Ureteroscope Cleaning And Sterilization By The Urology Operating Room Team: The Effect On Repair Costs

Main Category: Urology / Nephrology
Article Date: 10 Sep 2009 - 0:00 PDT

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UroToday.com - Endourological experience, and a vested interest in the good working order of the specialized equipment used for these complex procedures, is key to their protection from damage during the cleaning and sterilizing process.

This prospective tracking study of a single center's flexible ureteroscopes cleaning process irrevocably confirms this finding. When the operating room staff, as opposed to a central processing group, cleaned, sterilized and stored the flexible ureteroscopes in the urology operating room area, there was a 2.5 fold reduction in repairs necessary for the scopes. This translated into an almost 4 fold reduction in repair costs per use of the ureteroscopes.

I have observed similar results with the other ancillary endourologic equipment used in the urology operating room, such as the pneumatic/ultrasonic lithotripter. The authors very accurately highlight the importance of having limited numbers of personnel handling the equipment and ensuring that those personnel are completely familiar with the intraoperative use of the equipment and accountable for its safety at all times.

The cost savings in repairs is well worth this attention to detail. No one has more interest in protecting this delicate equipment than those who are involved with its use on a daily basis in the operating room.

Semins MJ, George S, Allaf ME, Matlaga BR
J Endourol. 2009 Jun;23(6):903-5
10.1089/end.2008.0489

Written by UroToday.com Contributing Editor Elspeth M. McDougall, MD, FRCSC, MHPE

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