Background: Pediatric minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is a standard technique worldwide. We aimed to analyze the research activity in this field. Methods: Articles on pediatric MIS (1991–2020) were analyzed from the Web of Science™ for the total number of publications, citations, journals, and impact factors (IF). Of these, the 50 most cited publications were evaluated in detail and classified according to the level of evidence (i.e., study design) and topic (i.e., surgical procedure). Results: In total, 4464 publications and 53,111 citations from 684 journals on pediatric MIS were identified. The 50 most cited papers were published from 32 institutions in the USA/Canada (n = 28), Europe (n = 19), and Asia (n = 3) in 12 journals. Four authors (USA/Europe) contributed to 26% of the 50 most cited papers as first/senior author. Hot topics were laparoscopic pyeloplasty (n = 9), inguinal hernia repair (n = 7), appendectomy, and pyloromyotomy (n = 4 each). The majority of publications were retrospective studies (n = 33) and case reports (n = 6) (IF 5.2 ± 3.2; impact index 16.5 ± 6.4; citations 125 ± 39.4). They were cited as often as articles with high evidence levels (meta-analyses, n = 2; randomized controlled trials, n = 7; prospective studies, n = 2) (IF 12.9 ± 22.5; impact index 14.0 ± 6.5; citations 125 ± 34.7; p > 0.05). Conclusions: Publications on laparoscopic pyeloplasty, inguinal hernia repair, appendectomy, and pyloromyotomy are cited most often in pediatric MIS. However, the relevant number of studies with strong evidence for the advantages of MIS in pediatric surgery is missing.

Malignant gliomas (MG), most notably glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), are among the most aggressive of all malignancies. High-grade variants of this type of brain cancer are generally considered incurable with singular or multimodal therapies. Many patients with GBM die within one year of diagnosis, and the 5-year survival rate in people is approximately 10%. Despite extensive research in diagnostic and therapeutic technologies, very few developments have emerged that significantly improve survival over the last seven decades. Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a new non-thermal focal tissue ablation technique that uses low-energy electric pulses to destabilize cell membranes, thus achieving tissue death. The procedure is minimally invasive and is performed through small electrodes inserted into the tissue with treatment duration of about one minute. The pulses create an electric field that induces an increase in the resting transmembrane potential (TMP) of the cells in the tissue. The induced increase in the TMP is dependent on the electric pulse parameters. Depending on the magnitude of the induced TMP the electric pulses can have no effect, transiently increase membrane permeability or cause spontaneous death. In this dissertation we hypothesize that irreversible electroporation is capable of ablating normal (gray and white matter) and pathological (MG and/or GBM) brain tissue in a highly focused non-thermal manner that is modulated through pulse parameters and electrode configuration. Through a comprehensive experimental and numerical investigation, we tested and attained results strongly supporting our hypothesis. Specifically, we developed numerical models that were capable of simulating an entire IRE treatment protocol and would take into account pulse parameters (e.g. duration, frequency, repetition rate and strength) in addition to the dynamic changes in tissue electrical conductivity due to electroporation and joule heating, as well as biologically relevant processes such as blood perfusion and metabolic heat. We also provided a method to isolate the IRE effects from undesired thermal damage in models that were validated with real-time temperature measurements during the delivery of the pulses. Finally we outlined a procedure to use 3D volumetric reconstructions of IRE lesions using patient specific MRI scans in conjunction with the models described for establishing field thresholds or performing treatment planning prior to the surgical procedure; thus supplying the readers with the tools and understanding necessary to design appropriate treatment protocols for their specific application. Experimentally we presented the first systematic in vivo study of IRE in normal canine brain and the multimodal treatment of a canine MG patient. We confirmed that the procedure can be applied safely in the brain and was well tolerated clinically. The lesions created with IRE were sub-millimeter in resolution and we achieved 75% tumor volume reduction within 3 days post-IRE in the patient. In addition to the sharp delineation between necrotic and normal brain, the treatments spared the major blood vessels, making it appropriate for treatment of tumors adjacent to, or enveloping critical vascular structures. We believe that irreversible electroporation will play a key role in the treatment of intracranial disorders including malignant brain cancer in which the intent is to focally kill undesired tissue while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue. / Ph. D.

Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) in human beings is performed by making small incisions in the abdominal region of the patient and inflating the abdominal cavity with CO2. This procedure enables the surgeon to manipulate long rigid surgical instruments inside the patient in order to perform the surgery. Unfortunately the current methods of insertion and assembly of MIS instruments limit the surgeon to only five (of a possible seven) Degrees of Freedom (DOF). Along with this, the surgeon’s movements are mirrored (called the Fulcrum effect) and scaled around the point of incision. Minimally invasive surgical robots attempt to alleviate these drawbacks by eliminating the Fulcrum effect, as well as improving dexterity and accuracy. These robots’ abilities to improve the surgeon’s hand-eye coordination, enables the surgeon to perform surgeries using their natural movements with reduced fatigue. As a result of this, the risk to both patient and surgeon is reduced. Existing MIS robotic systems are extremely expensive and large, and as a result they are not widely used. In this thesis a new, lower cost, seven DOF robotic manipulator is further developed. The thesis focuses on the external three DOF Secondary Slave Manipulator (SSM) and combines it with the Primary Slave Manipulator (PSM) that was developed by a previous Masters student. Tests done on the SSM showed that the manipulator has a minimum resolution of 0.7 ± 0.2 mm (mean ± standard deviation) on the shoulder joint’s yaw rotation and 0.5 ± 0.2 mm in pitch rotation. The linear actuator used for insertion has a minimum resolution of 0.2 ± 0.2 mm. A strength test was also conducted and showed that the manipulator is easily capable of producing a 10 N actuation force as required during Minimally Invasive Robotic Surgery (MIRS) procedures. In conclusion the complete system has potential as a viable alternative to the existing systems due to its accuracy and lower cost. Future work will include the development of a user interface and control system for the complete robot. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Minimaal Indringende Chirurgie (MIC) op mense word uitgevoer deur klein insnydings in die pasiënt se buik te maak en dan die abdominale holte met CO2 te vul. Dit stel die chirurg in staat om lang, onbuigbare instrumente binne die pasiënt te manipuleer om sodoende die operasie uit te voer. Die manier waarop die MIC instrument ontwerp is en die pasiënt binnegaan, laat egter slegs vyf vryheidsgrade toe, terwyl die chirurg self sewe vryheidsgrade in sy handbewegings het. Verder veroorsaak hierdie instrumente ook dat die chirurg se aksies in spieëlbeeld vertolk word (Fulcrum effek) en geskaleer is. Chirurgiese robotika poog om hierdie nadele teen te werk deur die Fulcrum effek te verwyder, en ook om handvaardigheid en akkuraatheid te bevorder. Die robot se potensiaal om die chirurg se hand-oog koӧrdinasie te verbeter, maak dit moontlik vir die chirurg om op ’n meer natuurlike en gemaklike manier te werk te gaan en bring minder vermoeienis mee. Dit verminder die risiko’s vir beide die pasiënt en die chirurg. Bestaande robotiese stelsels is egter baie duur en groot, en word dus nie meer algemeen gebruik nie. In hierdie tesis word ‘n nuwe sewe-vryheidsgraad robotiese manipuleerder ontwikkel. Die tesis fokus op die eksterne drie-vryheidsgraad Sekondêre Slaaf Manipuleerder (SSM) en kombineer dit met die Primêre Slaaf Manipuleerder (PSM) wat deur ʼn vorige Meestersstudent ontwikkel is. Toetse wat uitgevoer is op die SSM het getoon dat dit ’n minimum resolusie van 0.7 ± 0.2 mm (gemiddeld ± standaard afwyking) op die skouer se afwyking en 0.5 ± 0.2 mm om die onderskeie skouer aslyne toon. Die linieêre aktueerder wat vir inlassing gebruik word het ’n minimum resolusie van 0.2 ± 0.2 mm. ’n Sterktetoets is uitgevoer en het getoon dat die manipuleerder maklik die nodige 10 N krag soos benodig in Minimaal Indringende Robotiese Chirurgie (MIRC) prosedures kan lewer. Ter afsluiting, die volledige stelsel het die potensiaal as lewensvatbare alternatief tot die bestaande stelsels vanweë die akkuraatheid en laer koste verbonde. Toekomstige navorsing kan moontlik die ontwikkeling van ʼn gebruikerkoppelvlak en beheerstelsel vir die volledige robot insluit.

Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) differs from Open Surgery as surgeons view the surgical site indirectly on a monitor. The view shown is typically from an angled endoscope off to one side of the surgery (i.e., uncollocated with the view of the hands). This makes camera navigation a challenging ability to learn. MIS thus requires longer training periods, more practice and mental effort to achieve proficiency. Current training setups and Operating Room (OR) environments lack appropriate real-time visual cues for navigation and other perception related information that could help with learning and performance in the OR. The purpose of this research was to design and develop graphical aids for improving understanding of camera navigation and depth perception in a trainer box necessary for enhancing surgeon’s skills to perform endoscopic surgery. For the former, two alternate training methods: 1) using no graphics (control group) and 2) using three different types of graphics conveying different information, were considered for this study. The effectiveness of the training was evaluated by a comparative analysis of different performance measures across all the groups. It was observed that training using graphics did improve the performance of participants in performing a minimally invasive surgery training task. For the latter, the use of a proximity sensor was explored.

The purpose of this experiment was to determine if there existed techniques to more efficiently train prospective surgeons the skills necessary to capably perform minimally invasive surgical procedures. Also, we wanted to know if trainees could be pushed to cognitively define a laparoscopic environment with a novel hand-eye relationship. To explore these questions, a simulation was setup wherein subjects would perform a laparoscopic transfer task and receive active feedback during training. Different subjects would receive different metrics as feedback and a comparison would be made between subjects with respect to standard metrics. Results of this experiment show that all subjects adapt to a laparoscopic environment and that they do so at different rates and to different proficiencies. The difference was shown to be statistically significant. It was concluded that the techniques we utilized were effective enough to claim as useful techniques to utilize in current training systems.

Die pyogene Spondylodiszitis als bakterielle Osteomyelitis der Wirbelsäule ist eine seltene Entität der bakteriell-entzündlichen Pathologien des Stütz- und Bewegungsapparates. Trotz adäquater Behandlungsstrategien, wird auch heute noch eine Mortalitätsrate von 5% bis 20% beschrieben. Vor allem die in dem vorwiegend älteren Patientenkollektiv deutlich erhöhte Prävalenz an metabolischen oder kardiopulmonalen Komorbiditäten fordert moderne Therapiekonzepte, die eine risikoarme, jedoch effektive Eradifizierung des bakteriell-entzündlichen Fokus mit schneller Wiederherstellung der prämorbiden Mobilität ermöglichen. Ausgehend von zwei grundlagenwissenschaftlichen Studien, wurden in der vorliegenden Habilitationsschrift zunächst die komplexen Zusammenhänge von lokaler Gewebsveränderungen und systemischer Entzündung erörtert. Hierbei zeigten die Analysen humaner degenerativer und traumatischer Bandscheibenzellen, dass die Apoptose, insbesondere die Herabregulation anti-apoptotischer Schlüsselkomponenten wie das Bcl-2, als mögliche Schnittstelle im katabolen Stoffwechsel der extrazellulären Bandscheibenmatrix diskutiert werden kann. In der generalisierten bakteriellen Entzündung (Sepsis), ließ sich durch die gentherapeutisch gewebsständige Überexpression von antiapoptotischen und antiinflammatorischen Interleukin-10 (IL-10), auch im IL-10-defzienten Organismus, eine deutliche Reduktion der systemischen proinflammatorischen Immunantwort mit verbesserter Überlebensrate septischer Tiere erzielen. Jedoch birgt der substantielle Gewebeschaden bei pyogener Spondylodiszitis nicht selten die Gefahr der konsekutiven Instabilität mit neurologischen Komplikationen und stellt damit eine besondere chirurgische Herausforderung dar. Daher wurden in drei weiteren klinischen Studien unsere, in den letzten 10 Jahren etablierten, lösungsorientierten Strategien erläutert. Zur Überbrückung größerer knöcherner Defekte gelang mit der Implantation expandierbarer Titancages eine sichere knöcherne Durchbauung mit vollständiger Ausheilung des Infektes. Im Beobachtungszeitraum von mehr als 3 Jahren war bei keinem der Patienten ein Infektrezidiv zu verzeichnen. In komplexen Fällen von monosegmentaler Spondylodiszitis der LWS mit multisegmentaler epiduraler Abszedierung, führte die epidurale Katheterspülung über den dorsalen Zugang für die Spondylodese zu einer folgenlosen Ausheilung. Damit konnte ein zusätzliches, iatrogenes Trauma mit multisegmentalen Lamintomien über die Distanz des epiduralen Abszesses vermieden werden. In einer weiteren Studie mit einem Beobachtungszeitraum von bis zu 5 Jahren, erzielte die Implantation von Poly-Ether-Ether-Keton (PEEK) Cages zur dorsalen intersomatischen Fusion bei pyogener Spondylodiszitis eine sehr gute, stabile knöcherne Durchbauung des infizierten Segmentes, ebenfalls ohne Infektrezidiv. Diese Abweichung vom herkömmlichen Standard mit Titanimplantaten erwies sich somit als sichere Alternative mit den für PEEK charakteristischen, verbesserten Eigenschaften. Im Vergleich zu herkömmlichen Operationsverfahren, verspricht die Integration dieser Ergebnisse in die Weiterentwicklung minimal-invasiver Techniken, insbesondere im multimorbiden Patientenklientel, mindestens gleichwertig gute Ergebnisse bei deutlich reduziertem Operationstrauma.

Cirurgias minimamente invasivas tornaram-se importantes porque propiciam vários benefícios para o paciente, tais como redução do risco de infecção, menos dor, menor tempo de internação e recuperação mais rápida. Na neurocirurgia, a orientação por imagens é fundamental para a realização de uma cirurgia minimamente invasiva. Por esse motivo, os sistemas de neuronavegação tornaram-se cruciais para os neurocirurgiões. Enquanto as técnicas tradicionais para localização de craniotomia podem apresentar erros de mais de 10mm, os neuronavegadores proporcionam maior precisão, com erros menores do que 5mm. Apesar de seu papel crucial nos procedimentos neurocirúrgicos, muitos cirurgiões afirmam que a usabilidade dos neuronavegadores tem que ser melhorada. Outros mencionam que os neuronavegadores são caros e inacessíveis em hospitais com poucos recursos. Nesse contexto, alguns pesquisadores sugeriram que soluções de realidade aumentada poderiam ser uma alternativa aos neuronavegadores. Os sistemas de realidade aumentada estão surgindo na neurocirurgia, alguns deles tentando fornecer melhor usabilidade do que os sistemas atuais de neuronavegação, e outros tentando fornecer uma solução mais barata e que possa ser facilmente adotada. Neste trabalho, analisamos os avanços dos sistemas de realidade aumentadade de neuronavegação nos últimos anos. Percebeu-se que muitas soluções de realidade aumentada superam algumas das deficiências do neuronavegador tradicional, mas também trazem novos problemas. Essas abordagens de realidade aumentada podem ser caras e de difícil adoção, ou exigem muitas etapas pré-operatórias por parte do neurocirurgião, tornando-as indesejáveis para uso em casos reais. Para resolver esses problemas, apresentamos um aplicativo para dispositivos móveis, chamado ARNeuro, que auxilia na localização da craniotomia. O ARNeuro é mais acessível e mais fácil de usar do que a maioria das abordagens de realidade aumentada. Além disso, o ARNeuro é um aplicativo independente, o que significa que não é necessário nenhum hardware ou software adicional, além do que já está disponível nos hospitais. Nossa solução utiliza Odometria Inercial Visual, através de um framework de realidade aumentada, para indicar o centro da região da incisão, sobreposta na cabeça do paciente, mostrada na tela do dispositivo. Nossos experimentos iniciais indicam que o ARNeuro é uma ferramenta promissora. A versão atual do aplicativo tem um erro médio geral menor do que 3,1mm. Apesar disso, o sistema ainda tem muitas limitações e sua acurácia pode ser melhorada. / Minimally invasive surgeries have become important because they bring many benefits to the patient, such as reduced risk of infection, less pain, shorter hospital stays, and faster recoveries. In neurosurgery, imageguidance is fundamental to perform a minimally invasive surgery. For this reason, neuronavigation systems became crucial for neurosurgeons. While traditional techniques for craniotomy localization may have a target registration error of more than 10mm, neuronavigators provide higher accuracy, with errors of less than 5mm. In spite of their crucial role in neurosurgical procedures, many surgeons claim that neuronavigators usability has to be improved. Others mention that neuronavigators are expensive and not accessible in hospitals with few resources. In this context, some researchers suggested that augmented reality solutions could be an alternative to neuronavigators. Augmented reality systems are emerging in neurosurgery, some of them trying to provide better usability than current neuronavigation systems, and others trying to provide an affordable solution that could be easily adopted. In this work, we analyze the advances of augmented reality neuronavigation systems in the last years. It was noticed that many augmented reality solutions do overcome some of the traditional neuronavigator shortcomings, but they also bring new problems. These augmented reality approaches may be expensive and hard to adopt, or require many preoperative steps from the neurosurgeon, making them undesirable for using in real cases. To address these issues, we present a mobile application, called ARNeuro, that assists in craniotomy localization. ARNeuro is more affordable and easier to use than most augmented reality approaches. Also, ARNeuro is a standalone application, which means that no additional hardware or software is required, besides what is already available at the hospitals. ARNeuro makes use of Visual Inertial Odometry, provided by an augmented reality framework, to draw the center of the incision region, superimposed on the patient’s head, shown on the device screen. Our initial experiments indicate that ARNeuro is a promising tool. The current version of the application has an overall mean target registration error of less than 3.1mm. In spite of that, the system still have many limitations, and its accuracy can be improved. / São Cristóvão, SE

A técnica cirúrgica endoscópica transluminal por orifícios naturais (NOTES) envolve o acesso à cavidade abdominal através de uma perfuração intencional de uma víscera (p.ex. estômago, reto, vagina, bexiga urinária) com um endoscópio flexível para acessar a cavidade abdominal e realizar uma exploração intra-abdominal. O presente estudo teve por objetivo verificar a viabilidade de se realizar a técnica cirúrgica endoscópica transvaginal híbrida em éguas para a exploração da cavidade abdominal posicionados em estação e distribuídos em dois grupos conforme o acesso laparosópico pelo flanco direito ou esquerdo e pela incisão do saco fundo vaginal à esquerda da cérvix na posição horária de 9 horas ou à direita da cérvix na posição horária de 3 horas. O abdômen foi explorado sob visualização endoscópica utilizando um endoscópio flexível de 2 metros por 14 mm de diâmetro. A incisão vaginal foi realizada sob visualização indireta pelo laparoscópio acessado via flanco. Foram utilizados 6 éguas hígidas e 1 égua com histórico de lesão abdominal por arma de fogo. Os animais foram submetidos a jejum alimentar de 24 a 36 horas, distribuídos em dois grupos. No grupo 1 foram incluídos animais que foram acessado o flanco esquerdo para a introdução do laparoscópico e realizado a incisão do saco vaginal à esquerda da cérvix, enquanto no grupo 2, o acesso do flanco para a introdução abdominal do laparoscópio foi pelo lado direito e a incisão vaginal à direita da cérvix. Os animais foram sedados com a combinação de cloridrato de xilazina e butorfanol e para dessensibilização cutânea e muscular realizada no flanco esquerdo e direito e a execução da epidural baixa foi utilizada lidocaína. A técnica cirurgia realizada foi a cirurgia endoscópica transluminal híbrida pelo acesso vaginal utilizando uma cânula vaginal que permitiu a introdução do endoscópio flexível e facilitando a passagem para o lado contralateral da incisão vaginal do endoscópio flexível para realizar a visualização da cavidade abdominal. Foi possível visualizar em todos os animais o diafragma, o estômago, o lobo hepático esquerdo, direito e processo caudato, o baço, projeções do rim esquerdo e direito, o cólon menor, o ovário esquerdo e direito, o ligamento largo do útero, o corno uterino e as tubas uterinas esquerda e direita, o duodeno, a base do ceco, o cólon dorsal direito e as alças do intestino delgado. Não foi identificadoo forame epiplóico, o pâncreas, o reto e a bexiga em nenhum dos animais do estudo. O procedimento endoscópico transvaginal híbrido para a exploração da cavidade abdominal em éguas hígidas não evidenciou dificuldade em sua execução nem complicações pós-cirúrgicas, sendo viável nos dois diferentes grupos propostos, como também auxiliou no diagnóstico de lesões intra-abdominais em uma égua causadas por arma The natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) technique involves the access to the abdominal cavity through an intentional perforation of a viscus (i.e. stomach, rectus, vagina, urinary bladder) with an endoscope in order to access the abdominal cavity and perform an intra-abdominal exploration. Until now, abdominal surgery in horses using minimally invasive techniques has been performed through laparoscopy. The objective of this study was to confirm the availability to perform the hybrid transvaginal endoscopic surgery technique in mares in order to explore the abdominal cavity in the standing position. The mares were divided in two groups according to the laparoscopic access through the left or right flank. / The natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) technique involves the access to the abdominal cavity through an intentional perforation of a viscus (i.e. stomach, rectus, vagina, urinary bladder) with an endoscope in order to access the abdominal cavity and perform an intra-abdominal exploration. Until now, abdominal surgery in horses using minimally invasive techniques has been performed through laparoscopy. The objective of this study was to confirm the availability to perform the hybrid transvaginal endoscopic surgery technique in mares in order to explore the abdominal cavity in the standing position. The mares were divided in two groups according to the laparoscopic access through the left or right flank. An incision was performed on the posterior vaginal fornix on the left side of the cervix in a 9 o’clock position or on the right side of the cervix on a 3 o’clock position. The abdomen was explored under endoscopic visualization using a 2 meters long flexible endoscope by 14 mm in diameter. The vaginal incision accessed via flank was performed under indirect visualization using a laparoscope. Six healthy mares and one mare with the history of abdominal lesion by gun fire were used. The horses were subjected to fasting from 24 to 36 hours and they were divided in two groups according to the laparoscopic access through the flank and vaginal incision. In group 1, horses were accessed on the left flank to the introduction of the laparoscope and it was performed an incision on the vaginal fornix in the left side of the cervix. In group 2, the access of the flank to the abdominal introduction of the laparoscope was through the left side and the vaginal incision in the left side of the cervix. The horses were sedated using a combination of xylazine chloride and butorphanol. Lidocaine was used for skin and muscular anesthesia on the left and right flank and for the execution of low epidural. The surgery technique used was the hybrid NOTES through the vaginal access using a vaginal cannula which allowed the introduction of the flexible endoscope making it rigid and the passage of the endoscope to the contralateral side of the vaginal incision to visualize the abdominal cavity. In all the animals of the experiment, it was possible to see the diaphragm, stomach, left, right and caudate liver lobe, spleen, left and right kidney projection, small colon, left and right ovaries, broad ligament of the uterus, uterine horn and right and left uterine tubes, duodenum, base of the cecum, left dorsal colon, and bowel loops of the small intestine. There were not identified foramen epiploicum, pancreas, rectus, and bladder in none of the animals in the experiment. The hybrid transvaginal endoscopic procedure for the exploration of the abdominal cavity in healthy mares did not demonstrate difficulties in its execution not even post-surgery complications. The procedure was considered viable in both different proposed groups.

A técnica cirúrgica endoscópica transluminal por orifícios naturais (NOTES) envolve o acesso à cavidade abdominal através de uma perfuração intencional de uma víscera (p.ex. estômago, reto, vagina, bexiga urinária) com um endoscópio flexível para acessar a cavidade abdominal e realizar uma exploração intra-abdominal. O presente estudo teve por objetivo verificar a viabilidade de se realizar a técnica cirúrgica endoscópica transvaginal híbrida em éguas para a exploração da cavidade abdominal posicionados em estação e distribuídos em dois grupos conforme o acesso laparosópico pelo flanco direito ou esquerdo e pela incisão do saco fundo vaginal à esquerda da cérvix na posição horária de 9 horas ou à direita da cérvix na posição horária de 3 horas. O abdômen foi explorado sob visualização endoscópica utilizando um endoscópio flexível de 2 metros por 14 mm de diâmetro. A incisão vaginal foi realizada sob visualização indireta pelo laparoscópio acessado via flanco. Foram utilizados 6 éguas hígidas e 1 égua com histórico de lesão abdominal por arma de fogo. Os animais foram submetidos a jejum alimentar de 24 a 36 horas, distribuídos em dois grupos. No grupo 1 foram incluídos animais que foram acessado o flanco esquerdo para a introdução do laparoscópico e realizado a incisão do saco vaginal à esquerda da cérvix, enquanto no grupo 2, o acesso do flanco para a introdução abdominal do laparoscópio foi pelo lado direito e a incisão vaginal à direita da cérvix. Os animais foram sedados com a combinação de cloridrato de xilazina e butorfanol e para dessensibilização cutânea e muscular realizada no flanco esquerdo e direito e a execução da epidural baixa foi utilizada lidocaína. A técnica cirurgia realizada foi a cirurgia endoscópica transluminal híbrida pelo acesso vaginal utilizando uma cânula vaginal que permitiu a introdução do endoscópio flexível e facilitando a passagem para o lado contralateral da incisão vaginal do endoscópio flexível para realizar a visualização da cavidade abdominal. Foi possível visualizar em todos os animais o diafragma, o estômago, o lobo hepático esquerdo, direito e processo caudato, o baço, projeções do rim esquerdo e direito, o cólon menor, o ovário esquerdo e direito, o ligamento largo do útero, o corno uterino e as tubas uterinas esquerda e direita, o duodeno, a base do ceco, o cólon dorsal direito e as alças do intestino delgado. Não foi identificadoo forame epiplóico, o pâncreas, o reto e a bexiga em nenhum dos animais do estudo. O procedimento endoscópico transvaginal híbrido para a exploração da cavidade abdominal em éguas hígidas não evidenciou dificuldade em sua execução nem complicações pós-cirúrgicas, sendo viável nos dois diferentes grupos propostos, como também auxiliou no diagnóstico de lesões intra-abdominais em uma égua causadas por arma The natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) technique involves the access to the abdominal cavity through an intentional perforation of a viscus (i.e. stomach, rectus, vagina, urinary bladder) with an endoscope in order to access the abdominal cavity and perform an intra-abdominal exploration. Until now, abdominal surgery in horses using minimally invasive techniques has been performed through laparoscopy. The objective of this study was to confirm the availability to perform the hybrid transvaginal endoscopic surgery technique in mares in order to explore the abdominal cavity in the standing position. The mares were divided in two groups according to the laparoscopic access through the left or right flank. / The natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) technique involves the access to the abdominal cavity through an intentional perforation of a viscus (i.e. stomach, rectus, vagina, urinary bladder) with an endoscope in order to access the abdominal cavity and perform an intra-abdominal exploration. Until now, abdominal surgery in horses using minimally invasive techniques has been performed through laparoscopy. The objective of this study was to confirm the availability to perform the hybrid transvaginal endoscopic surgery technique in mares in order to explore the abdominal cavity in the standing position. The mares were divided in two groups according to the laparoscopic access through the left or right flank. An incision was performed on the posterior vaginal fornix on the left side of the cervix in a 9 o’clock position or on the right side of the cervix on a 3 o’clock position. The abdomen was explored under endoscopic visualization using a 2 meters long flexible endoscope by 14 mm in diameter. The vaginal incision accessed via flank was performed under indirect visualization using a laparoscope. Six healthy mares and one mare with the history of abdominal lesion by gun fire were used. The horses were subjected to fasting from 24 to 36 hours and they were divided in two groups according to the laparoscopic access through the flank and vaginal incision. In group 1, horses were accessed on the left flank to the introduction of the laparoscope and it was performed an incision on the vaginal fornix in the left side of the cervix. In group 2, the access of the flank to the abdominal introduction of the laparoscope was through the left side and the vaginal incision in the left side of the cervix. The horses were sedated using a combination of xylazine chloride and butorphanol. Lidocaine was used for skin and muscular anesthesia on the left and right flank and for the execution of low epidural. The surgery technique used was the hybrid NOTES through the vaginal access using a vaginal cannula which allowed the introduction of the flexible endoscope making it rigid and the passage of the endoscope to the contralateral side of the vaginal incision to visualize the abdominal cavity. In all the animals of the experiment, it was possible to see the diaphragm, stomach, left, right and caudate liver lobe, spleen, left and right kidney projection, small colon, left and right ovaries, broad ligament of the uterus, uterine horn and right and left uterine tubes, duodenum, base of the cecum, left dorsal colon, and bowel loops of the small intestine. There were not identified foramen epiploicum, pancreas, rectus, and bladder in none of the animals in the experiment. The hybrid transvaginal endoscopic procedure for the exploration of the abdominal cavity in healthy mares did not demonstrate difficulties in its execution not even post-surgery complications. The procedure was considered viable in both different proposed groups.

A técnica cirúrgica endoscópica transluminal por orifícios naturais (NOTES) envolve o acesso à cavidade abdominal através de uma perfuração intencional de uma víscera (p.ex. estômago, reto, vagina, bexiga urinária) com um endoscópio flexível para acessar a cavidade abdominal e realizar uma exploração intra-abdominal. O presente estudo teve por objetivo verificar a viabilidade de se realizar a técnica cirúrgica endoscópica transvaginal híbrida em éguas para a exploração da cavidade abdominal posicionados em estação e distribuídos em dois grupos conforme o acesso laparosópico pelo flanco direito ou esquerdo e pela incisão do saco fundo vaginal à esquerda da cérvix na posição horária de 9 horas ou à direita da cérvix na posição horária de 3 horas. O abdômen foi explorado sob visualização endoscópica utilizando um endoscópio flexível de 2 metros por 14 mm de diâmetro. A incisão vaginal foi realizada sob visualização indireta pelo laparoscópio acessado via flanco. Foram utilizados 6 éguas hígidas e 1 égua com histórico de lesão abdominal por arma de fogo. Os animais foram submetidos a jejum alimentar de 24 a 36 horas, distribuídos em dois grupos. No grupo 1 foram incluídos animais que foram acessado o flanco esquerdo para a introdução do laparoscópico e realizado a incisão do saco vaginal à esquerda da cérvix, enquanto no grupo 2, o acesso do flanco para a introdução abdominal do laparoscópio foi pelo lado direito e a incisão vaginal à direita da cérvix. Os animais foram sedados com a combinação de cloridrato de xilazina e butorfanol e para dessensibilização cutânea e muscular realizada no flanco esquerdo e direito e a execução da epidural baixa foi utilizada lidocaína. A técnica cirurgia realizada foi a cirurgia endoscópica transluminal híbrida pelo acesso vaginal utilizando uma cânula vaginal que permitiu a introdução do endoscópio flexível e facilitando a passagem para o lado contralateral da incisão vaginal do endoscópio flexível para realizar a visualização da cavidade abdominal. Foi possível visualizar em todos os animais o diafragma, o estômago, o lobo hepático esquerdo, direito e processo caudato, o baço, projeções do rim esquerdo e direito, o cólon menor, o ovário esquerdo e direito, o ligamento largo do útero, o corno uterino e as tubas uterinas esquerda e direita, o duodeno, a base do ceco, o cólon dorsal direito e as alças do intestino delgado. Não foi identificadoo forame epiplóico, o pâncreas, o reto e a bexiga em nenhum dos animais do estudo. O procedimento endoscópico transvaginal híbrido para a exploração da cavidade abdominal em éguas hígidas não evidenciou dificuldade em sua execução nem complicações pós-cirúrgicas, sendo viável nos dois diferentes grupos propostos, como também auxiliou no diagnóstico de lesões intra-abdominais em uma égua causadas por arma The natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) technique involves the access to the abdominal cavity through an intentional perforation of a viscus (i.e. stomach, rectus, vagina, urinary bladder) with an endoscope in order to access the abdominal cavity and perform an intra-abdominal exploration. Until now, abdominal surgery in horses using minimally invasive techniques has been performed through laparoscopy. The objective of this study was to confirm the availability to perform the hybrid transvaginal endoscopic surgery technique in mares in order to explore the abdominal cavity in the standing position. The mares were divided in two groups according to the laparoscopic access through the left or right flank. / The natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) technique involves the access to the abdominal cavity through an intentional perforation of a viscus (i.e. stomach, rectus, vagina, urinary bladder) with an endoscope in order to access the abdominal cavity and perform an intra-abdominal exploration. Until now, abdominal surgery in horses using minimally invasive techniques has been performed through laparoscopy. The objective of this study was to confirm the availability to perform the hybrid transvaginal endoscopic surgery technique in mares in order to explore the abdominal cavity in the standing position. The mares were divided in two groups according to the laparoscopic access through the left or right flank. An incision was performed on the posterior vaginal fornix on the left side of the cervix in a 9 o’clock position or on the right side of the cervix on a 3 o’clock position. The abdomen was explored under endoscopic visualization using a 2 meters long flexible endoscope by 14 mm in diameter. The vaginal incision accessed via flank was performed under indirect visualization using a laparoscope. Six healthy mares and one mare with the history of abdominal lesion by gun fire were used. The horses were subjected to fasting from 24 to 36 hours and they were divided in two groups according to the laparoscopic access through the flank and vaginal incision. In group 1, horses were accessed on the left flank to the introduction of the laparoscope and it was performed an incision on the vaginal fornix in the left side of the cervix. In group 2, the access of the flank to the abdominal introduction of the laparoscope was through the left side and the vaginal incision in the left side of the cervix. The horses were sedated using a combination of xylazine chloride and butorphanol. Lidocaine was used for skin and muscular anesthesia on the left and right flank and for the execution of low epidural. The surgery technique used was the hybrid NOTES through the vaginal access using a vaginal cannula which allowed the introduction of the flexible endoscope making it rigid and the passage of the endoscope to the contralateral side of the vaginal incision to visualize the abdominal cavity. In all the animals of the experiment, it was possible to see the diaphragm, stomach, left, right and caudate liver lobe, spleen, left and right kidney projection, small colon, left and right ovaries, broad ligament of the uterus, uterine horn and right and left uterine tubes, duodenum, base of the cecum, left dorsal colon, and bowel loops of the small intestine. There were not identified foramen epiploicum, pancreas, rectus, and bladder in none of the animals in the experiment. The hybrid transvaginal endoscopic procedure for the exploration of the abdominal cavity in healthy mares did not demonstrate difficulties in its execution not even post-surgery complications. The procedure was considered viable in both different proposed groups.