title: Intraoperative gastrointestinal endoscopy.
abstract: A four year experience with the adaptation of the flexible fiberoptic endoscope to the intraoperative environment is presented in 30 patients. The technique of intraoperative endoscopy was utilized in a wide variety of difficult gastrointestinal surgical problems to include the location of the site and cause of bleeding of obscure etiology; resolution of intraoperative dilemmas without the necessity of opening abdominal viscera; resection of lesions during operations conducted for other pathological processes; and enhancement of diagnosis at laparotomy. There were no complications from the use of intraoperative endoscopy and the technique was beneficial in 28 of the 30 patients (93.3%). Limiting factors in the full utilization of the endoscope at celiotomy were dense adhesions with a shortened mesentery and massive hemorrhage with blood obscuring the intestinal lumen.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014670:Ampulla of Vater; D001165:Arteriovenous Malformations / Q000175:diagnosis; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures; D004379:Duodenal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D004724:Endoscopy; D004761:Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008067:Lipoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011127:Polyps / Q000175:diagnosis; D012007:Rectum; D012811:Sigmoid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis