title: Performance and cost of disposable biopsy forceps in upper gastrointestinal endoscopy: comparison with reusable biopsy forceps.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It is believed that disposable biopsy forceps are more costly than reusable biopsy forceps. In this study, we evaluated performance and cost of disposable forceps versus reusable forceps in esophagogastroduodenoscopic biopsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between October 2009 and July 2010, we enrolled 200 patients undergoing esophagogastroduodenoscopic biopsy at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital. Biopsies were performed with 100 disposable or 5 reusable forceps by random assignment. Seventy-five additional patients were studied to estimate durability of reusable forceps. The assisting nurses estimated the performance of the forceps. The evaluation of costs included purchase prices and reprocessing costs. The adequacy of the sample was estimated according to the diameter of the obtained tissue.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Performance of disposable forceps was estimated as excellent in 97.0%, good in 2.0% and adequate in 1.0%. Reusable forceps were estimated as excellent in 36.0%, good in 36.0%, adequate in 25.1% and inadequate in 2.9%. The performance of reusable forceps declined with the number of uses. The reprocessing cost of reusable forceps for one biopsy session was calculated as ₩8,021. The adequacy of the sample was excellent for both forceps.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Disposable forceps showed excellent performance. Considering the reprocessing costs of reusable forceps, usage of disposable forceps with a low price should be considered.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Chul-Hyun
authors: CH
authors: Lim
authors: Myung-Gyu
authors: MG
authors: Choi
authors: Won Chul
authors: WC
authors: Kim
authors: Jin Soo
authors: JS
authors: Kim
authors: Yu Kyung
authors: YK
authors: Cho
authors: Jae Myung
authors: JM
authors: Park
authors: In Seok
authors: IS
authors: Lee
authors: Sang Woo
authors: SW
authors: Kim
authors: Kyu Yong
authors: KY
authors: Choi
authors: In-Sik
authors: IS
authors: Chung