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CC BY 4.0 · Endosc Int Open 2023; 11(10): E1001-E1004
DOI: 10.1055/a-2173-1711
Original article

Bronchoscopy masks mitigate aerosols during upper gastrointestinal endoscopies

Frank Phillips
1   NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom (Ringgold ID: RIN574111)
,
Jane Crowley
2   Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Ringgold ID: RIN6123)
,
Samantha Warburton
1   NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom (Ringgold ID: RIN574111)
,
Adolfo Parra-Blanco
1   NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom (Ringgold ID: RIN574111)
,
George S. D. Gordon 
2   Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Ringgold ID: RIN6123)
› Author AffiliationsSupported by: Norgine
Supported by: Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust
Supported by: UK Research and Innovation MR/T041951/1
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Abstract

Background and study aims Upper gastrointestinal endoscopies are considered aerosol-generating procedures (AGP) that risk spread of airborne diseases such as SARS-CoV-2. We aimed to investigate where clinically approved bronchoscopy masks applied to patients during esophagogastroduodenoscopies can mitigate spread of aerosols and droplets.

Patients and methods This study included patients undergoing routine upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in a standard endoscopy room and used a particle counter to measure size and number of particles 10 cm from the mouths of 49 patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopies, of whom 12 wore bronchoscopy masks and 37 did not (controls). Particle counts in the aerosol (≤ 5 µm diameter) and droplet (> 5 µm-diameter) size ranges were measured and averaged over the duration of procedures.

Results The use of bronchoscopy masks offers a 47% reduction (P = 0.01) in particle count for particles < 5 μm in diameter over the procedure duration (aerosols).

Conclusions Bronchoscopy masks or similar are a simple, low-cost mitigation technique that can be used during outbreaks of respiratory diseases such as COVID-19 to improve safety and reduce fallow times.

Keywords

Quality and logistical aspects - Hygiene - Endoscopy Upper GI Tract - Quality management


Publication History

Received: 05 May 2023

Accepted after revision: 17 August 2023

Accepted Manuscript online:
11 September 2023

Article published online:
17 October 2023

© 2023. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
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