[The development of a new operating hysteroscopic fiberscope and its clinical application]

A new operating hysteroscopic fiberscope consisting of soft and rigid parts (4.8mm outer diameter) was developed with the support of Fuji Photo Optical Company. The working part of the scope can be divided into three sections: A flexible soft front section, a rotary rigid middle section and a flexible self retained semirigid rear section. With these functional parts the intrauterine target can be approached directly to perform the following operations. 1. Directed intrauterine biopsy. Thirty-five patients diagnosed as having endometrial polyp (13), submucous myoma (8), endometrial hyperplasia (4), endocervical polyp (3), endometrial carcinoma (2) and others (5) underwent direct biopsy with hysteroscopic control. No cervical dilatation or anesthesia was necessary. 2. Transcervical recanalization. In six cases of proximal tubal occlusion, a ureteral catheter or a percutaneous coronary balloon angiocatheter was introduced into the tubal ostium of the obstructed side to resolve the occlusion successfully with concomitant laparoscopy. 3. Hysteroscopic chorionic villus sampling. Chorionic villus sampling was performed with a ureteral catheter under direct hysteroscopic control and ultrasound guidance in eighteen pregnant women at from seven to fourteen gestational weeks. In fifteen cases, the samplings were performed satisfactory. 4. Removal of a lost IUD. Three cases of lost IUD underwent hysteroscopic removal without difficulty. Our results have proved that this scope is a very useful tool for intrauterine operations.