INTRAOPERATIVE ENDOSCOPY IN THE MANAGEMENT OF PATIENTS WITH COLORECTAL DISEASE

Preoperative colonoscopy is recommended in the evaluation of patients with lower gastrointestinal malignancies. The purpose of this study wa s to investigate the indications and impact on patient management in p atients undergoing intraoperative endoscopy. This is a retrospective r eview of patient charts from February 1972 to July 1994 of 69 intraope rative endoscopic procedures performed in 54 patients during 54 operat ive sessions. The results of intraoperative endoscopy affected patient management in 29 of the 54 operative sessions (54%). This included 9 cases (17%) in which the planned surgical procedure was altered There were no complications related to the endoscopies and 99% were complete d successfully. Intraoperative endoscopy can provide important informa tion that can alter the surgical management of patients with colorecta l disease. This technique should be considered when intraoperative pal pation fails to identify synchronous lesions identified on preoperativ e studies or in cases where the preoperative study is suboptimal.