COVID-19 is a disease caused by a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), which is chiefly
transmitted through respiratory secretions, aerosols, and contaminated surfaces [1].
Endoscopy is an aerosol-generating procedure and thus carries a significant risk of
transmission of aerosol-borne diseases to the endoscopist and staff [2]. During endoscopic procedures, a wide open space is left between the mouth guard
and the endoscope, through which large quantities of aerosols escape, increasing the
risk of infection.
We have made a few changes in the mouth guard to prevent exposure to aerosols and
allow endoscopy to be carried out safely. The elements of the novel mouth guard are:
a standard mouth guard, a baby feeding bottle, a feeding bottle nipple, and a triple-layer
mask ([Video 1]).
Video 1 Novel mouth guard for safe endoscopy.
Take a plastic feeding bottle and cut off the upper end at the neck. Fix this upper
end of the bottle to the mouth guard ([Fig. 1]). Then take the nipple and make a small slit across its top ([Fig. 2]). Invert the nipple ([Fig. 3]), place it in the bottle neck, and screw down the collar tightly ([Fig. 4]). Then take a surgical mask, cut a hole in the middle of it, and fix the assembly
into the mask ([Fig. 5]).
Fig. 1 Attach the upper part of a baby’s feeding bottle to the mouth guard.
Fig. 2 A silicon nipple with a slit functions as a valve.
Fig. 3 Invert the nipple into the bottle neck and screw down the collar.
Fig. 4 Perspective view of the novel mouth guard.
Fig. 5 Novel mouth guard in place in a triple-layer mask, ready for use.
Place the novel mouth guard inside the patient’s mouth and perform endoscopy with
all due precautions and necessary protective equipment. The nipple inside the device
acts as a perfect valve and prevents aerosols from escaping ([Video 1]). We have been able to carry out both diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopies with
these changes. We have demonstrated the efficacy of our device by performing a simple
experiment simulating endoscopy and aerosol generation ([Video 1]).
Our device is cheap, easy to make, reusable, and allows us to do endoscopy more safely
during this COVID era.
Endoscopy_UCTN_Code_TTT_1AO_2AN
Endoscopy E-Videos is a free access online section, reporting on interesting cases and new techniques
in gastroenterological endoscopy. All papers include a high
quality video and all contributions are
freely accessible online.
This section has its own submission
website at
https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/e-videos
