Abstract
Background: Sphincterotomes are currently marketed as one-time-use items and constitute considerable
cumulative expense in a busy endoscopy unit. It is uncertain whether these accessories
can be safely reprocessed without loss of form and function. Methods: We studied disposable sphincterotomes (five 5F, five 6F) in vitro as to their durability,
electrical integrity, and ability to be adequately cleaned both manually and with
ethylene oxide after contamination with 10 5 to 106 Mycobacterium chelonei. Results: Seven of the 10 sphincterotomes withstood the rigors of reuse; three 6F sphincterotomes
developed wire fracture between four and eight uses. Electrical integrity, as measured
by an electrosurgical analyzer, remained intact up to time of breakage in all sphincterotomes.
Manual cleaning followed by glutaraldehyde soak resulted in residual mycobacterial
colonies in five 6F sphincterotomes and a single 5F sphincterotome. No instrument
had residual organisms cultured following manual cleaning and ethylene oxide sterilization.
Conclusions: The authors conclude that one-time-use sphincterotomes have the potential for safe
reuse. (Gastrointest Endosc 1996;45:117-21.)
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
August 2,
1996
Received in revised form:
June 5,
1996
Received:
May 16,
1996
Footnotes
☆From the Sections of Gastroenterology, Clinical Lab and Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington.
☆☆Reprint requests: Richard A. Kozarek, MD, Gastroenterology, Virginia Mason Medical Center, 1100 Ninth Ave., PO Box 900 (C3-GAS), Seattle, WA 98111.
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Copyright
© 1998 American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
