title: Prospective evaluation of 4-mm diameter endoscopes for esophagoscopy in sedated and unsedated patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Unsedated esophagoscopy with small-diameter endoscopes is generally well tolerated but of limited sensitivity for the diagnosis of esophageal mucosal disease. This study evaluated the sensitivity of esophagoscopy performed with new 4-mm diameter prototype battery-powered and video endoscopes. Patient tolerance for an unsedated examination with the 4-mm endoscopes was assessed and the performance characteristics of the battery-powered and video 4-mm endoscopes were compared.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients referred for EGD were recruited to undergo an additional examination with a 4-mm endoscope. A prototype 60-cm long, 4-mm diameter battery-powered fiberoptic esophagoscope was used in the first 24 patients and a prototype 60-cm long, 4-mm diameter video esophagoscope in the next 27 patients. Examiners who were unaware of patient history and procedure indications recorded esophageal findings, ease of intubation, optical quality (5-point visual scale), and time for examination of the esophagus and then recorded esophageal findings after the standard EGD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for identification of Barrett's esophagus was 100%; overall sensitivity, accuracy, and specificity for detecting esophageal lesions were, respectively, 91%, 98%, and 99%. Patient tolerance (assessed by symptom scores for choking, pain, and discomfort) and acceptability of unsedated esophagoscopy with the 4-mm diameter instruments were significantly better than in a historical group of patients examined with a 3-mm diameter endoscope. The optical quality of video endoscope was rated as superior to that of battery-powered endoscope, and esophageal examination was performed significantly quicker with the video versus the battery-powered endoscope (68 vs. 137 seconds; p = 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Unsedated esophagoscopy with 4-mm diameter endoscopes may be an alternative to EGD for screening for Barrett's esophagus. Given the current state of endoscopic technology, a minimum diameter of 4 mm is required for satisfactory esophageal imaging.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Catanzaro
authors.forename: Ashley
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Faulx
authors.forename: Gerard A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Isenberg
authors.forename: Richard C K
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: Michael V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Sivak
authors.forename: Amitabh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chak
mesh_terms: D001471:Barrett Esophagus / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D004935:Esophageal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D020701:Esophagoscopes; D004945:Esophagoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014743:Videotape Recording
chemical_list: D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives