Intraoperative enteroscopy. Indications and techniques.

This article reviews the role on intraoperative enteroscopy (IOE) in the management and evaluation of patients with chronic transfusion-dependent gastrointestinal bleeding who have not responded to standard diagnostic and therapeutic techniques. Intraoperative enteroscopy may be performed with a standard or pediatric colonoscope, push enteroscope, or a sonde enteroscope at the time of laparotomy. IOE techniques as well as indications, diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities, and complications of this procedure are discussed.