Intraoperative endoscopy of the gastrointestinal tract: clinical necessity or lack of preoperative preparation?

Intraoperative gastrointestinal endoscopy is an evolving technique that has received limited attention in the literature through case and small series reports. This literature does contain some papers in which the method was employed instead of conventional endoscopy, but, in general, intraoperative endoscopy has been effectively used as an aid to the surgeon to locate pathology not otherwise detectable and to enhance diagnosis and therapy at laparotomy. The procedure will not be required often, but when used, has the potential to be of as much service to the surgeon as a scalpel or retractor. As more surgeons are being trained in gastrointestinal endoscopy, the indications and uses will surely expand.