ENDOSCOPIC MONITORING OF OPERATIVE PROCEDURES DURING CARDIAC-SURGERY

Both intracardiac repair and fine anastomotic procedures are hard to v isualize in the sterile operative field, To overcome this problem, we have recently developed an endoscope video system for intraoperative m onitoring in open heart surgery. The endoscope earn be introduced into the cardiac cavity in a sterile fashion and thus be used to visualize intracardiac lesions as well as the operative procedures. This endosc opic video monitoring system is considered to be useful not only for t horacic surgery but also for cardiac surgery as well.