[The future of "NOTES"].

In 2003, the first peroral appendectomy was carried out in a human subject. In order to prevent the premature adoption in clinical practice of the so-called "Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery" (NOTES), a rational framework for its development was proposed in 2005. After animal experimentation, further abdominal interventions were carried out in humans (example: cholecystectomy) through the mouth, vagina, or in a combined approach. The main advantage of NOTES compared to laparoscopic surgery is, from the patient viewpoint, the absence of body scar, but other benefits (example: less pain and costs) could prove to be significant. It is impossible to predict whether or not NOTES will enter in routine clinical practice, but it will generate significant improvements for digestive endoscopy.