Ortho-phthalaldehyde exposure levels among endoscope disinfection workers.
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OBJECTIVES AND METHODS: Recently, the use of ortho-phthalaldehyde (OPA) has been increasing as an alternative to glutaraldehyde for endoscope disinfection. To better understand OPA exposure and its health effects among disinfection workers, we conducted environmental monitoring and administered a questionnaire in 17 endoscope disinfection rooms. There were 9 manual disinfection rooms using immersion vats for scope disinfection and 8 automatic rooms using automatic washers. RESULTS: OPA exposure concentration during the disinfection process of scope was significantly higher in the manual group (median: 1.43ppb, range: not detected (ND-5.37ppb) than in the automatic group (median: 0.35 ppb, range: ND-0.69 ppb). Similarly, during charging and discharging the antiseptic solution, OPA levels were significantly higher in the manual group (median: 2.58 ppb, range: 0.92-10.0 ppb) than in the automatic group (median: 0.46ppb, range: ND-1.35 ppb). Time-weighted averages of OPA exposure concentration during work shifts were 0.33 to 1.15 ppb (median 0.66 ppb) in the manual group and 0.13 to 1.28 ppb (median 0.33 ppb) in the automatic group, which suggests that manual workers are exposed to OPA at higher levels. Among 80 female disinfection workers who used only antiseptic solutions containing OPA, the incidence of disinfection-related complaints were 10% skin, 9% eye, and 16% respiratory symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that it is desirable to introduce automatic washers to decrease OPA exposure levels among disinfection workers. (+info)
Scanning fiber endoscopy with highly flexible, 1 mm catheterscopes for wide-field, full-color imaging.
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Treating bilio-duodenal obstruction: combining new endoscopic technique with 6 Fr stent introducer.
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Periampullary cancer may cause not only biliary but also duodenal obstructions. In patients with concomitant duodenal obstructions, endoscopic biliary stenting remains technically difficult and may often require percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage. We describe a method of metal stent placement via a thin forward-viewing endoscope in patients with simultaneous biliary and duodenal obstruction. In two consecutive patients with biliary and duodenal obstruction due to pancreatic cancer, a new biliary metal stent mounted in a slim delivery catheter was placed via a thin forward viewing endoscope after passage across the duodenal stenosis without balloon dilation. In both patients, with our new placement technique, metallic stents were successfully placed in a short time without adverse events. After biliary stenting, one patient received curative resection and the other received duodenal stenting for palliation. Metallic stent placement with a forward-viewing thin endoscope is a beneficial technique, which can avoid percutaneous drainage in patients with bilio-duodenal obstructions due to periampullary cancer. (+info)
Fluorescence lifetime endoscopy using TCSPC for the measurement of FRET in live cells.
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