Survey-Based Investigation Of Potential Organisational Issues Associated With Reusable Colonoscopes And Gastroscopes in Europe

Aims Disposable endoscopes are entering the market as an attempt to ease potential availability, portability, and degradation issues associated with reusable colonoscopes and gastroscopes (rCG). We aimed to identify potential organisational issues associated with rCG.

Methods Between 24 September 2020 and 12 October 2020, a total of 459 gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopists from the UK (n = 100), France (n = 90), Germany (n = 72), Italy (n = 99) and Spain (n = 99) answered an electronic survey about potential organisational issues they experience at their endoscopy unit. Data were collected using QuestionPro and analysed using Microsoft Excel.

Results Amongst the five European countries 13 % and 14 % of the respondents “often” had to wait for a gastroscope and colonoscope, respectively, to become available before a procedure. Reportedly, 1 % ”always” had to wait for a rCG to become available. Availability issues were predominant in Italy and Spain where 3 % of the respondent “always” had to wait for a rCG to become available. Only 5 % “never” experienced availability issues. High-volume centres were not significantly more likely to experience availability issues (p=0.2677). Eighteen percent of the respondents “often” experienced degradation of their rCG (20 % for colonoscopes and 16 % for gastroscopes). Only 1 % “never” experienced issues with rCG degrading. There were no significant differences between high-volume centres and the experience of endoscope degradation (p=0.8682). Two percent “always” experienced portability issues associated with colonoscopes, and 38 % answered that they “sometimes” experienced portability issues for both rCG.

Conclusions Our findings suggest that availability, portability and degradation issues are often experienced in every-day practise at the endoscopy units. Degradation issues were most prominent as 18 % of the respondents often had experienced this issue, and 1 % always experienced issues due to degradation when conducting procedures. Degradation issues were most common for colonoscopes compared to gastroscopes. High volume centres were not significantly more likely to experience availability- and degradation issues.

Citation Larsen S, Klinten Ockert L, Kryger Rindorf D et al. eP122 SURVEY-BASED INVESTIGATION OF POTENTIAL ORGANISATIONAL ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH REUSABLE COLONOSCOPES AND GASTROSCOPES IN EUROPE. Endoscopy 2021; 53: S136.

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Artikel online veröffentlicht:
19. März 2021