A novel protective barrier enclosure for performing bronchoscopy.

Area of Science:

• Medical Devices
• Infectious Disease Control
• Respiratory Medicine

Background:

• Bronchoscopy procedures pose aerosol-transmitted infection risks to healthcare workers, particularly during urgent situations.
• Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission is a significant concern during aerosol-generating procedures.
• Enhanced personal protective equipment is crucial for safeguarding medical staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel, handmade protective barrier enclosure for flexible bronchoscopy.
• To assess the efficacy of the enclosure in mitigating infection risks for healthcare workers.
• To determine if the enclosure impacts standard bronchoscopy techniques.

Main Methods:

• Development of a custom, handmade protective barrier enclosure designed for flexible bronchoscopy.
• Implementation of the enclosure during bronchoscopy procedures.
• Evaluation of the enclosure's usability and impact on procedural techniques.

Main Results:

• A novel handmade protective barrier enclosure was successfully developed for flexible bronchoscopy.
• The enclosure did not require any special techniques for handling the bronchoscope.
• The device shows potential for protecting bronchoscopists from aerosolized droplets.

Conclusions:

• The developed protective barrier enclosure offers a potential solution for reducing infection transmission during bronchoscopy.
• This low-cost, easily producible device can enhance the safety of healthcare workers performing flexible bronchoscopy.
• The enclosure is a valuable tool for infection control in respiratory medicine, especially during viral outbreaks like COVID-19.