Surgical assemblies and methods for visualizing and performing surgical procedures in reduced-access surgical sites

Assemblies and methods for carrying out a procedure on an organ or tissue in a closed or restricted space surgical site. A low profile head is configured and dimensioned to be delivered to a target location on the organ or tissue through an opening in a patient and having a contact surface configured to contact a surface of the organ or tissue at the target location. An elongated member extends proximally from the low profile head and has sufficient length so that a proximal end portion of the elongated member extends out of the opening in the patient when the contact surface of the head contacts the organ or tissue at the target location. The elongated member has a lumen extending longitudinally therethrough. An endoscope is dimensioned to be received in the lumen and has an elongated shaft of sufficient length such that when a distal tip of the endoscope extends into the head, and the contact surface contacts the organ or tissue at the target location, a proximal end portion of the elongated shaft of the endoscope extends out of the opening in the patient.