[Diaphanoscopy in surgery. Presentation of a cold-light loop for various surgical uses, particularly for the choledochus and retrocavities of the epiploa. Comparison with an earlier system using traditional transillumination].

An account is given of the creation of an autoclavesterilisable, cold-light, transilluminating loop for surgical use following personal endoscopic experience with personally divised instruments, some of which were presented at the Turin Medical and Surgical Meetings held in 1954. It is considered that much valuable can be made of the intense luminous ray, which can be aseptically transfered into the surgery site for direct or transparent viewing. A description is given of a guided, flexible gastroduodenal sound used for obtaining material, insufflation and transillumination, and of a sterilisable, semi-rigid, metal loop used for conventional (hot light) illumination and diaphanoscopy. Lastly, the features of the new (cold-light) optical-fibre metal loop are explained. Its curvature is adaptable for the illumination and transillumination of even deep cavities. Useful employment of the new loop in the surgery of the choledochus and retro-cavities of the epiploa is referred to.