Intraoperative colonoscopy.

From 1973 to 1985, we performed intraoperative colonoscopy on 68 patients with indications as follows: location of a previous polypectomy site (44%), inability to complete colonoscopy preoperatively (24%), locating nonpalpable polyps (13%), to define the source of lower gastrointestinal bleeding (4%), and to perform polypectomy (3%). Endoscopic evaluation influenced the outcome in 93% of the patients. There were two complications, both splenic capsular tears. Despite our increased ability to resolve several of the earlier indications for intraoperative colonoscopy by examination prior to celiotomy, there remains a significant role for intraoperative colonoscopy.