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Single-use Versus Multiple-use Endoscopes in Gastroenterology

NCT07014033 · Status: COMPLETED · Type: OBSERVATIONAL · Enrollment: 39

Last updated 2026-05-15

Study results available
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Summary

Gastroenterology is a branch of medicine that looks after people with problems in the gut (including the stomach and bowels) using an endoscope. An endoscope is a thin tube with a light and camera at the end, which is used to look inside bits of the body, for example the stomach, bile ducts (tubes that connect the liver and gallbladder to the bowel) or large bowel. Some have extra bits attached to take samples of tissue to look at under a microscope. These tubes are made mostly of plastic.

Around 1.5 million endoscopies are performed each year in the UK. In the NHS, most endoscopes are re-usable and are used hundreds of times after cleaning and disinfection. They must be very carefully cleaned and disinfected to reduce the risk of passing on infections to other patients as well as the healthcare staff who use the equipment. If endoscopes are cleaned and disinfected properly, the risk of infection will be very low. However there have been reports of infections, which may be related to disinfection not being done properly. Disposable single-use endoscopes are now available, designed to reduce the risk of infection. These are thought to be just as good as re-usable endoscopes. However, if we switch to disposable endoscopes, it may increase the cost to the NHS. There will also be an effect on the environment from using limited resources to make endoscopes, and get rid of them by incineration (burning) or burial in landfill waste.

The aim of this research is to provide evidence on the arguments for and against the use of single-use vs. multiple-use endoscopes in gastroenterology for NHS decision makers, especially regarding cost-effectiveness and effect on the environment. This will help the aim of the NHS in England to be "the world's first 'net zero' national health service.

Conditions

  • Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust

    lead OTHER

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2024-10-16
Primary Completion
2025-06-30
Completion
2025-12-31

Countries

  • United Kingdom

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07014033 on ClinicalTrials.gov