Evaluation of a flexible endoscope for laparoscopy.

Thirty patients underwent diagnostic laparoscopy using an unmodified Olympus GIF-P2 fiberendoscope. Both feasibility and safety of the fiberoptic instrument were evaluated. Compared to conventional laparoscopy, a greater area of the peritoneal cavity was visualized, and biopsies and photographs were successfully obtained. There were neither mechanical nor infectious complications. As has occurred in other areas of endoscopy, use a flexible instrument for laparoscopy appears to offer advantages over conventional rigid laparoscopes.