Operator perception of a single-use flexible bronchoscope: Comparison with current standard bronchoscopes

BACKGROUND: Single-use flexible bronchoscopes have gained popularity in recent years for various advantages over the traditional reusable bronchoscope. There are several commercially available disposable bronchoscopes; however, all have limitations compared to reusable bronchoscopes. The Vathin H-SteriScope is a single-use flexible bronchoscope that may have overcome some of these limitations. METHODS: We designed a survey to evaluate the performance of this new single-use bronchoscope on a bronchoscopy model with operators who are familiar with current single-use and reusable bronchoscopes. The operators were asked to rank overall assessment, scope quality, handling, maneuverability, tool interaction, and image quality of the H-SteriScope on a scale of 0– 100. These operators were then asked to rank their current single-use and reusable bronchoscopes with the same scale. The results were evaluated to determine the operator perception of the H-SteriScope. RESULTS: The H-SteriScope and current reusable bronchoscopes were perceived to have significant differences compared with currently available single-use bronchoscopes in overall assessment of the scope, scope quality, handling, maneuverability, tool interaction, and image quality (P < .001). The H-SteriScope was perceived to have similar maneuverability as the reusable bron-choscope (P 5 .86). There were no differences among the H-SteriScope (P 5 .88), the current sin-gle-use bronchoscope (P 5 .84), and the current reusable bronchoscope (P 5 .89) between the training and nontraining interventional pulmonology subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: In terms of operator perception, the H-SteriScope appears to have similar maneuverability as the reusable bron-choscope. Both the H-SteriScope and the reusable bronchoscopes performed better in all measured sectors than the current single-use bronchoscope. Additional studies are required to evaluate the practicality, safety, and cost efficiency of the H-SteriScope in clinical practice.