1231 CE Online (1)

Handling and Transporting Endoscopes to CSSD (Central Sterile and Supply Department)

Transportation is one of the most vulnerable steps in endoscope reprocessing. It is very easy to co-mingle the endoscope with other instruments. Rigid endoscopes are easily damaged when heavy retractors, power equipment, or other instruments are placed on top of them, resulting in severely bent or broken rod lenses or light-carrying fiber optics, or crushed operative channels. Flexible endoscopes, or fiberscopes, are easily damaged when they are severely bent, twisted, or crushed between trays or heavy objects. The eyepiece and distal lens of an endoscope are prone to scratches or being shattered when not protected during transport. It is very important to separate the endoscope from all other instruments after the procedure and while loading the transport cart with other instruments and instrument trays. An endoscope can be placed into a transport bag to prevent cross-contamination and debris from drying onto the endoscope. Consider placing the endoscope or the transport bag into a container with a lid so that no other instruments or equipment can be placed on top of the endoscope or transport bag during transport. CARE OF RIGID ENDOSCOPES Structure and Uses A rigid endoscope is a non-flexible instrument with a stainless-steel hollow tube that contains optical elements and light carriers for vision and illumination. The four basic parts of a rigid endoscope are the following (see Figure 1). 1. Distal Lens or Objective Lens. Located at the distal end of the endoscope, the objective lens determines the viewing angle – forward, oblique, lateral, or retrograde. 2. Shaft of Telescope. The optical element is located within the endoscope’s shaft and is the most expensive and fragile part of the endoscope. (see Figure 2). The fiberoptic endoscope has a light bundle that runs parallel to the optical element within the shaft. A rigid endoscope has a row of glass lenses and spacers that are precisely aligned within a hollow portion of the endoscope in a row, or train. 3. Body (Light Post, Valves, or Stopcocks). The light post is at the end of the light bundle and allows the fiber light cable to be attached to the fiberoptic light bundle within the endoscope, transmitting light to the distal portion of the endoscope. Valves or stopcocks may be a part of the rigid endoscope to assist in directing fluid or gases through the endoscope’s channels (see Figure 3). 4. Eyepiece. The eyepiece, or ocular lens, allows for direct viewing for the surgeon or for viewing by many by attaching a camera to the eyepiece and projecting the image onto a video monitor.

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