Intraoperative enteroscopy in minimally invasive surgery

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of intraoperative enteroscopy (IOE) in patients undergoing minimally invasive surgery. METHODS: Twelve patients underwent minimally invasive surgery and IOE at Miyazaki University Hospital. Patients included 11 men and 1 woman. After extraction of the intestine via minilaparotomy, enterotomy was performed, and a sterilized enteroscope was inserted. RESULTS: Length of the skin incision was 5.7+/-0.2 cm (mean+/-standard error). Length of the small intestine observed enteroscopically was 334+/-19 cm. Distance from the ligament of Treitz to the orally observed jejunum was 11.8+/-3.6 cm. In 5 of 9 patients with Crohn disease, additional lesions were found by IOE that were not found by preoperative examination. One additional tumor was found in 1 patient with ileal tumor. Postoperative complications occurred in 2 patients. CONCLUSION: IOE is efficacious in patients undergoing minimally invasive surgery.