Evaluation of the mechanisms of damage to flexible ureteroscopes and suggestions for ureteroscope preservation.

AIM: To investigate the causes and costs of flexible ureteroscope damage, and to develop recommendations to limit damage. METHODS: The authors analysed repair figures and possible causes of damage to 35 instruments sent for repair to a leading UK supplier over a 1-year period, and calculated cost fi...

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Main Authors: Sooriakumaran, P, Kaba, R, Andrews, H, Buchholz, N
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: 2005
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author Sooriakumaran, P
Kaba, R
Andrews, H
Buchholz, N
author_facet Sooriakumaran, P
Kaba, R
Andrews, H
Buchholz, N
author_sort Sooriakumaran, P
collection OXFORD
description AIM: To investigate the causes and costs of flexible ureteroscope damage, and to develop recommendations to limit damage. METHODS: The authors analysed repair figures and possible causes of damage to 35 instruments sent for repair to a leading UK supplier over a 1-year period, and calculated cost figures for maintenance of the instruments as opposed to repair and replacement costs. RESULTS: All damages were handling-induced and therefore did not fall under the manufacturer's warranty: 28 % were damaged by misfiring of the laser inside the instrument; 72 %, mainly crushing and stripping of the ureteroscope shaft tube, were likely to have occurred during out-of-surgery handling, washing and disinfection. Seventeen (4 %) instruments were not repaired and consequently taken out of service due to the extensive costs involved. Eighteen (51 %) ureteroscopes were repaired at an average cost of 10 833 USD. CONCLUSION: Damages to flexible ureteroscopes bear considerable costs. Most damages occur during handling between surgical procedures. Thorough adherence to handling procedures, and courses for theater staff and surgeons on handling flexible instruments may help to reduce these damages and prove a cost-saving investment. The authors provide a list of recommended procedural measures that may help to prevent such damages.
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spelling oxford-uuid:a909dd89-44f5-4896-afde-e714b87e4ba32022-03-27T03:05:43ZEvaluation of the mechanisms of damage to flexible ureteroscopes and suggestions for ureteroscope preservation.Journal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:a909dd89-44f5-4896-afde-e714b87e4ba3EnglishSymplectic Elements at Oxford2005Sooriakumaran, PKaba, RAndrews, HBuchholz, NAIM: To investigate the causes and costs of flexible ureteroscope damage, and to develop recommendations to limit damage. METHODS: The authors analysed repair figures and possible causes of damage to 35 instruments sent for repair to a leading UK supplier over a 1-year period, and calculated cost figures for maintenance of the instruments as opposed to repair and replacement costs. RESULTS: All damages were handling-induced and therefore did not fall under the manufacturer's warranty: 28 % were damaged by misfiring of the laser inside the instrument; 72 %, mainly crushing and stripping of the ureteroscope shaft tube, were likely to have occurred during out-of-surgery handling, washing and disinfection. Seventeen (4 %) instruments were not repaired and consequently taken out of service due to the extensive costs involved. Eighteen (51 %) ureteroscopes were repaired at an average cost of 10 833 USD. CONCLUSION: Damages to flexible ureteroscopes bear considerable costs. Most damages occur during handling between surgical procedures. Thorough adherence to handling procedures, and courses for theater staff and surgeons on handling flexible instruments may help to reduce these damages and prove a cost-saving investment. The authors provide a list of recommended procedural measures that may help to prevent such damages.
spellingShingle Sooriakumaran, P
Kaba, R
Andrews, H
Buchholz, N
Evaluation of the mechanisms of damage to flexible ureteroscopes and suggestions for ureteroscope preservation.
title Evaluation of the mechanisms of damage to flexible ureteroscopes and suggestions for ureteroscope preservation.
title_full Evaluation of the mechanisms of damage to flexible ureteroscopes and suggestions for ureteroscope preservation.
title_fullStr Evaluation of the mechanisms of damage to flexible ureteroscopes and suggestions for ureteroscope preservation.
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of the mechanisms of damage to flexible ureteroscopes and suggestions for ureteroscope preservation.
title_short Evaluation of the mechanisms of damage to flexible ureteroscopes and suggestions for ureteroscope preservation.
title_sort evaluation of the mechanisms of damage to flexible ureteroscopes and suggestions for ureteroscope preservation
work_keys_str_mv AT sooriakumaranp evaluationofthemechanismsofdamagetoflexibleureteroscopesandsuggestionsforureteroscopepreservation
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AT andrewsh evaluationofthemechanismsofdamagetoflexibleureteroscopesandsuggestionsforureteroscopepreservation
AT buchholzn evaluationofthemechanismsofdamagetoflexibleureteroscopesandsuggestionsforureteroscopepreservation