Endoscopy flexible

Anon (1988) Cleaning and disinfection of equipment for gastt ointestinal flexible endoscopy interim recommendations of a Working Party of ttie British Society of Gastt oenterology. Gut, 29, 1134-1151. 

Tuberculosis is on the increase in developed countries such as the USA and UK furthermore, MAI may be associated with AIDS sufferers. Hospital-acquired opportunistic mycobacteria may cause disseminated infection and also lung infections, endocarditis and pericarditis. Transmission of mycobacterial infection by endoscopy is rare, despite a marked increase in the use of flexible fibreoptic endoscopes, but bronchoscopy is probably the greatest hazard for the transmission ofM tuberculosis and other mycobacteria. Thus, biocides used for bronchoscope disinfection must be ehosen carefully to ensure that such transmission does not occur. 

An important requirement for laser surgery is a beam directing capability, which involves a flexible delivery system. A fiberoptic delivery system is a very convenient system for this purpose it is flexible, low loss, small diameter, and allows deep, invasive laser endoscopy. One should add that there is always the potentially useful feature of using fibers as biosensors, i.e. one can have a coupled sensing and actuation device. 

Alvarado, C. J. Reichelderfer, M. (2000) APIC guideline for infection prevention and control in flexible endoscopy. Am J Infect Control, 28,138-155. 

For more intensive care, however, increased precautions are advisable. Members of the patient care team should be limited to a small number of selected, trained individuals, and special care should be directed toward eliminating all parenteral exposures. Use of endoscopy, respirators, arterial catheters, routine blood sampling, and extensive laboratory analysis increase opportunities for aerosol dissemination of infectious blood and body fluids. For medical personnel, the wearing of flexible plastic hoods equipped with battery-powered blowers provides excellent protection of the mucous membranes and airways. 

Complications of foreign body ingestion include perforation and abscess formation. Flexible endoscopy is the most common method for removal. 

Waye, J.D., Grund, K.E., Farin, G. Argon plasma coagulation (APC) - Clinical usefulness in flexible endoscopy. Gastrointestinal Endoscopy 43(4), 64 (1996)... 

One of the potential advantages of metal stents over the plastic tube stents is the possibility of placement under conscious sedation by flexible endoscopy or fluoroscopy only. However, for a safe and durable access to the tracheobronchial system, the possibility for fine adjustments of the inserted stents, additional therapeutic measures, and permanent control of ventilation, most interventionists prefer to carry out stent implantations under general anesthesia and with the use of a rigid ventilating bronchoscope. Such a setting enables high frequency Venturi jet ventilation. 

Endoscopy Procedures using a thin, flexible fiberoptic tube with a camera to project images of the gastrointestinal tract back to a monitor. 

Gastroenterologist performing a gastrointestinal fiber optic endoscopy. A flexible fiber-optic endoscope is inserted through the mouth and navigates inside the digestive tract. (Garo/ Phanie/Photo Researchers, Inc.)... 

A 22-year-old man who had taken isotretinoin 20 mg bd for 5 days for nodular acne developed melena. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed edema and hyperemia of the gastric mucosa of the body and antrum. Flexible sigmoidoscopy showed edema and hyperemia of the mucosa of the rectum and sigmoid colon, with numerous erosions. To exclude the possibility of small bowel involvement, he underwent video capsule endoscopy, which showed diffuse and extensive intestinal inflammation with aphthae and multiple linear, irregular-shaped jejunal ulcers. Isotretinoin was withdrawn and he had a complete resolution. 

In the past, endoscopes were rigid, and their uses were limited. A drastic change occurred when fiberscopes (especially the flexible ones) were included in endoscopes. Rigid endoscopes are still widely used in many applications because they do provide an excellent image, it is easier to steam sterilize them, and they are cheaper. As mentioned earlier, there are videoscopes based on CCDs that are also used in endoscopy. These are still bulky and expensive, but progress is being made to reduce their size and cost. 

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