[Clinical experience with fetoscopy (author's transl)]

From December 1975 to July 1979 28 fetoscopies were made in the I. UFK Munich, 25 in local anaesthesia and under ultrasonic control using the real time scanner. 20 fetoscopies were made up to the 24th week of pregnancy, preceding an interruptio for medical or genetic reasons. 8 fetoscopies were made between the 26th and 38th week of pregnancy for diagnostic reasons. The best results were obtained before the 20th week of pregnancy, following a special fetoscopy score, developed by us. In consideration of the present state of the art, fetoscopy cannot be recommended as a clinical routine method for diagnosing external malformations. An application of substances directly into the fetal blood circulation by fetoscopy methods is not yet possible. Up to the 24th week of pregnancy fetoscopy methods can be used in specialised centres after properly weighing the risks, for the purpose of fetal blood sampling from the vessels of the chorionicplate or from umbilical vessels near the insertion of the chord to the placenta, for diagnosing genetical enzyme defects.