[Hystersoscopy: instrumentation and techniques]

This paper was presented at the 1st Update Course in Hysteroscopy and Microcolpohysteroscopy organised by LAMM and held at the 1st Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Policlinico Umberto I in Rome. The paper is divided into three sections: the first section describes the technical instruments used during hysteroscopy (light source, means of distending the uterine cavity, optic systems); the second reports the technique used in hysteroscopic examination: in particular, the authors underline the importance where necessary (i.e. in young patients with stenosis of the cervical canal and in elderly patients with atrophy of the neck of the uterus or conglutination of the external uterine operning) of preceding dilatation of the cervical canal by the use of endovaginal prostaglandin derivatives in order to render it less traumatic. Moreover, the authors attempt to simplify the technique as much as possible so as to render it a routine or ambulatorial test; the third section describes complications of the hysteroscopic examination, in order of frequency, as well as methods of storing and disinfecting the instruments used in hysteroscopy.