COLONOSCOPIC POLYPECTOMY - INDICATION, TECHNIQUE, AND THERAPEUTIC IMPLICATIONS

The flexible fibroscopic colonoscope has changed the way we approach c olonic disease. The technique of safe, effective colonoscopy is discus sed including the indications and contraindications for therapeutic in tervention via the colonoscope. The techniques of polypectomy is descr ibed, including some tips for methodology gained by the bread experien ce of the author, and admonition against the possible complications wh ich can be life-threatening. The application for polypectomy in the pr esence of in-situ or invasive cancer is presented. The possible future development of colonoscopic and laparoscopic techniques are presented . The article concludes with a discussion of the monumental work of th e National Polyp Study documenting that patients undergoing polypectom y have a significant reduction in the incidence of colon cancer. Appli cation of the knowledge to the general population requires the identif ication of at-risk populations. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.