Intraoperative colonoscopy in patients with colorectal cancer.

Sixty-seven patients underwent intraoperative colonoscopy during elective surgery for colorectal cancer. Complete examination of the colon was achieved in 65 patients (97 per cent), albeit with insertion through a colotomy in three (4 per cent). A synchronous carcinoma was found in six patients (9 per cent), which necessitated a change of planned surgical procedure. Synchronous polyps were detected and removed in 24 patients (36 per cent); two had polyps with carcinoma in situ. The mean age of patients with synchronous carcinoma was significantly higher than that of those without (74.1 versus 61.2 years, P = 0.02). Intraoperative colonoscopy took a mean of 15 min surgical time and only two minor complications (serosal lacerations) were encountered. In patients with colorectal cancer, intraoperative colonoscopy allows complete assessment of the colon and identifies synchronous lesions.