title: Potential contamination of the G-probe used for transscleral cyclodiode.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To present a case where we noted occult contamination of the G-probe used for transscleral cyclodiode and to critically analyze the techniques used for making a G-probe suitable for repeated use.
  
  
  METHODS
  Close microscopic examination of the G-probes used once for transscleral cyclodiode was done and a critical review of the literature on practice of reuse of the G-probe and the techniques used to "cleanse" the probe before reuse was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We noticed microscopic contamination of the G-probe by the tear film fluid in all the probes examined by us. The review of literature indicates that repeated use of the G-probe is not uncommon. The types of techniques used for making it suitable for repeated use indicate that it is not universally recognized that the lumen of the G-probe can accumulate fluid during the procedure, which makes it potentially hazardous when used for other patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our opinion the G-probe should not be reused as inadequately reprocessed G-probe can lead to risk of nosocomial infections, serious iatrogenic complications, and medico-legal problems.
authors.affiliation: Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre, City Hospital, Birmingham, UK. bansalatul@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Atul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bansal
authors.forename: Uthaya S
authors.initials: US
authors.lastname: Ramanathan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002924:Ciliary Body / Q000601:surgery*; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D015355:Glaucoma, Neovascular / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D054023:Lasers, Semiconductor; D008297:Male; D012590:Sclera / Q000601:surgery