Recent advances in upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.

During the past decade considerable advances have been made in the field of gastrointestinal endoscopy. Newer and narrower-bodied endoscopes are now available for more comprehensive examination of the upper gastrointestinal tract. More lengthy instruments have made feasible the examination of most parts of the small intestine in children. The introduction of multivariate accessory equipment has given operative endoscopy a new burst of life, and the 1980s have seen renewed activity in such therapeutic modalities as endoscopic sphincterotomy and its various recent modifications. Similarly, endoscopic oesophageal sclerotherapy has been gaining momentum since interest was revived in the technique about five years ago. A brief review is made of these recent developments, including the less well-known subject of dye indicators. An attempt is made to assess their relative significance in the light of recent trends.