Broken cystoscopes...6 in one day

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Specializes in Intensive care, Operating room.

Two different Urologists went through 6 cystoscopes yesterday. Variety of cases, laser and no laser. We are aware of the heat issue with the laser, but not all of the scopes were on laser cases. We changed out laser fibers on the cases that involved laser and 2 scopes. The Dr's are experienced with the equipment, I just can't understand what would cause 6 different scopes to be broken/ruined in one day! We have not changed any parameters on autoclaves. Any ideas on how to troubleshoot? We are asking for a detailed damage report on the scopes we have sent in.:confused:

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

Is OR staff or SPD staff responsible for the sterilization? How are they handling them? Our cystoscopes go through sterrad, not autoclave because they aren't autoclavable. Are your scopes rated for autoclaves?

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Specializes in CST in general surgery, LDRs, & podiatry.

if SPD/CPD staff are responsible for processing them, might want to check the records and see #1, who signed off on doing them, and #2, if they have new processing staff members. Regardless of the situation there though, it sounds like some sentinel event occured in the cleaning, handling and/or processing of those items. SOMETHING happened that is going to be shown as a common thread across the board. Perhaps they are supposed to be done in STERAD, and somebody shot them through an autoclave? The damage reports and/or processing records will tell the very expensive tale soon....

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Specializes in Peri-Op.

What is your sterilization process for them? Do you have new staffi in spd? I ha e had a similar issue with people coming from their old facilities that utilized autoclavable Scopes and just Autoclaves all Scopes even though ours can't be done that way. We sterrad all our Scopes. We got RI of steris too as it is also very hard on Scopes, eating through the seals.

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Specializes in Intensive care, Operating room.

All of our cystoscopes are autoclavable. We do have a new person in SPD, new to us, but not new to the job. I am just bummed that it will be a real challenge to get through our surgery schedule until we get repairs back and of course the huge expense of it all.

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