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Capsule endoscopy findings in celiac disease associated enteropathy-type intestinal T-cell lymphoma.

Capsule endoscopy is a new technology developed to investigate diseases of the small intestine. It has been shown to be superior to current modalities such as small-bowel radiography and enteroscopy. We describe a patient with long-standing celiac disease who presented with abdominal pain, diarrhea, and weight loss, after many years on a gluten-free diet. The symptom complex and results from small-bowel radiography and computerized tomography raised concern about progression to lymphoma, and ultimately a laparoscopy and small-bowel resection were done for diagnosis. A capsule endoscopy was performed to assess the extent of the patient's enteropathy-type intestinal T-cell lymphoma after three cycles of chemotherapy. We report the first use of capsule endoscopy in the setting of celiac disease associated enteropathy-type intestinal T-cell lymphoma. These endoscopic findings are correlated with those from gross and microscopic pathology and barium small-bowel radiography.

Biopsy↗

Increased prevalence of migraine in patients with uninvestigated dyspepsia referred for open-access upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: The association between gastrointestinal symptoms and headache is frequently unrecognized. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of migraine in dyspeptic outpatients referred for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients aged 18 - 55 years undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for dyspeptic symptoms in three endoscopic units were recruited consecutively. All of the patients were given a validated questionnaire on headache symptoms in order to determine the prevalence of migraine. Patients were divided into four groups (ulcer-like dyspepsia, reflux-like dyspepsia, dysmotility-like dyspepsia, only nausea and/or vomiting). Age-matched blood donors were given the same questionnaires and served as controls. RESULTS: A total of 378 patients (mean age 40 +/- 11, 52 % men) and 310 controls (mean age 39 +/- 11, 56 % men) were enrolled. No differences were observed between the two groups in the prevalence of migraine (15 % vs. 11 %; P = 0.12). A higher prevalence of migraine was found among women in both groups (P < 0.006). In patients with reflux-like and ulcer-like dyspepsia, the prevalence of migraine did not differ from that in the control individuals (8 % and 7 %, respectively), whereas a higher prevalence of migraine was noted in patients with dysmotility-like dyspepsia (23 %; P < 0.02 vs. controls, those with ulcer-like dyspepsia and those with reflux-like dyspepsia) and in patients with nausea and/or vomiting alone (53 %; P < 0.002 vs. all other groups). The multivariate analysis confirmed that the symptom pattern and sex were the only variables independently associated with migraine. CONCLUSIONS: A diagnosis of migraine should be considered in young patients referred for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy due to nausea and/or vomiting or for dysmotility-like dyspepsia.

Adolescent↗

Real-time detection of Helicobacter Pylori infection and atrophic gastritis: comparison between conventional methods and a novel device for gastric juice analysis during endoscopy.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Gastric juice may represent a valuable source of clinicopathological information if properly analyzed. We evaluated the reliability and clinical validity of data obtained using an innovative device (the "Mt 21-42") that analyzes gastric juice, thus allowing the identification of Helicobacter pylori infection and atrophic gastritis of the oxyntic mucosa during endoscopy. METHODS: Validation studies were carried out to evaluate the measuring performance of the device. In addition, the H. pylori status and the presence of atrophic gastritis were assessed in 150 patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. In all these patients the Mt 21-42 device was used to assist endoscopy. Conventional tests (involving histology, urease testing, urea breath testing, anti- H. pylori IgG, serum gastrin, pepsinogen, intrinsic factor and parietal cells autoantibodies, vitamin B12, and folate) were also performed for comparison with the Mt 21-42 results. RESULTS: The measuring performance of the Mt 21-42 was good; for pH, the relative percent error and the coefficient of variation were 1.9 % +/- 4.2 and 1.3 %, respectively, and for ammonium they were 0.1 % +/- 0.2 % and 2.1 %. For the detection of H. pylori infection, the sensitivity and specificity of the device (96.7 % and 94.3 %) were similar to those of the urea breath test (90.5 % and 93.3 %) and serology (87.1 % and 88.8 %), and higher than those of the urease test (78.6 % and 98.7 %; P < 0.01) and routine histology (94.3 % and 76.3 %; P < 0.05). When compared with the currently available standard methods, use of the Mt 21-42 was found to be the most sensitive technique for the detection of atrophy (94.7 % vs. 5.3 % - 47.4 %; P < 0.001); the device failed to detect the disease in only one case (5 %), whereas failure rates of 53 % - 95 % were reported with the conventional methods. CONCLUSION: Atrophic gastritis of the oxyntic mucosa is a risky condition that often goes undetected in current clinical practice. The Mt 21-42 is an effective, useful, and desirable tool that may help to overcome this diagnostic limitation; it produces time and cost savings and also allows the detection of H. pylori infection.

Adolescent↗

High-resolution endoscopy plus chromoendoscopy or narrow-band imaging in Barrett's esophagus: a prospective randomized crossover study.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: High-resolution endoscopy (HRE) may improve the detection of early neoplasia in Barrett's esophagus. Indigo carmine chromoendoscopy (ICC) and narrow-band imaging (NBI) may be useful techniques to complement HRE. The aim of this study was to compare HRE-ICC with HRE-NBI for the detection of high-grade dysplasia or early cancer (HGD/EC) in patients with Barrett's esophagus. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-eight patients with Barrett's esophagus underwent HRE-ICC and HRE-NBI (separated by 6 - 8 weeks) in a randomized sequence. The two procedures were performed by two different endoscopists, who were blinded to the findings of the other examination. Targeted biopsies were taken from all detected lesions, followed by four-quadrant biopsies at 2-cm intervals. Biopsy evaluation was supervised by a single expert pathologist, who was blinded to the imaging technique used. RESULTS: Fourteen patients were diagnosed with HGD/EC. The sensitivity for HGD/EC was 93 % and 86 % for HRE-ICC and HRE-NBI, respectively. Targeted biopsies had a sensitivity of 79 % with HRE alone. HGD was diagnosed from random biopsies alone in only one patient. ICC and NBI detected a limited number of additional lesions occult to HRE, but these lesions did not alter the sensitivity for identifying patients with HGD/EC. CONCLUSIONS: In most patients with high-grade dysplasia or early cancer in Barrett's esophagus, subtle lesions can be identified with high-resolution endoscopy. Indigo carmine chromoendoscopy and narrow-band imaging are comparable as adjuncts to high-resolution endoscopy.

Administration, Topical↗

[The application of endoscopy in aesthetic breast surgery].

During the last decades, numerous surgical techniques have been described for breast augmentation. In addition to the very popular inframammary and the periareolar approaches, the transaxillary technique provides an elegant means of conducting a safe and accurate implant placement without producing visible scars on the breast mound. Due to a questionable lack of intraoperative visualisation with resultant higher complication rates,we conducted a retrospective analysis comparing the endoscopy-assisted transaxillary approach with the inframammary technique. A retrospective analysis was conducted comparing the endoscopy-assisted transaxillary approach with the more commonly chosen inframammary aditus. Patients undergoing breast augmentation from 1997 to 2005 were analysed retrospectively. The analysis was conducted in patients undergoing this procedure for aesthetic reasons only. Underlying breast pathology as well as previously performed breast surgery were among the exclusion criteria. The Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ-8) was applied for assessment of patient satisfaction. From 1997 to 2005, 96 patients underwent breast augmentation at our institution. Implant volumes ranged from 150 to 400 ml.62.5% preferred the transaxillary technique vs. 37.5% who chose the inframammary route. Complication rates were low in both patient subsets, the statistics revealing no differences. Assessment of patient satisfaction displayed high levels of satisfaction in both groups without any significant differences. The endoscopy-assisted transaxillary breast augmentation is a safe technique which generates high levels of patient satisfaction. Predictable results can be achieved by this approach which is preferred by the majority of patients when offered.

Axilla↗

"Hemodynamic efficacy" of two endoscopic clip devices used in the treatment of bleeding vessels, tested in an experimental setting using the compact Erlangen Active Simulator for Interventional Endoscopy (compactEASIE) training model.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Hemoclip therapy is a well-established procedure in the treatment of gastrointestinal bleeding. Although new products are provided periodically by the industry, comparative investigations are lacking. We compared two different hemoclip devices in an experimental setting, assessing them using objective hemostatic parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We compared two disposable clip devices (Olympus HX-200L-135 (n = 40) vs. Wilson-Cook Tri-Clip (n = 40)) in an experimental setting using the compact Erlangen Active Simulator for Interventional Endoscopy (compactEASIE) training model equipped with an upper gastrointestinal-organ package for bleeding simulation. This was a randomized, prospective, controlled trial. Four investigators with different levels of endoscopic experience applied ten hemoclip devices of each type to the spurting vessels, the clips allocated using a randomized list for each investigator. The efficacy of hemostasis was determined by continuous measurement of the pressure within the afferent vessel before and after clip application and calculation of the relative reduction of vessel diameter by the clip device. The system pressure was recorded over the period from 1 minute before to 1 minute after clip application. A secondary end point was a subjective assessment of the whole clip application procedure by the endoscopist and the assisting nurse, using a visual analog scale (0 - 100, with 100 representing the best experience). RESULTS: A total of 39/40 clips of each type were applied successfully. Both clip devices led to a significant increase in system pressure, representing significant relative reduction of vessel diameter (Olympus 5.4 +/- 7.5 %, p < 0.001; Cook 4.9 +/- 8.0 %, p < 0.001). Overall, there was no significant difference between the two devices ( P = 0.756). However, the investigator with the least experience in endoscopy (< 100 procedures) produced significantly inferior results compared with the other three investigators, who had performed between 2000 and 6000 procedures each ( P < 0.05). We found no evidence of a learning curve from the intra-observer results. The devices received good, but not significantly different, overall ratings by the endoscopists (Olympus 69 +/- 24 vs. Wilson-Cook 65 +/- 16) and by the assisting nurses (Olympus 77 +/- 9 vs. Wilson-Cook 70 +/- 22). CONCLUSIONS: Using an established cadaveric training model, no significant difference was found between the two types of hemoclip devices with respect to their "hemostatic efficacy". However, the experience of the endoscopist appears to play a major role in successful clip application. The use of a feedback mechanism in emergency endoscopy training, using continuous intravessel pressure monitoring, may substantially enhance the efficacy of training, resulting in a similar improvement in clinical results.

Cadaver↗

The outcome of suspected upper gastrointestinal bleeding with 24-hour access to upper gastrointestinal endoscopy: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIM: The aim was to evaluate the 30-day mortality after endoscopy for suspected upper gastrointestinal bleed, following the implementation of national audit guidelines at our hospital. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients with suspected upper gastrointestinal bleeding, referred for endoscopy to our teaching hospital between October 2001 and December 2003, were included in a prospective cohort study. RESULTS: A total of 716 patients with suspected upper gastrointestinal tract haemorrhage were referred for urgent endoscopy. The median age was 69 years (interquartile range 51 - 80 years). Bleeding from peptic ulcer remained the single most common endoscopic diagnosis (40 %). The overall re-bleeding rate for all patients with a gastrointestinal haemorrhage was 10 %. The overall 30-day mortality rate was 14.6 %. This was not significantly different from the mortality rate in 1995 of 10.5 % ( P = 0.11). Patients who died were significantly older (78 vs. 67 years, 95 %CI of the difference 5 to 12, P < 0.001). However, in only 29 % (30/105) was gastrointestinal haemorrhage stated in the death certificate as a factor which contributed to their death. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that implementing the good practice guideline has a limited impact on overall mortality because of contributing factors that are beyond the control of clinicians.

Aged↗

The role of wireless capsule endoscopy in investigating unexplained iron deficiency anemia after negative endoscopic evaluation of the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract.

INTRODUCTION: Despite undergoing standard endoscopic diagnostic evaluation with eosophagogastroduodenoscopy and ileocolonoscopy, up to 30% of patients with iron deficiency anemia (IDA) have no definitive diagnosis. The aim of this study was to prospectively investigate the role of wireless capsule endoscopy (WCE) in detecting lesions of the small bowel in patients with unexplained IDA after a negative endoscopic work-up. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1 December 2003 and 31 December 2004, 253 consecutive patients who had been referred because of unexplained IDA underwent eosophagogastroduodenoscopy with small-bowel biopsies and ileocolonoscopy. Endoscopic and histological investigations were negative in 51 of these patients (20.2%) and WCE was performed. Air double-contrast enteroclysis was performed following WCE in all these patients. RESULTS: Wireless capsule endoscopy revealed one or more small-bowel lesions that were considered to be a likely cause of the IDA in 29/51 patients (57%): angiodysplasias in twelve patients (23.5%), multiple jejunal and/or ileal ulcers in six patients (11.7%), multiple erosions in four patients (7.8%), a solitary ulcer in three patients (5.9%), polyps in two patients (3.9%), and tumors in two patients (3.9%). Enteroclysis revealed abnormal findings likely to cause IDA in only 6/51 patients (11.8%): multiple ileal ulcers in three patients (5.9%), tumors in two patients (3.9%), and polyps in one patient (1.9%) (enteroclysis VS. WCE, P < 0.0001). WCE revealed all of the radiographic findings and no adverse events were observed. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the importance of investigating the small bowel with WCE in patients with unexplained IDA after negative standard endoscopic evaluation. Wireless capsule endoscopy is superior to enteroclysis for detecting lesions of the small bowel in patients with unexplained IDA and should be the next diagnostic test of choice after unremarkable standard endoscopic evaluation.

Adult↗

PillCam colon capsule endoscopy compared with colonoscopy for colorectal tumor diagnosis: a prospective pilot study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Colonoscopy is regarded as the gold standard for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. PillCam capsule endoscopy could be an alternative approach for screening large populations. We report a pilot evaluation in humans of the safety, feasibility, and performance of colon capsule endoscopy compared with colonoscopy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients included in this single-center comparative study had presented for screening colonoscopy or there was suspicion of polyps or CRC. The capsule was ingested in the morning. After excretion, colonoscopy was performed. Significant findings were defined either as polyps > 6 mm, or three or more polyps of any size. Colonoscopy and colon capsule endoscopy (CCE) review were performed by independent physicians. RESULTS: 41 patients (26 women), mean age 56 years (range 26 - 75) were included, and all had complete colonoscopies. Four patients were excluded due to technical problems and one could not swallow the capsule; thus, 36 patients were considered in the analysis. In six the capsule had not been expelled at 10 hours and was retrieved endoscopically. CCE identified 19 of the 25 patients (76 %) with positive findings and 10 of the 13 (77 %) with significant lesions detected by colonoscopy. CCE detected seven lesions not seen at colonoscopy and two tumors were detected by both examinations. Overall sensitivity of CCE to detect significant lesions was 77 %, specificity was 70 %, positive predictive value was 59 %, and negative predictive value was 84 %. No adverse events occurred. CONCLUSION: CCE showed promising accuracy compared with colonoscopy. This new noninvasive technique deserves further evaluation as a potential CRC screening tool.

Adult↗

Development and use of a quality scale for assessing studies that analyze the diagnostic capacity of capsule endoscopy.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: The aim of this study was to develop a scale for assessing the quality of published studies on capsule endoscopy, and to apply it to research papers retrieved by a systematic review. METHODS: The scale was based on the evidence-based quality assessment tools used in diagnostic accuracy studies, and was adapted by the inclusion of additional aspects considered to be relevant for the assessment of capsule endoscopy. The scale that was developed used a score range of 0 - 100 and was divided into two sections: validity, with six criteria and a weight of 80 %; and applicability, with two criteria and a weight of 20 %. Two investigators applied the scale independently to the studies retrieved in a systematic review. RESULTS: Twenty studies were included. These studies registered scores ranging from 13 % to 78 % (median score 60 %). In the applicability subsection, only 5/20 studies included were awarded the maximum score. The concordance between the assessors was 0.98. CONCLUSIONS: The scale showed itself to be a valid and reproducible tool that could be used to assess the quality of capsule endoscopy studies. Our study revealed that the methodology of the studies published on this endoscopic technique showed room for improvement, however.

Capsule Endoscopy↗

Symptoms in patients with giardiasis undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: The aim of the study was to compare symptoms of Giardia-positive and -negative patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Multi-center questionnaire-based case-control study of 120 Giardia-positive and -negative patients who underwent upper endoscopy. Cases were identified through histological detection of trophozoites of Giardia lamblia in duodenal biopsy specimens. Giardia-negative patients with inconspicuous duodenal histology served as controls. RESULTS: There was a clear male predominance in the Giardia-positive groups, with 75 cases (62.5 %) being male and 45 (37.5 %) female (P < 0.0001). Giardia-positive cases tended to be older than controls (median 60 years vs. 45.2 years, P < 0.009). The main symptom of positive cases were tenderness to palpation (52.1%), abdominal discomfort (43.3 %), sensation of fullness (40.8%), distension (37.5%), epigastralgia (37.5%), nausea and/or vomiting (35.8%), heartburn (26.7%), and diarrhea (25.8%). Only sensation of fullness (P < 0.02), nausea/vomiting (P < 0.02) and heartburn (P < 0.03) were observed significantly more often in positive cases. Foul-smelling stools, considered typical for giardiasis, were observed in 5.8% of cases. Symptoms lasted for less than 1 month in 28.2 % of cases, for 1-6 months in 35.9%, and for more than 12 months in 35.9% (ns to controls). Treatment resulted in symptomatic cure in 60.5 % and in improvement of symptoms in 21.1 % of cases (P < 0.0001 vs controls). CONCLUSION: There are no symptoms that reliably allow the recognition of giardiasis in patients undergoing upper endoscopy.

Adolescent↗

Use of a modified non-rebreathing mask during upper intestinal endoscopy.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Recently, attention has been drawn to the significant occurrence of respiratory and other complications during upper intestinal endoscopy. This prospective study was designed to compare the incidence and severity of oxygen desaturation when two different methods of oxygen delivery were used during elective oesophagogastroduodenoscopy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: After local medical ethics committee approval and written informed consent, one hundred patients undergoing elective oesophagogastroduodenoscopy were randomly allocated to receive supplemental oxygen at either four litres per minute via nasal specular or ten litres per minute through a specially modified non-rebreathing mask. Oxygen saturations during endoscopy facilitated by midazolam sedation were recorded, and non-parametric tests were used to compare the oxygen saturations in the two groups. RESULTS: The mean oxygen saturations were significantly better during the procedure for American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) grade 2 and 3 patients who received oxygen with the modified mask than for those who received oxygen via nasal specular (98.6% vs. 97.0%, P = 0.004 for ASA grade 2 and 98.4% vs. 95.5, P = 0.006 for ASA grade 3). CONCLUSIONS: For ASA grade 2 and 3 patients, the modified non-rebreathing mask significantly improves oxygen saturations during upper intestinal endoscopy. This technique should be more widely used for patients at moderate and high risk.

Adult↗

The contents of free-text endoscopy reports: an inventory and evaluation by peers.

Insight into the current status of endoscopy reports is needed for a discussion on the desirability and feasibility of (more) standardized endoscopy reporting. We collected, from ten endoscopists, 181 reports in two diagnostic and two indication categories. An inventory was made of the subjects dealt with in the reports, such as: indication, premedication, therapy plan, and descriptive aspects of ventricular ulcers and lower tract polyps. To assess endoscopists' opinions on their reports, 16 randomly selected reports were reviewed by the ten endoscopists, using the Delphi method. The reports varied enormously in content and detail; 19 of the 28 subjects were not explicitly described in more than 50% of the studied reports. Such variation in the contents of reports may decrease the quality of care. The large number of topics that endoscopists indicate to be missing in their reports (on average 14 topics per report) suggests that more detail should be given in endoscopy reports. The current method of reporting causes endoscopists to omit information that they consider important. Due to the low overall consensus among endoscopists on which specific topics to include (eight or more endoscopists agreed on 15% of topics) we conclude that general criteria for the contents of reports cannot yet be formulated. However, the fact that the endoscopists agreed with more than one-third of the remarks made by colleagues opens a perspective towards identifying criteria for the formalization of certain report categories.

Delphi Technique↗

The administration of supplementary oxygen to prevent hypoxia during upper alimentary endoscopy.

A prospective, randomized, controlled trial was conducted in 200 consecutive patients undergoing endoscopy of the upper alimentary tract. One hundred patients received supplementary oxygen at 4 liters/minute through nasal cannulae, while 100 patients received no additional oxygen. Within each of these two groups, 50 patients were sedated with midazolam and 50 patients with diazepam suspension ("Diazemuls"). The patients' weights were recorded and correlated with their height to assess whether they were over or under their ideal weight. Oxygen saturation was recorded at baseline and throughout the endoscopic procedure. The principal finding of this study was that hypoxia (oxygen saturation less than 93%) was prevented in all cases by the administration of 4 liters/minute of oxygen, whereas 48 of the 100 patients who did not receive oxygen exhibited falls in oxygen saturation to less than 93% (p < 0.0001). Those with the highest risk were the obese patients (p < 0.01). There was no significant difference between the two sedative drug groups in either frequency or severity of associated hypoxia (p = 0.77, patients not given oxygen; p = 0.31, patients receiving oxygen). The cost of administering oxygen during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy would be an average of 95 pence ($1.60) per patient. In conclusion, the administration of oxygen during endoscopy is a worthwhile prophylactic measure to prevent hypoxia and its potential adverse effects.

Costs and Cost Analysis↗

Bacteremia following operative endoscopy of the upper gastrointestinal tract.

The rate of bactaeremia following surgical endoscopy of the upper gastrointestinal tract is reported with up to 50% depending on the therapeutic measure performed. In a prospective study we examined 160 patients treated by surgical endoscopy of the upper digestive tract. The rate of bactaeremia showed a significant difference with 12.5% after diagnostic and 28.96% after surgical endoscopy. Our results recommend a single shot antibiotic prophylaxis depending on the endoscopic measure performed and the patient's individual risk.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Anticholinergic medication in diagnostic endoscopy of the upper gastrointestinal tract.

The effects of two different forms of anticholinergic medication on endoscopic quality and patient discomfort were studied in 235 consecutively observed out-patients. Patients were randomized to receive either scopolamine i.v. and placebo transdermally, saline i.v. and saline transdermally, or placebo i.v. and scopolamine transdermally. No differences could be observed between the groups with respect to gastric motor function or endoscopic quality (as judged by the endoscopist), or discomfort during endoscopy (as judged by the patient). Transdermally applied scopolamin resulted in a significant increase (2p = 0.002) in post-endoscopy discomfort due to dryness of the mouth. The findings speak against the use of i.v. scopolamine (20 mg) or transdermally applied scopolamine (0.5 mg) in endoscopy of the upper gastrointestinal tract.

Administration, Cutaneous↗

The quality of gastroenterological reports based on free text dictation: an evaluation in endoscopy and ultrasonography.

The majority of physicians consider the use of free dictation for medical reports to be essential in many domains. One of the main criticisms of structured data entry is the possible lack of flexibility and completeness. Electronic documentation systems exist for endoscopy and ultrasonography examinations which are based on structured input as well as on free dictation. Endoscopy and ultrasonography reports based on free dictation were evaluated for omissive errors. The data evaluated was drawn from a database of 18,239 gastroscopy and 3,340 colonoscopy reports dictated by 28 physicians over 74 months, and 18,834 ultrasonography reports dictated by 37 physicians over 42 months. The error rates varied from 0% to 41.8% depending upon the particular feature and the particular examination, but were usually below 15%. The results were independent of the experience of the examiner. This study provides baseline measurements of omissive error rates for selected findings in gastrointestinal endoscopy and abdominal ultrasonography which can be used as standards for the development and evaluation of systems for collection of clinical data.

Database Management Systems↗

Advances in vascular endoscopy.

In reconstructive vascular surgery several intraoperative investigations are in use to check-up and secure full blood flow restoration (angiography, ultra-sound, electro-magnetic flowmeter etc.). In the last years endoscopical lumen control, introduced 1969 in clinical praxis, could be remarkably simplified and improved. For vascular endoscopy three technical prerequisites are necessary: a) temporary interruption of blood flow using clamps or balloon catheters, b) replacement of the blood by a transparent medium via pressure controlled saline perfusion, c) availability of suitable special endoscopes. The main application of vascular endoscopy includes: a) semi-closed thromboendarterectomy (aorto-iliac or femoropopliteal), b) arterial embolectomy, c) lumen control of inserted grafts including the anastomosis and the distal run-off vessels, d) venous thrombectomy. The availability of small-calibre endoscopes (external diameter: 1.7-2.7 mm) enables the extension of lumen control to small vessel areas such as the tibial and coronary arteries. Compared with angiography vascular endoscopy offers several convincing advantages such as a more reliable three dimensional lumen control, easy performance, saving time and the avoidance of any additional X-ray exposure. Technical faults or overlooked concomitant vascular lesions can be diagnosed and corrected immediately.

Angiography↗