Abstract
We evaluated the usefulness of a thin, high-resolution upper gastrointestinal endoscope (GIF-PQ260 ; Olympus Medical systems, 7.9 mm outer diameter, 140° width of vision) for health screening examinations. First, 100 consecutive patients underwent peroral unsedated esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) using a high-resolution upper gastrointestinal endoscope, and the following 100 consecutive patients underwent peroral unsedated EGD using an ultrathin endoscope (GIF-XP260 ; Olympus Medical systems, 5.0 mm outer diameter, 120° width of vision). Based on the questionnaire, these two types of endoscope were compared regarding the patient tolerance, visual quality and operability. Visual quality and operability of the high-resolution upper gastrointestinal endoscope were significantly better than those of the ultrathin endoscope. Assessment of nausea and pharyngeal pain at insertion and during procedure between the two groups revealed no significant differences. Furthermore, overall tolerance was also similar in the two groups. Due to the priority of visual quality and operability, the high-resolution upper gastrointestinal endoscope proved more useful for screening EGD.
