Abstract
The Machida type fibercolonoscope, or FCS, devised by us is an anterior direct vision type of fiberscope. The most important feature of this new fiberscope consists of a tip of 5cm size which is capable of being directed by flection up to 120 degrees in any direction and the tip up to 30cm possessing a fishing-rod-like flexibility and elasticity by means of a special spiral spring. This angle-regulating mechanism makes it possible to insert this instrument along the course of the intestine under direct visual control. The fishing-rod-like construction where the maximal flexibility is greatest at the tip makes it considerably easier to pass sites of marked flexure in the colon. At examination the insertion of the instrument is guided by direct observation and by roentgenoscopy. The results in 200 cases in 1970 and thereafter, when operative techniques No. I, II and III devised previously by us were used, showed that successful insertion into the cecum was possible in 139 out of 173 cases (80%) except 27 cases of pathological stenosis due to cancer and other reasons. Thus fibercolonoscopy now enables the direct observation of the colon beyond the reach of the sigmoidoscope, providing a useful diagnostic procedure. Further-more, a medium-long S.bercolonoscope or FCS-M has been produced by us for examination of the lower portion of the large intestine. This is used in the inverted position without roentgenoscopic guidance as in conventional sigmoidos-copy. When this method, fibersigmoidoscopy, was used in 120 cases, it was possible to examine up to the transverse colon in 19 cases, the splenic flexure in 22 cases and the descending colon in 39 cases without the use of special techniques I, II or III. Thus in the majority of cases it is possible to carry out the examination of the left colon in this manner. The usefulness of fibersigmoidoscopy in the practical clinic is, therefore, rather larger than that of fibercolonoscopy.
