Needle endoscopy in special procedures.

A needle endoscope, with a rigid shaft 2.2 mm wide and 20 cm long, an illumination range of 2-4 cm, and excellent optics, has proved to be very valuable in performing special interventional procedures because it can be inserted in any relatively straight 7-F catheter track. The needle endoscope has been very useful in combination with fluoroscopy for retracing lost drain tracks, evaluating fistulas and sinuses, performing limited pleuroscopy and laparoscopy for biopsy under direct vision, and evaluating the gallbladder and renal pelvis for location of duct openings. The author describes techniques used with the needle endoscope and results in a sample of cases. There has been no morbidity associated with the use of the instrument in over 800 examinations in a 12-year period.