Key findings
• The innovative Ambu® aScope™ 5 Broncho is a rotatable scope compatible with electrocautery. It was deemed safe and adequate in a study of 98 patients in a quaternary referral centre with an interventional pulmonology program. All procedures were completed without complication, technical difficulties, or reason to switch to a reusable scope.
What is known and what is new?
• Single-use flexible bronchoscopes have compared favourably with reusable bronchoscopes in functioning, cost, clinical outcome, and environmental impact while potentially reducing infection transmission.
• Our research is the only evaluation to date that confirmed that the Ambu® aScope™ family of scopes performed well in a quaternary referral centre bronchoscopy unit with an interventional pulmonology program.
What is the implication, and what should change now?
• Single-use flexible scopes are becoming more prevalent in bronchoscopy units. This study adds to the current portfolio of data regarding safe and satisfactory usage of single-use scopes. Further invasive studies may be warranted to further elucidate risk of infection transmission.
