OBJECTIVES: To measure the thermal properties of operative endoscopes used in otorhinolaryngological practice. METHODS: A series of endoscopes of varying diameters and angulations were attached to a light source and temperature measurements taken of their shaft and tip; a measurement was also taken 5 mm in front of the endoscope tip. RESULTS: Temperature changes took place rapidly. The amount of heat produced by the endoscopes was maximal at the tip, with larger diameter endoscopes attaining a higher temperature. Temperatures on the shaft and in front of the tip reached relatively constant temperatures independent of the type of endoscope. The maximum temperature achieved was 104.6 degrees C for the 4 mm, 0 degrees endoscope. Cooling occurred rapidly after the light source was switched off. CONCLUSION: The heat produced by some endoscopes is sufficiently great to cause thermal injury to tissues. Awareness of the temperatures produced by these endoscopes should prompt clinicians to actively cool their endoscopes during a procedure, before any thermal injury is caused.
OBJECTIVES: To measure the thermal properties of operative endoscopes used in otorhinolaryngological practice. METHODS: A series of endoscopes of varying diameters and angulations were attached to a light source and temperature measurements taken of their shaft and tip; a measurement was also taken 5 mm in front of the endoscope tip. RESULTS: Temperature changes took place rapidly. The amount of heat produced by the endoscopes was maximal at the tip, with larger diameter endoscopes attaining a higher temperature. Temperatures on the shaft and in front of the tip reached relatively constant temperatures independent of the type of endoscope. The maximum temperature achieved was 104.6 degrees C for the 4 mm, 0 degrees endoscope. Cooling occurred rapidly after the light source was switched off. CONCLUSION: The heat produced by some endoscopes is sufficiently great to cause thermal injury to tissues. Awareness of the temperatures produced by these endoscopes should prompt clinicians to actively cool their endoscopes during a procedure, before any thermal injury is caused.
Authors: Elliott D Kozin; Ashton Lehmann; Margaret Carter; Ed Hight; Michael Cohen; Hideko H Nakajima; Daniel J Lee Journal: Laryngoscope Date: 2014-04-10 Impact factor: 3.325
Authors: Tomasz Lyson; Andrzej Sieskiewicz; Andrzej Sobolewski; Robert Rutkowski; Jan Kochanowicz; Grzegorz Turek; Anna Baclawska; Jacek Krajewski; Marek Rogowski; Zenon Mariak Journal: Acta Neurochir (Wien) Date: 2013-03-15 Impact factor: 2.216