Combined Laparoscopic-Endoscopic Procedures

The combination of a (minimally invasive) surgical procedure with a simultaneous flexible endoscopic intervention can be useful for many indications to make the therapeutic procedure more efficient and safer. The extent or contribution of endoscopic support can vary considerably: Terminologically, a distinction is made between a sole intraoperative endoscopy (e.g., for finding localization), a combined laparoscopic-endoscopic intervention, and a hybrid NOTES procedure. The combined intervention is characterized by the fact that endoscopy and laparoscopy are used side by side on an equal footing.