title: Advantages of reusable accessories.
abstract: Despite scant evidence supporting the use of disposable accessories, these devices have been widely disseminated. Manufacturers and governmental regulators, the most devout proponents of one-time use accessories, have framed the issue in economic terms-parsimonious practitioners reusing disposable accessories at the risk of cross-contamination, mechanical failure and product liability. This simplistic view represents revisionist history and ignores the long tradition of reusing these devices. This article reviews the numerous studies that support the safe and cost effective reuse of disposable and reusable accessories.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA. pdt@mayo.edu
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Wolfsen
mesh_terms: D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004209:Disposable Equipment / Q000191:economics; D020776:Endoscopes, Gastrointestinal / Q000191:economics; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal / Q000379:methods; D017743:Equipment Reuse / Q000191:economics; D004869:Equipment Safety; D006801:Humans; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014481:United States