EndoNurse Magazine

Procedures

There are many types of endoscopy—including those that use natural orifices, and those that use small incisions—but all are used to detect or treat illness. Those using natural body openings include colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, gastroscopy, enteroscopy, esophogealgastroduodenoscopy (EGD, or upper endoscopy), endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Endoscopy procedures that use small incisions include percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG), etc.

Automated Endoscope Cleaning and Reprocessing

Each year, more than 34 million gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures are performed.1 During these procedures, the flexible endoscopes that are used come in contact with mucous membranes in areas of the body that are not considered sterile.2 In the absence of defective ...More
December 28, 2011
Posted in Articles, Industry Issues, Procedures
Certification for Flexible-Endoscope Reprocessors

During these times of healthcare reform and changing healthcare systems, it is important that, as professionals, we are able to demonstrate our ability and competency to our peers and the public. There are competency-based certification programs for many professions in ...More
December 27, 2011
Posted in Articles, Industry Issues, Procedures
New Guidelines for Managing Anesthesia Complication at ASCs

As the number of surgical procedures performed outside hospitals continues to increase, ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) need to develop policies for managing malignant hyperthermia—a rare but serious reaction to anesthetics, according to an expert panel report in the ...More
December 27, 2011
Posted in News, Disorders, Procedures
Study: e-prescribing is Safe, But Barriers Remain

New study finds e-prescribing is safe and efficient, but barriers remain. ...More
December 16, 2011
Posted in News, Industry Issues, Procedures
Lighthouse Imaging Releases New Endoscope Quality Tester

Lighthouse Imaging Corporation has released its third-generation endoscope image quality tester, the Endobench XTB. This bench-mounted instrument provides endoscope image-quality measurements for high-volume environments, and is intended for endoscope manufacturers and ...More
December 15, 2011
Posted in News, Industry Issues, Procedures
FDA Coalition Working to Prevent Surgical Fires

SILVER SPRING, Md.—The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is building a coalition of public and private healthcare organizations to prevent a medical error—the surgical fire. A surgical fire is a fire that occurs in, on or around a patient undergoing a medical or surgical ...More
December 15, 2011
Posted in News, Industry Issues, Procedures
Bowel Preps 2012: Is Hydrotherapy Part of the Mix?

Some gastroenterologists are not happy with prep options, or at least want there to be more choices. For instance, Dr. Chris Demetriou, the owner of a GI clinic called GI DOCTORS, on Long Island, in New York. ...More
December 14, 2011
Posted in Articles, Industry Issues, Procedures
Olympus Releases Suite of Single-Use Aspiration Needles

Olympus America Inc. today introduced a collection of EZ Shot 2 single-use aspiration needles for Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) procedures. The needles feature an adjustable sheath designed to help physicians accurately approach the targeted site. ...More
December 14, 2011
Posted in News, Industry Issues, Procedures
Study: PSA Testing Reduces Unnecessary Prostate Biopsies

Prostate cancer screening that combines an adjusted blood test with other factors including the size of the gland, the patient’s overall weight and family history, can help up to one-quarter of men avoid biopsies and the risks associated with them, a Beth Israel Deaconess ...More
December 12, 2011
Posted in News, Procedures
Study Examines New GERD Treatment: Stretta

Mederi Therapeutics Inc. this week announced the results of a double-blind, sham-controlled study of Stretta for treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The study evaluated the specific mechanism of action in the application of radiofrequency (RF) energy. This ...More
December 8, 2011
Posted in News, Disorders, Procedures