1. Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery: A transtracheal approach for the thoracic cavity in a live canine model 
Yun-Hen Liu, MD, Yen-Chu, PhD, Yi-Cheng Wu, MD, Chi-Ju Yeh, MD, Hui-Wen Chang, MS, Po-Jen Ko, MD, Hui-Ping Liu, MD 
The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 
Volume 141, Issue 5, Pages (May 2011)
DOI: /j.jtcvs
Copyright © 2011 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery Terms and Conditions

2. Figure 1 The homemade endotracheal tube.
The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery  , DOI: ( /j.jtcvs )
Copyright © 2011 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery Terms and Conditions

3. Figure 2
A, Tracheal wall incision created with a homemade metallic knife. B, The tracheal wall incision was created with a sequential dilating technique. C and D, The costophrenic angle, chest wall, apex of the lung, and mediastinum were exposed after entering the thoracic cavity.
The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery  , DOI: ( /j.jtcvs )
Copyright © 2011 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery Terms and Conditions

4. Figure 3 Pericardial window creation using a needle knife.
The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery  , DOI: ( /j.jtcvs )
Copyright © 2011 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery Terms and Conditions

5. Figure 4
A, Tracheal wound after tracheal approach for thoracic evaluation. B, Complete tracheal wound closure with 1 silicone stent. C, Complete tracheal wound closure with 2 silicone stents. D, Fourteen days after stent removal.
The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery  , DOI: ( /j.jtcvs )
Copyright © 2011 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery Terms and Conditions

6. Figure 5
Change in white blood cell (WBC) counts in the 11 animals that survived thoracic exploration and pericardial window creation.
The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery  , DOI: ( /j.jtcvs )
Copyright © 2011 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery Terms and Conditions

7. Figure 6
C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in the 11 animals that survived thoracic exploration and pericardial window creation.
The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery  , DOI: ( /j.jtcvs )
Copyright © 2011 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery Terms and Conditions

8. Figure 7
A, Autopsy showing mild adhesion over the tracheal incision region. B, Autopsy showing mild adhesion over pericardium. C, Autopsy showing pleural cavity without infection. D, Complete healing of tracheal incision region without leakage.
The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery  , DOI: ( /j.jtcvs )
Copyright © 2011 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery Terms and Conditions

9. Figure 8
A, Histologic examination revealed complete healing of the tracheal wall incision with fibrosis. The white arrows indicated the edges of the tracheal incision. B, High-power view of wound healing with fibrosis (arrowheads). C and D, Histologic examination revealed complete healing of the tracheal wall incision with cartilage regeneration (black arrow).
The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery  , DOI: ( /j.jtcvs )
Copyright © 2011 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery Terms and Conditions