Intraoperative endoscopy: An important skill for general surgeons

Abstract

Flexible endoscopy represents an important set of skills for general surgeons. The intraoperative use of endoscopy, during the course of surgical procedures performed on the gastrointestinal tract, is vital to surgical practice. Endoscopic confirmation of pathology prior to beginning surgery, intraoperative anastomotic evaluation and margin assessment, and combined laparoscopic–endoscopic approaches are just a few examples that emphasize the value added when surgeons perform gastrointestinal endoscopy as a routine adjunct to foregut, bariatric, and colorectal surgical procedures. Intraoperative endoscopy improves surgical outcomes by providing useful clinical information important to decision-making, allowing surgeons to address technical issues, preventing them from manifesting as post-operative complications.