"See and Treat" Hysteroscopy

 Outpatient diagnostic hysteroscopy represents the gold-standard for the evaluation of the uterine cavity. Throughout the 90’s, a new philosophy started: the so called “see & treat” hysteroscopy, or office operative hysteroscopy, which reduced the distinction between a diagnostic and an operative procedure, introducing the concept of a single procedure in which the operative part is perfectly integrated in the diagnostic work-up. The single most important technical innovation contributing to the development and widespread diffusion of such philosophy was the development of small-diameter hysteroscopes with continuous flow features and operative sheaths such as GYNECARE VERSASCOPE® Hysteroscopy System through which mechanical instruments could be introduced.

The possibility of visual examination of the uterine cavity and contextual operative facilities has provided endoscopists with the perfect “diagnostic” tool: they can examine the cavity and take biopsy or treat benign intrauterine pathologies in a relatively short time without any premedication or anaesthesia. Finally a revolution occurred in 1997 with the introduction of GYNECARE VERSAPOINT® Bipolar Electrosurgery System, a versatile system dedicated to hysteroscopy which represents a key point in the history of office operative hysteroscopy. As a matter of fact, thanks to the use of 5 Fr bipolar electrodes the number of pathologies treated by office operative hysteroscopy has increased tremendously, reserving the use of resectoscope and operating room to a limited number of cases.