This article is about the use of endoscopy on avian medicine. Endoscopy is achieved to the use of endoscope a flexible light (e.g. fiber optic) tube that allows viewing the interior of the body. This article introduces endoscopy from its conception in the 50s to the 60s, its uses, to the different kinds of approach in endoscopy such as Air sac endoscopy to the Ventral Hepatoperitoneal spaces among others. Application of endoscopy is also discussed. References are also provided in this article.
The article starts with a brief history on endoscopy.  Endoscopy, or the ability to view the inside of a body started in the 1950s and 1960s as early as this, technique and equipment have been developed although the instruments used for veterinary medicine principally in avian medicine were for human endoscopy.
Indication or where endoscopy can be applied is discussed in this article. Briefly, endoscopy can either be used in the field of diagnostic or therapeutic. A diagnostic endoscopy is when evidence of pathological process that affects an organ and visual information is needed, and wherein diagnosis can only be obtained thru the use of endoscopy where other means of diagnosis cannot be applied. Whereas therapeutic endoscopy involves the operation or removal among others: foreign object, parasites, inflamed parts, and other operation which requires minimal invasive surgery.
Contraindication or where endoscopy cannot be applied is enumerated, such as when the bird is not in a stable condition, endoscopy should be avoided.
Endoscopes can either be flexible or rigid. Rigid endoscopy is the most common type because it is used more often in avian medicine with higher optical quality and ease of use. The need of veterinary surgical instruments such as elliptical biopsy forceps with the use of sheaths enables the forceps to pass through. Other veterinary surgical instruments used are 3.5 F sharp scissors, 5F and 3F or the grasping forceps. It is better that a light source and the use of an endovideo camera be attached especially when performing delicate procedure.
Discussed thoroughly in this article is the complexity of the avian anatomy also from the most common approach when performing an air sac endoscopy in conjunction with the use of veterinary surgical instruments to the preferred entry points. When doing the Air sac endoscopy approach it is vital to have knowledge of the avian anatomy. The article discusses in detail starting from the entry of the endoscope to the organs it passes through with detailed explanation on care and in depth information of the internals. Entry via the Ventral Hepatoperitoneal spaces is also discussed in detail.
Although endoscopy is of importance in the field of diagnosis and surgery and where physical examination is limited and where endoscopy can help give more specific diagnosis the use of endoscopy in avian medicine is still limiting due to the small size of the subject or patient. Also endoscopy is without risk subject may experience hemorrhage, trauma to internal organs although rare. And there is also the subject of cost; an endoscopy system requires a large investment which is limiting for private practices.Read on this subject