Diagnostic embryoscopy and fetoscopy in the first trimester of pregnancy

Embryoscopy is the examination of the embryo at 9-10 weeks' gestation through the intact membranes by introducing an endoscope into the exocoelomic space transcervically or transabdominally. This is likely to remain confined to the management of early pregnancy in selected families affected by recurrent genetic syndromes with recognizable external fetal abnormalities. The procedure-related risk of fetal loss is around 12 per cent. Fetoscopy is the examination of the fetus after 11 weeks' gestation. This is performed transabdominally in the amniotic fluid. The technique has evolved with the miniaturization of the optical device by using fibre-optics technology. This procedure is likely to find new applications with the development of ultrasound examination at 10-14 weeks' gestation in order to, either confirm, or rule out suspected external fetal abnormalities. Amniocentesis can be performed at the same time. The procedure-related risk is likely to remain below 10 per cent but no accurate figures can be drawn from the literature.