Novel Negative Pressure Protective Box in Upper Digestive Endoscopy: A Prospective Case Series

Area of Science:

• Medical Devices
• Infectious Disease Control
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic necessitated enhanced safety measures during medical procedures.
• Upper endoscopy carries a risk of aerosol generation, posing a transmission risk for respiratory viruses.
• Existing protective measures for endoscopy may be insufficient to contain infectious aerosols.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the clinical utility and safety of TRACEY, a novel negative pressure aerosol enclosure for upper endoscopy.
• To assess TRACEY's effectiveness as an aerosol protection strategy during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.
• To determine if TRACEY hinders endoscopic procedures or causes patient discomfort.

Main Methods:

• A single-center prospective case series was conducted.
• TRACEY, an endoscopic enclosure designed for negative pressure aerosol containment, was used during upper endoscopy procedures.
• Fifteen patients undergoing upper endoscopy with TRACEY were included in the study.

Main Results:

• All 15 endoscopic procedures utilizing TRACEY were successfully completed without device removal.
• TRACEY demonstrated effective aerosol protection, passing stringent testing.
• No significant patient discomfort, technical hindrance, or adverse events were reported during or after the procedures.

Conclusions:

• TRACEY offers a safe and user-friendly solution for aerosol protection during upper endoscopy.
• The device represents a potential strategy for mitigating Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 transmission in endoscopic settings.
• Further implementation of TRACEY may enhance patient and healthcare worker safety during aerosol-generating procedures.