What is the Advantage and Disadvantage of rigid endoscopes

24 Mar.,2025

 

What are the differences between a flexible endoscope and a rigid ...

The use of medical endoscopes and fibroscopes has become a common practice in the medical field, to visualize the internal structures of the body without resorting to invasive surgical procedures. Endoscopes provide doctors and surgeons with a valuable perspective to diagnose, treat and monitor various conditions. Among the different types of endoscopes available, flexible and rigid endoscopes are the most commonly used.

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Differences between flexible and rigid endoscopes

The main difference between a flexible endoscope and a rigid endoscope is their flexibility and their ability to be inserted into the body.

The flexible endoscope

A flexible endoscope is composed of a flexible tube which can be bent and manipulated to navigate through the body's natural pathways. Its flexibility allows it to follow the curves and contours of the body, providing easier exploration of hard-to-reach areas.

The rigid endoscope

On the contrary, a rigid endoscope is made up of a straight and solid tube, that cannot be bent or folded. It is typically used when procedures require greater stability or precision. Rigid endoscopes are often used for procedures that require direct access to a specific area of ''the body, and can be inserted through surgical incisions or larger body orifices.

The choice between a flexible endoscope and a rigid endoscope will therefore depend on the type of procedure,of the targeted locationAnd specific needs of the patient.

Advantages and disadvantages of each type

The advantages and disadvantages of the flexible endoscope

Flexible endoscopes are generally more comfortable for the patient because they are flexible (allowing easy navigation through the body's natural pathways and access to hard-to-reach areas), less invasive, and cause less pain. They also require less recovery time.

Also, the images captured by the flexible endoscope can be viewed in real time on a screen, allowing the doctor to guide the endoscope and identify abnormalities or lesions.

The flexibility of flexible endoscopes is both their strength and their weakness. The image quality is lower compared to rigid endoscopes, thus sometimes offering a less precise rendering.

They are also more delicate to handle and control: their use requires a training and a specific expertise.

Finally, they require rigorous maintenance and cleaning to avoid cross-infection. Their initial cost and maintenance costs are therefore higher than those of rigid endoscopes.

If you would like more information, go here: Maintenance of flexible endoscopes

The advantages and disadvantages of the rigid endoscope

Rigid endoscopes have the advantage of providing higher image resolution due to their more advanced imaging systems (such as high-definition cameras). They are often used in specialties such as neurosurgery, orthopedics, and laparoscopic surgery, where precise visualization is essential.

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They also provide increased stability and precision during insertion and manipulation. This can be particularly beneficial in procedures requiring high precision (e.g. laparoscopic surgery or neurosurgery).

They are also easier to handle and can simplify certain complex procedures.

In contrast, compared to flexible endoscopes, rigid endoscopes typically require larger incisions or body openings. This sometimes means the need for general anesthesia, increased post-operative pain, scarring, and longer recovery times for patients.

Also, rigid endoscopes have a slightly higher risk of tissue damage or perforation compared to flexible endoscopes, especially if not handled carefully.

Obviously, the choice between a flexible and rigid endoscope, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each, depends on the clinical context, the specific procedure, and the physician's preferences. The choice between a flexible and a rigid endoscope will depend on the patient's diagnostic or therapeutic needs, as well as medical recommendations.

Rigid endoscopy | Voice Doctor

On top is the KayPentax 70 degree endoscope. It has a small diameter and is relatively easy to place in the back of the mouth. Below is a Storz 90 degree rigid endoscope. It transmits more light for a brighter image and has a quick focus ring in front of the eyepiece.

Although there is an eyepiece, I'll admit to never having looked through it directly. I have always attached a camera, a C-mount style camera. A recording which can be viewed mutiple times is too valuable to be trusted to the memory of a naked eye view.

Because of the C-mount lens, higher resolution chip cameras are available for attached cameras when compared to chip-on-tip cameras on flexible endoscopes.

Three cameras attached to endoscopes with their respective sized images. The Standard Definition view is from a Storz 90 degree endoscope attached to a Storz SD camera. The High Definition view is with a KayPentax 70 degree rigid scope attached to a Toshiba HD i camera. The UltraHigh Definition view is with an Olympus 70 degree endoscope attached to the Olympus 4K camera.

Benefits

Benefits of a rigid endoscope include:

  • a high clarity image. 
  • the endoscope can be attached to a standard definition camera which may be upgraded with a high-definition camera later. 
  • The perpendicular view of the true cord vibrating margin highlights mucosal edge lesions. Especially when attached to a stroboscope, mucosal lesions on the margin of the membranous vocal cord stand out in high contrast against the background of the dark trachea.
  • With a cooperative patient and extreme depression of the tongue, a rigid scope can sometimes be tilted nearly into the laryngeal entrance and the cords examined extremely close up. 

Disadvantages

The potential pitfalls of the rigid endoscope are that:

  • It usually provides only a single perspective view - straight down from above.
  • Various anatomic structures can obstruct the image (uvula, base of tongue, epiglottis, posterior pharyngeal masses, supraglottic squeeze).
  • Gagging may preclude an examination altogether.
  • Depending on the amount of light, there is a relatively narrow depth of field. It can be difficult to put and keep the desired pathology in sharp focus.
  • Functional evaluation is limited, because the tongue is often stabilized by the examiner's hand.

Discussion

I most commonly reach for a rigid endoscope when I suspect a surface lesion on the vibrating edge or margin of the vocal cords, such as nodules or polyps.

I prefer the 70 degree scope as it can be inserted at a much higher angle which pushes the tongue down. This moves the scope is closer to the vocal cords, so that more light reaches the vocal cords making the image clearer. More of the pathology then fills the video frame.