High Prevalence of Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases to Boost Demand For Duodenoscopes

 


A duodenoscope is a hollow, flexible, lighted tube that allows doctors to see the top of a patient’s small intestine, or duodenum. It is used in diagnosis and treatment of severe, often life-threatening, diseases such as cancer or gallstones in the pancreas and bile ducts.      The adoption of duodenoscopes is expected to increase significantly, owing to high prevalence of cancer and other chronic diseases. For instance, Japan recorded an age-standardized rate of 248 per 100,000 for cancer, as per Global Cancer Statistics 2018: GLOBOCAN.

There are various different ways in which duodenoscopes can be used to help doctors see beyond the visible nose and throat area when performing a medical procedure. Nasal intraction with a duodenoscope is easiest performed with the device held horizontal and directly above the patient's nose and throat with the patient's chin slightly raised. When this procedure is performed correctly, there should be no visible scar from the edge of the windpipe to the base of the nose.

Another common use of the duodenoscope is for the inspection of the upper esophagus. The device comes equipped with many small clear plastic tubes with very small clear light bulbs along with a wand to move them around inside of the esophagus. The wand comes equipped with many small buttons that allow the doctor to tilt the wand in various directions to view any potential abnormalities that may exist. Cleansing of the throat and nasal passages is often easier to perform when the patient is lying down. For this reason, many doctors position their duodenoscope so that they can clearly see the patient while they are performing an inspection of the throat or nasal passages. Cleaning of these areas can often be difficult without the proper tools and equipment.

Another common use of duodenoscopes comes in the form of endoscopy. With this form of medical procedure, a tube, called an endoscope, is inserted through an incision into the area of the esophagus that is contaminated. A thin, narrow band is then attached across the esophagus to help guide its passage throughout the body. Using this equipment also helps to clear out the pockets and tubes that could potentially be causing complications during the process of intubation and esophageal intubations. By using both of these instruments, doctors can help prevent scarring, blockages, and other potentially dangerous complications in patients who have undergone either medical procedure.

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