The Future of Minimally Invasive Colorectal Surgery

What will the future hold for minimally invasive colorectal surgery? Colorectal surgeons have been at the forefront of technological progress of this field dating back to the development of endoscopic polypectomy. Progress in laparoscopic and natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgeries has pointed toward the path to the future. Endoluminal surgery-operating within the lumen of the colon and rectum-exists in the transanal endoscopic microsurgery experience. Transluminal surgery-operating in the abdomen through the wall of another organ-is ideally suited to the colorectum, where the organ of access is also the target organ for surgery. Herein, developments in transluminal surgery are presented along with an outline of challenges and developing solutions, including needlescopic surgery, miniaturized robotics, and the role of magnets. These advancements follow a natural progress of development and are in an early stage but promise an exciting future for colorectal surgery.