of ESD and its technical aspects in different organ systems. In addition, this issue covers the associated techniques of per oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) and natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) to further advance understanding of the latest breakthroughs in endoscopic therapy. Current trends surrounding ESD around the world—in Asia, Europe, and the United States—are addressed as well. Some articles include videos for readers to watch ESD procedures in action, performed by experts, for easier understanding of ESD techniques. The Guest Editors expect that this issue will inspire more physicians to explore the expanding possibilities of endoscopic therapy such as ESD and POEM and to advocate minimally invasive treatment for patients.

The topics covered in this issue, an update from what was first published in the Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Clinics in 2008, reflect the fact that NOTES is seeing a resurgence in popularity. Now, eight years later, there is more data to confirm safety, to look at the best options for using natural orifices, and to talk about optimal training scenarios. The Guest Editor has enlisted some of the top experts on NOTES to contribute articles devoted to Seminal Developments: SM Tunnel Technique; Peroral Endoscopic Myotomoy (POEM); Submucosal Tumor Endoscopic Resection; Endoscopic Full Thickness Resection; Submucosal Tunneling for NOTES Procedures Beyond Resection; Pyloromyotomy; New NOTES: Western Perspective; and Why Did the Old NOTES Fail: Lessons Learned that can Guide New NOTES Development.

Optimizing Endoscopic Operations, An Issue of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Clinics

Together with Consulting Editor Dr. Charles Lightdale, Dr. Qiang Cai has put together a comprehensive issue devoted to gastroparesis. Expert authors have contributed clinical review articles on the following topics: Epidemiology and Pathophysiology of Gastroparesis; Non-Diabetic Gastroparesis; Clinical Manifestations and Natural History of Patients with Gastroparesis; Evaluation of Patients with Suspected Gastroparesis; Symptomatic Management of Gastroparesis; Gastric Electrical Stimulator for treatment of Gastroparesis; Surgical Treatment for Gastroparesis; Botulinum Toxin Injection for Treatment of Gastroparesis; Stent Placement for Treatment for Gastroparesis; Technical Aspects of Per Oral Endoscopic Pyloromyotomy; Gastric Emptying Scintigraphy for Evaluation of Patients with Gastroparesis before Per Oral Endoscopic Myotomy; Outcomes of Per Oral Endoscopic Pyrolomyotomy in France; Outcomes of Per Oral Endoscopic Pyloromyotomy in China; Outcomes of Per Oral Endoscopic Pyloromyotomy in the United States.. Readers will come away with the information they need to improve endoscopic techniques and improve patient outcomes.

Dr. Gress has assembled top experts to discuss the latest advances of using endoscopic ultrasound for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. The issue has review articles devoted to the following topics: EUS Elastography; Contrast-Enhanced EUS; New developments in EUS- FNA Tissue Acquisition; EUS FNA: Cytologic and histologic using new techniques for interpretation; New EUS Techniques for diagnosing pancreatic neoplasms; EUS for diagnosing and treating pancreatic cysts; The role of EUS in the diagnosis of Autoimmune Pancreatitis; Therapeutic EUS for cancer treatment; and EUS-guided techniques in biliary drainage, pancreatic drainage, necrosectomy, pelvic fluid collections, hemostasis techniques, and gastrojejunostomy. The issue ends with articles that look at training issues and the future of EUS. Readers should leave with the clinical information they need to embrace the latest advances of endoscopic ultrasonography.

This issue would review a broad range of endoscopic complications throughout the entire GI tract and include complications related to almost all types of endoscopic procedures. Typically, articles and endoscopy courses only briefly mention specific types of complications related to one or two endoscopic procedures. To date, this would be the only issue whose sole focus is on endoscopic complications and their management and will prove a useful resource for the gastroenterologist. The authors will be expert endoscopists from around the country whose knowledge of this topic should be far ranging and include use of new devices.

The clinical implications of obesity have pervaded several specialties since treatments include medical and surgical intervention. In this issue, Dr. Thompson has created an issue that addresses topics of concern to endoscopists: important concerns in the endoscopic unit, presurgical evaluation, postoperative care, sedation, and endoscopic management of common complications. Further, special articles are included on endoscopic revisions to failed gastric bypass as well as reimbursement and regulatory issues.