Single-use endoscopy is a game-changer in the fields of endourology and urology: It’s making procedures safer, more efficient, and tailored to each patient’s need, according to a Mayo Clinic urologist.

“Single-use endoscopes, particularly ureteroscopes and now cystoscopes, have added to our arsenal of tools to use to provide patients the best care, the right care, the safest care, and the most productive care wherever they may be,” said Dr. Kevin Koo, an associate professor of urology at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science.

Koo made that observation during a recent episode of the Endourology Sound Bites podcast, produced by the Journal of Endourology.

Dr. Koo has integrated single use ureteroscopes and cystoscopes into his practice, and his decision to use these devices is based on what is most beneficial for his institution, the patients he treats, and the facilities where he provides care.

Koo pointed out the costs tied to the upkeep of a collection of reusable devices. These costs not only include the initial procurement expenses but also the ongoing maintenance costs incurred each time these devices are damaged.

In specific situations, he said, single-use devices can offer a practical solution, particularly when patient factors or surgical indications increase the potential for reusable scopes to sustain costly damage.

As organizations gain more experience and a better understanding of single-use devices, they want and desire input from clinicians to best understand how single-use endoscopes can best be used, according to Koo.

"I think our administrators and managers are listening, and they really need the input from clinicians and urologists to understand what our practices are, what it is, and how we best serve our patients,” Koo said.

Click here to listen to the Endourology Sounds Bites episode with Dr. Koo.

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