M ost veterinary practitioners will have had at least some vague familiarity with fl exible diagnostic endoscopy, and its use in diagnosing alimentary and respiratory diseases--please see the second article in this series (Companion Animal 18(4): 151-4). Rigid endoscopes, on the other hand, can also be widely used in both diagnostic and surgical interventions. These endoscopes are often preferred for use in non-tubular structures due to better manoeuvrability and superior optical images compared with traditional fi bre-optic fl exible endoscopes. This is the third and fi nal article in this endoscopy series, and provides a general overview of rigid endoscopy and equipment required for basic procedures in general veterinary practice.Rigid endoscopy can be an extremely valuable and versatile part of clinician's diagnostic and therapeutic armamentarium.Procedures that can be performed using rigid endoscopy include: l RhinoscopyIn simple terms, a rigid endoscope is a long slender metal tube with a series of lenses, which allow for the transmission of light and image (Figure 1). Light transmission is achieved using an extracorporeal light source attached to the optical end of the endoscope. The image is then viewed via an oculus, or eyepiece, directly to the operator's eye or a video camera, which Endoscopy:part3-rigid endoscopy:anoverviewOver the last few decades, advanced and relatively high-tech medicine, traditionally associated with the human fi eld, is now an available, accepted and widely utilised by many veterinary practitioners worldwide. Up until now, these procedures had been reserved for those practicing in veterinary teaching hospitals and private referral institutions. One of the most exciting of these procedures is the implementation of rigid diagnostic and interventional endoscopy and endosurgery in our daily caseload.
Elise Robertson BSBVetMedMACVSc(Feline)DipABVP(Feline)MRCVS AmericanBoardCertifi edSpecialistFelinePractice