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O U T P A T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 5
Flexible GI Endoscopes
Image quality and scope handling make the difference.
C
olonoscopy can be a com-
plex process, but in per-
formance it simply comes
down to visualizing the colon and
maneuvering the scope. The gas-
trointestinal market offers a range
of accessories that claim they will
improve a physician's polyp detection rate, but if you're in the market
for flexible endoscopes, focus on the main goals: a sharp view and
easy, efficient movement.
• Image is everything. The quality of the image a scope delivers is the
factor that matters most to most physicians in choosing an endo-
scope. Unless you're literally conducting a side-by-side comparison of
competing systems, which could prove logistically and technically dif-
ficult, you might not be able to see a difference between scopes' visu-
alization abilities during successive trials. You'll have to trust your sur-
geons' insights on the issue, but if they're happy with the image,
they'll be happy with the scope. Recent advances such as wider-angle
or even retroscopic views have been drawing a lot of attention,
though they haven't been conclusively proven to improve care and
may carry a learning curve for the most effective use.
• Task at hand. For some endoscope users, the feel of the scope is an
important consideration, since better ergonomics mean more efficient
operation. Most scopes are built the same way, but a compact, light-
weight control head that fits in your left hand, with the dials and but-
tons exactly where you're used to them, makes flexing the scope tip
up, down, left and right easy. If your scopes are going to be shared by
a group of physicians, it makes sense to select a model whose control
T H I N K I N G O F B U Y I N G …
Samir Parikh, MD, FACS, FASCRS
z SCOPE SELECTION Physicians will choose
the endoscope that brings efficiency to the job.