Robotics and Natural Orifice Surgery?a Marriage Made in Heaven?

The geneses of natural orifice and endoluminal platforms have been seen by many as the next step in the evolution of surgery as it moves towards the goal of non-invasive incision?free operative procedures. Robotic surgery has also revolutionized certain surgical disciplines by catalyzing the adoption of advanced laparoscopic procedures (e.g. laparoscopic prostatectomy), reducing associated surgical learning curves and shortening post?operative length of stays. This paper will review the development of endoluminal, natural orifice and robotic surgery and attempt to identify areas of synergy between the two technological platforms and shed a light on combination of these techniques to create a platform that is superior in terms of visibility, maneuverability and clinical application.