title: Office hysteroscopy: comparison of 2.7- and 4-mm hysteroscopes for acceptability, feasibility and diagnostic accuracy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare 2.7- and 4-mm rigid optics, with 3- and 5-mm outer sheaths, respectively, in office diagnostic hysteroscopy by evaluating pain, patient tolerability, optical view and diagnostic accuracy of the procedure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred seventy-one consecutive patients undergoing hysteroscopy were included in a prospective, randomized clinical trial, and the outcomes were analyzed. A saline solution was used as the distension medium. The t test for unpaired samples, chi2 tables of contingency and ANOVA 2 x 3 were used where appropriate. The study took place at Tor Vergata University Hospital of Rome, Rome, Italy. The 371 women were referred consecutively for suspected endometrial pathologies and were separated into 2 groups. Diagnostic accuracy of the hysteroscopic procedure, pain experienced by the 2 groups (as assessed by a visual analogue score) and patient acceptability were assessed with a questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Satisfactory hysteroscopy was achieved in 253 of 310 patients with a 2.7-mm hysteroscope and in 47 of 61 patients with a 4-mm hysteroscope. This difference was not significant. Menopausal status was the most important factor influencing the practicability of the hysteroscopic procedure (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The narrower-diameter hysteroscopes tended to lower the incidence of pain associated with office hysteroscopy, but this was not significant. Parity did not show any influence on hysteroscopic practicability. Menopausal status was the most important factor influencing the feasibility of the hysteroscopic procedure.
authors.affiliation: Section of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Department of Surgery, Tor Vergata University Hospital of Rome, Rome, Italy. clinica.ostetrica.ginecologica@med.uniroma2.it
authors.forename: Sandro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rullo
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sorrenti
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marziali
authors.forename: Beatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ermini
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sesti
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Piccione
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D004867:Equipment Design; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020702:Hysteroscopes / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015907:Hysteroscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D009819:Office Visits; D055095:Optics and Photonics / Q000295:instrumentation; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012384:Rome; D013997:Time Factors; D014591:Uterine Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis