Experience with the New 4-Way, 5.5-mm Ultrathin Endoscope: A Case Series

• Published in: Digestive diseases and sciences Vol. 56; no. 3; pp. 909 - 914
• Main Authors: Agrawal, Deepak, Wong, Richard C. K, Isenberg, Gerard, Faulx, Ashley, Chak, Amitabh
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Boston : Springer US 01.03.2011; Springer US; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aged, 80 and over; Biochemistry; Biological and medical sciences; Case Report; Digestive System Diseases - diagnosis; Digestive System Diseases - surgery; Endoscopes; Endoscopy; Endoscopy, Digestive System - instrumentation; Equipment Design; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gastroenterology; Hepatology; Humans; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Oncology; Transplant Surgery; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Cholangioscopy; Ultrathin endoscopy; Small caliber endoscope; Unsedated endoscopy; Biliary tract; Gastroenterology; Metabolic diseases; Endoscopy; Endoscope
• ISSN: 0163-2116; 1573-2568
• DOI: 10.1007/s10620-010-1344-9

Background and Study Aims Use of ultrathin (ut) endoscopes is sometimes limited by their design (outer diameter, tip angulation and image quality). New ut-endoscopes are being designed to address these limitations. A new utendoscope, XGIF-PV70N5 (Olympus America Inc.), with an outer diameter of 5.5 mm, 4-way angulation and narrow band imaging has recently been introduced. In this study, we report our subjective experience with this prototype ut-endoscope and discuss the practical uses of its new features. Patients and Methods In this prospective case series, ut-endoscopy was performed on selected patients scheduled for endoscopy at a tertiary referral center. Results Ut-endoscopy was successfully performed on 15 patients with varied indications. The 4-way angulation proved advantageous but not necessary. Narrow band imaging was not very useful in this group of patients. The image quality was satisfactory. Conclusions The prototype ut-endoscope can be used for a broad range of indications. The 4-way angulation may prove advantageous in specific situations and the role of narrow-band imaging remains to be defined.