Effects of basic endoscopic handling and care training on gastrointestinal endoscopy logistics

Background and study aims The current practice of endoscopists is undergoing a dramatic revolution due to emerging endoscopy practices. Increasing use of gastrointestinal endoscopy has led to hospital budgets setting aside funds specifically related to damage to endoscopic instruments. Therefore, training in understanding endoscopic equipment, handling techniques, and equipment care can be helpful in addressing this issue. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of educational courses and training about basic endoscopic handling and care in gastrointestinal endoscopic care and services. Methods A number of new endoscopists, nurses, and nurse assistants were enrolled in a course for training in basic endoscopic handling and care. Data on the type of damage, cause, cost, and timing of endoscopic repair were prospectively collected. Data from the post-training period then were compared with retrospective data from the pre-training period. Results This study demonstrated that after training, there was less damage to endoscopes, lower costs associated with it, and repair times were shorter for endoscopes than before the training course. Post-training results indicated savings of a total of $ 40,617.21 or £ 29,539.78 and 102.6 days per damaged endoscope. Conclusions Basic endoscopic handling and care training plays an important role for both endoscopists and nurses, as well as in endoscopy facilities, specifically in avoiding the nuisance of unwanted and broken endoscopes. This could be beneficial for both hospital finances and endoscopic services.

How to use endoscopy equipment and not break it?

The article recommends brief principles for working with endoscopic equipment. Maintenance of devices, endoscopes and instruments. Algorithms for cleaning and disinfection of flexible, rigid endoscopes and more are given.

Pain perception during colonoscopy in relation to gender and equipment: a clinical study

ObjectivesA trend for gender-related differences in pain perception during colonoscopies has previously been observed. No consecutive clinical studies have been conducted to confirm such a relation. We aimed to investigate gender-related differences during the colonoscopy procedure, and the impact of endoscopic equipment and psychological factors on pain management.MethodsIn a consecutive clinical study, 391 patients referred for colonoscopy reported pain perception on a 0–10 visual analogue scale (VAS) after the procedure. A sub-group of patients (n=38) were given alternate instructions expertly tailored by a psychologist and their VAS scores were compared with those from the main study population. Data from a previous study from the same specialist practice and same source patient population using previous-generation equipment was included for comparison.ResultsNo overall gender-related difference in VAS reports was found. There was no reduction in VAS when alternate instructions were given. Female patients were, however, more likely to benefit from light sedation (p=0.012). When compared with previous-generation endoscopes, the current generation equipment resulted in a VAS drop of 1.9 points for women and 1.6 for men (p<0.009) and washed out a previously observed gender-related difference.ConclusionNo overall gender-related differences were found for pain experience during the colonoscopy procedure. Access to up-to-date endoscopic equipment can reduce procedure-related patient discomfort considerably, even at the expert level of a consultant physician.ImplicationsGastroenterologists should consider utilizing high-end endoscopic equipment to improve pain management and reduce VAS to very acceptable levels.

DIAGNOSTIC PLAY ENDOSCOPY OF UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT FOR REDUCING STRESS IN CHILDREN AGED FROM 3 TO 7 YEARS

Aim. In modern medical and psychological literature, the importance of reducing stress during medical examination of children is explained by the ambivalent characteristics of the modern technological approach: on the one hand, it gives more accurate data on the status of the body, on the other hand, it acts as an additional stressor. This work demonstrates the possibilities of reducing stress during ENT diagnosis in children aged from 3 to 7 years by means of play endoscopy. Materials and methods. Children from 3 to 7 years of age requiring ENT endoscopy (n=30) participated in the study. All children were divided into 2 groups by the pair distribution function. The first group was offered a play endoscopy. Play endoscopy is an ENT endoscopy performed with endoscopic equipment provided with a fairy-tale character (hereinafter the product). Play endoscopy is carried out to reduce stress during consultation and examination (patent application No 2020104836). The second group of children was offered a traditional endoscopic examination. The research was conducted on the premises of the New Technologies Clinic. Results. In the first group, 13% of children showed signs of stress during ENT endoscopy, while in the second group there were 53% of stressed children. In the first group (15 children), 13 children without prevalence of any syndrome chose bright products corresponding to age and gender. Children in the second group were not offered play products. Conclusion. A comprehensive examination of a child requires an increase in the humanitarian component of the treatment process. The method of play endoscopy based on the selection of a toy with its subsequent use with endoscopic equipment has shown its effectiveness. Wider application of this technique for reducing stress in children aged from 3 to 7 years may be the subject of further research.