Colonic tattooing in laparoscopic surgery - making the mark?

Area of Science:

• Colorectal Surgery
• Surgical Oncology
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery is common.
• Accurate preoperative localization of small colonic lesions is challenging due to the lack of tactile sensation in laparoscopic procedures.
• Effective tumor marking is essential for successful surgical resection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current techniques for preoperative tumor localization in the colon.
• To evaluate methods of colonic tattooing, including agents, dosages, and potential complications.
• To assess the efficacy of India ink tattooing for laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted using Medline and Pubmed databases.
• Manual cross-referencing of relevant articles on colonic tattooing was performed.
• Review of existing studies on preoperative tumor localization methods.

Main Results:

• Preoperative barium enema, CT colonography, and intraoperative colonoscopy are methods for localizing colonic tumors.
• Endoscopic tattooing with India ink before surgery is identified as the most effective localization method.
• India ink tattooing provides reliable marking of tumor locations for laparoscopic resection.

Conclusions:

• India ink tattooing is a dependable technique for marking colonic tumor sites prior to laparoscopic surgery.
• Surgeons utilizing India ink tattooing must be cognizant of potential associated complications.
• This review highlights the importance of accurate preoperative localization in laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery.