Cardiovascular fiberoptic endoscopy: development and clinical application.

A slender, flexible cardiovascular fiberoptic endoscope has been developed. It is 4.0 mm in diameter and 120 cm in length. It is introduced through the peripheral vessels, and endoscopy is performed similarly to the procedure of the cardiac catheterization. It has been applied in 45 patients, for the preoperative and intraoperative diagnoses of various heart diseases in 25 and in 20 for the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative diagnoses of various vascular diseases. Most applications were aimed at the accurate preoperative diagnosis of an atrial septal defect. With flexible endoscope, the right sides of the heart and vascular lumens were clearly visualized. There were no infections, and no apparent injuries of the cardiovascular system were produced by the insertion and manipulation of the endoscope. It is concluded that the first step toward the use of cardiovascular endoscope as an adjunctive diagnostic procedure has been achieved.