Single Use Bronchoscopes
摘要
Reusable flexible bronchoscopes play an exceptional role in interventional pulmonology. During their use, they are repeatedly exposed to a variety of potentially infectious secretions. This repeated contamination may pose a significant risk of cross-infection. The reduced risk of cross-contamination represents a key advantage of single-use flexible bronchoscopes (SUFB). Furthermore, the introduction of SUFB has stressed the need for environmental comparisons between reusable and single-use devices. Finally, growing evidence shows that the latest generation of SUFB can be safely and effectively used for advanced bronchoscopic procedures. A holistic approach, encompassing not only the environmental but also economic and clinician satisfaction assessments, is necessary to substantiate this experience.