Development of flexible culdoscopy

Study Objective, To assess correlation between findings at standard laparos copy and office flexible culdoscopy. Design. Observational study(Canadian Task Force classification 11-1). Setting, University-affiliated hospital. Patients. Eleven women undergoing diagnostic laparoscopy to evaluate infert ility. Interventions, Microlaparoscopy and flexible culdoscopy. in the first six c ases laparoscopy was performed first followed by culdoscopy; in the last fi ve cases the order was reversed. Measurements and Main Results. The number of endometriotic implants or adhe sions was counted for both operative techniques. The flexible 2.2-mm culdos cope provided a view of the pelvis similar to the laparoscope. Correlation between the procedures was 100%. The flexible scope achieved better visuali zation than the standard rigid posterior cul-de-sac culdoscope. Conclusion. Flexible culdoscopy is a excellent procedure for diagnostic end oscopy. It correlates well with office laparoscopy, requires less anesthesi a, and is better tolerated by patients. Several operative procedures are cu rrently being tested through this mode of access.