An independent analysis of flexible cystoscope repairs and cost

To establish the repair patterns of flexible cystoscopes we performed a systematic review of repairs performed at an independent endoscope repair company.

Repair and cost data for 2000 to 2004 were obtained from an independent endoscope repair company. All cystoscopes underwent a detailed inspection using a preset protocol and the frequency of individual repair descriptions was extracted from a computer database.

A total of 1,150 repairs were performed on the Olympus CYF (3%), CYF-2 (21%), CYF-3 (56%) and CYF-4 (20%) flexible cystoscopes. Repairs to the distal tip (28% of all repairs) most commonly involved the bending rubber or outer polymer sheath. Repairs to the hand control segment (14% of all repairs) most commonly involved the ocular. Repairs for image (14% of all repairs) and deflection (9%) were most commonly performed on the fiberoptic bundle and wires, respectively. Repairs to the deflection apparatus comprised a significantly greater proportion of total repairs in the early CYF models than in the CYF-4 model (10% to 12% vs 3%, p <0.01, chi-square 10.73). Less than 1% of all cystoscopes needed more than 2 repairs.

Olympus cystoscopes require repair every 2 to 3 years and they appear to be durable. The distal deflection tip, specifically the outer bending rubber, is the most common site of flexible cystoscope damage. Although it appears that significant improvements have been made to the deflection apparatus, the number of repairs to other areas has not changed significantly with time. Improvements in form and function of the distal tip, the hand control segment and the fiberoptic bundles may enhance the durability of flexible cystoscopes.