Shumway Renee, Broussard John D
Bobst Hospital, Animal Medical Center, New York, NY 10021, USA.
Clin Tech Small Anim Pract. 2003 Nov;18(4):254-61. doi: 10.1016/S1096-2867(03)00073-2.
Endoscopes are used for visualization and biopsy of gastrointestinal lesions, as well as therapeutic procedures, such as foreign body retrieval. In the past, they were primarily used in large institutional settings where specialized personnel could focus on their maintenance. Today, they are becoming increasingly common in general practice. The maintenance of gastrointestinal endoscopes in the veterinary setting involves many challenges, including safe handling, reprocessing, and storage. Meeting these challenges requires well-trained personnel and strict protocols. Reprocessing, which includes cleaning and disinfection, offers the greatest challenge. The complex structure of flexible endoscopes, particularly the long, narrow channels, makes them difficult to clean. Gastrointestinal endoscopes operate in a contaminated environment, exposing them to high levels of organic matter and bacteria. High-level disinfection is necessary for infection control, but liquid germicides available for endoscope disinfection can be toxic to medical personnel and patients.
内窥镜用于胃肠道病变的可视化检查和活检，以及诸如异物取出等治疗程序。过去，它们主要用于大型机构环境，那里有专业人员可以专注于其维护。如今，它们在一般临床实践中越来越常见。兽医环境中胃肠道内窥镜的维护面临许多挑战，包括安全处理、再处理和储存。应对这些挑战需要训练有素的人员和严格的规程。再处理，包括清洁和消毒，带来的挑战最大。柔性内窥镜的复杂结构，尤其是长而窄的通道，使其难以清洁。胃肠道内窥镜在污染环境中操作，使其暴露于高水平的有机物和细菌中。为控制感染，高水平消毒是必要的，但可用于内窥镜消毒的液体杀菌剂可能对医护人员和患者有毒。
