Measures taken to reduce damage and repair costs of rigid endoscopes during their handling and processing in surgical practice.
An increased number of surgical procedures using endoscopic techniques has resulted in a more frequent use of rigid endoscopes. A side effect of this is that more instrument damage has been noticed. Measures must be taken in instrument handling procedures to reduce the incidence of instrument damage and the cost of instrument repairs. Impacts of such changes have been studied. The incidence and types of damage to rigid endoscopes was followed during a six-year period. During the time period of the study certain changes in instrument handling and processing were introduced. Improved education and training of personnel was instituted as well as a change in sterilization practice. Measures taken in instrument processing have resulted in a total reduction of instrument damage of 35%. High temperature damage to lenses was reduced in the order of 80% when low-temperature hydrogen peroxide gas plasma was applied for sterilization instead of steam autoclaving. The introduction of educational and training programs to raise the awareness of the staff in instrument handling and the use of low-temperature gas plasma for sterilization can considerably reduce the incidence of instrument damage and reduce the cost for instrument repair. It can be assumed that the reduction of damage to instruments also has a beneficial influence on the quality of the endoscopic surgical procedures because less time is lost, and possibly the image quality can be improved.
Skogås
Medical Technical Department St. Olav's Hospital University Hospital of Trondheim Norway.
Mårvik