Single-use duodenoscopes offer high technical success rates along with low rates of adverse events, regardless of patient positioning during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).

Researchers from the University of Maryland reached this conclusion over more than 100 procedures across a span of more than two years. They shared their findings in a poster last week at ACG 2023 in Vancouver.

They additionally found similar efficacy with no significant differences between the two single-use duodenoscope models analyzed — manufactured by Ambu A/S and Boston Scientific.

Seven of the poster’s nine co-authors reported no financial disclosures, while one is an Ambu consultant. Ambu publishes Single-Use Endoscopy, an online learning center.

Of 109 procedures, 56 were performed with Boston Scientific’s scope and 53 with Ambu’s single-use model. The majority of cases were classified as ASGE grade 2 (28) or grade 3 (45). The Boston Scientific single-use scope had a perioperative adverse event rates of 1.8 percent while Ambu’s was 0 percent. Extended adverse events, occurring within 10 days of the procedure, were 5.4 percent for Boston Scientific and zero once again for Ambu.

Researchers additionally found no significant differences in rates of technical success and adverse events when comparing ERCPs performed in a prone-versus-supine patient position.

Single-use duodenoscopes, the poster notes, “were developed in response to concerns for infection transmission while performing” ERCP with reusable endoscopes.