Disposable Bronchoscopes

Published

I work in the Endoscopy Lab and we get called in during the night for emergent bronchoscopies by the Pulmonologist. Often times the House Supervisor has retrieved the bronchoscope cart for them, due to the urgency of the situation, and the procedure is over by the time we get there. We still have to clean and process the scope within 1 hour to stay in compliance with endoscopy standards. Our Respiratory department is looking into disposable bronchoscopes so they don't have to call us or wait for us to come in if non-emergent. Do any of you have experience with these disposable scopes? They are reportedly around $300.00 each and the monitor/software around $2500.00. This is the link to the product:

[COLOR=#0000ff]http://www.ambuusa.com/usa/products/clinical_studies/ambu%C2%AE_ascope.aspx[/COLOR]

Up Vote Up Vote ×

They are simple to use...prevent the need for cleaning. We now utilize them in the ICU at two different jobs where I work. They would definitely prevent unnecessary call time for the endo department. I'm a fan.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks so much for the feedback!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CTICU.

We use them in the ICU. I am not a fan. It's decent for airway placement or quick issues but not too useful for significant pulmonary secretions or lavages/BALs. It gets stuck in the swivel adapter half the time and needs jammed down the tube super hard (yes even with adequate lubricant). I might not have used them enough yet, we've only had them a few months but so far I prefer the "real bronch".

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks so much for the feedback!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
We use them in the ICU. I am not a fan. It's decent for airway placement or quick issues but not too useful for significant pulmonary secretions or lavages/BALs. It gets stuck in the swivel adapter half the time and needs jammed down the tube super hard (yes even with adequate lubricant). I might not have used them enough yet, we've only had them a few months but so far I prefer the "real bronch".

They have a new large scope that works better. We have been using this for about 2 years and they work great. When we got the scope, they threw in the screen for free (not sure if they still do this). The best part its a patient charge item so it works well. If we went with Stortz it would be around $50k and we would have to go through capital budget and it would be 2-3 years. With this we had it up and running in 2 months. In addition the scope is chip on camera so there is no fiber optics to destroy. If the patient bites down on it your don't care (we recently had the IP fellow destroy a Storz scope by putting a needle through it during a perc trach).

https://ascope.ambuusa.com/ascope-3-family/ascope-3-large

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks so much for the information.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Compared to FOB's I really don't like them. Any debris, secretion or blood in the airway and you most times have to come out and clean the lense. Real FOB's that isn't necessarily true. Also the image is processed unlike a real FOB so glare artifact and a crappy image is common. If the folks making the decision to switch had to use them, they wouldn't switch IMO. But if it is an easy, uncomplicated airway, I guess they're fine. It really sucks when its a hard airway for any reason.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion