Do gastrotomies require repair after endoscopic transgastric peritoneoscopy? A controlled study.

Background: The optimal method for closing gastrotomies after transgastric instrumentation has yet to be determined.

Objective: To compare gastrotomy closure with endoscopically delivered bioabsorbable plugs with no closure.

Design: Prospective, controlled study.

Transgastric endoscopic peritoneoscopy does not require decontamination of the stomach in humans.

Introduction: Natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) is a rapidly evolving field that provides endoscopic access to the peritoneum via a natural orifice. One important requirement of this technique is the need to minimize the risk of clinically significant peritoneal contamination. We report the bacterial load and contamination of the peritoneal cavity in ten patients who underwent diagnostic transgastric endoscopic peritoneoscopy.