A two-step method for marking polypectomy sites in the colon and rectum.
BACKGROUND
Intraoperative localization of polypectomy sites is critical for laparoscopic and open surgery, but conventional methods of marking the colorectum are sometimes unreliable. A new two-step method for marking polypectomy sites for identification during laparoscopic and open operations is described.


METHODS
Eighteen patients with postpolypectomy lesions necessitating preoperative marking were enrolled in this study. A physiologic saline solution was endoscopically injected into the submucosa to produce an artificial submucosal elevation (pseudopolyp). A small volume of India ink was then injected into the submucosal elevation (pseudopolyp) with a separate needle.


RESULTS
The two-step method was easily applied for all lesions without complication. At surgery, all lesions were immediately visualized.


CONCLUSIONS
The two-step tattooing method proved to be easy, safe, and accurate for marking polypectomy sites.
Sawaki
Akira
A
Department of Gastroenterology, Aichi Cancer Center Hospital, Nagoya, Japan.
Nakamura
Tsuneya
T
Suzuki
Takashi
T
Hara
Kazuo
K
Kato
Tetsuya
T
Kato
Tomoyuki
T
Hirai
Takashi
T
Kanemitsu
Yukihide
Y
Okubo
Kenji
K
Tanaka
Kyosuke
K
Moriyama
Ichiro
I
Kawai
Hiroki
H
Katsurahara
Masaki
M
Matsumoto
Kakuya
K
Yamao
Kenji
K
D000368:Aged; D002244:Carbon; D003111:Colonic Polyps / Q000601:surgery; D003113:Colonoscopy; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007417:Intestinal Polyps / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013653:Tattooing / Q000379:methods*
D004396:Coloring Agents; C028433:chinese ink; D002244:Carbon