@article {Liu1655, author = {LiHua Liu and Momen Wahidi and Kamran Mahmood and Coral Giovacchini and Scott Shofer and George Cheng}, title = {Operator Perception of a Single-Use Flexible Bronchoscope: Comparison With Current Standard Bronchoscopes}, volume = {65}, number = {11}, pages = {1655--1662}, year = {2020}, doi = {10.4187/respcare.07574}, publisher = {Respiratory Care}, abstract = {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{\textendash}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 bronchoscope (P = .86). There were no differences among the H-SteriScope (P = .88), the current single-use bronchoscope (P = .84), and the current reusable bronchoscope (P = .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 bronchoscope. 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.}, issn = {0020-1324}, URL = {https://rc.rcjournal.com/content/65/11/1655}, eprint = {https://rc.rcjournal.com/content/65/11/1655.full.pdf}, journal = {Respiratory Care} }