Single-use bronchoscopes earned high recommendations from consensus surveys in China where they are widely used, according to a recent study.

Chinese respiratory endoscopy experts developed the consensus, published in the Chinese Journal of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases, after extensive online and offline consultation and surveys.

The consensus was developed using clinical experiences gained and lessons learned during clinical practices across 10 years, to standardize usage of single-use flexible bronchoscopes.

Nine issues concerning single-use flexible bronchoscopes were covered in the surveys. They included definition, benefits, construction, preoperative preparation, application scenarios, anesthesia requirements, sedation, disinfection processes and training requirement and management.

The findings generated 12 recommendations. The strongest recommendations for single-use endoscopes, by percentage, noted that they are:

• Disposable
• Sterile
• Valuable in cases of infectious disease, unexplained pneumonia and multidrug-resistant organisms
• Do not require disinfection
• Involve standardized training

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Other factors included in the consensus opinions on single-use bronchoscopes were their relatively low cost, portability and ease of use, and their value as a tool for teaching and scientific research. They also are immediately available to manage patients with difficult airways or for removing foreign bodies in airways and for hemoptysis in emergency situations.

The consensus data also showed single-use scopes to be powerful in complex bronchoscopic procedures when multiple endoscopic surgeries are required and for topical anesthesia with tracheal intubation.

In 2009, Ambu launched the world's first single-use flexible bronchoscope. The company now offers a broad portfolio of single-use scopes for a variety of clinical areas.