Intraoperative Ultrasound in Colorectal Surgery

Abstract

Intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS) in colorectal surgery can be used both in benign and in malignant lesions. In benign cases, such as Crohn’s disease and diverticulitis, it can orient toward the extension of the surgical intervention. In malignant cases, such as colorectal cancer with liver metastases, IOUS/CE-IOUS (contrast-enhanced) improved the intraoperative management of liver metastases by dictating the resection margins in relation to the tumor extension. The IOUS method allows for exact tumor location, intestinal wall visualization, and malignant tumor penetration. The IOUS revealed the tumor and its margin in rectal lesions, making the sphincter-sparing operation easier to perform. In patients with small polyps and early colon and rectum cancers, IOUS works well as a one-of-a-kind intraoperative localization technique. In comparison with IOUS, CE-IOUS offered better detection and resection guidance. Intraoperative ultrasound enables surgeons to easily localize small, non-palpable lesions of the large bowel. Furthermore, it can determine even the aggressive potential of these lesions with high precision.