Abstract
Although EC-590ZW3 by Fujifilm Medical Company is normally used as a colonoscope in our clinic, there are some cases in which loss of endoscope flexibility occurs─due to stenosis, crookedness and adhesion of the colon─and it is difficult to insert the endoscope into the cecum. The endoscope EI-530B is a double balloon endoscope, thinner than EC-590ZW3, and is used as a backup endoscope in our clinic due to improved endoscope flexibility. A disadvantage of this endoscope is the stiffness of the endoscope which means it is not possible to insert beyond the splenic flexure. A carbon rod-which has strong stability─has been used as a stylet in order to overcome this disadvantage. In 488 cases of colonoscopy in our clinic over a period of four months, 34 cases required use of the backup endoscope─due to severe diverticulosis in the sigmoid colon, in cases with adhesions, or in thin patients. In 29 cases where a carbon stylet was used, the patients were more comfortable with the thin endoscope than with the regular colonoscope. The thin endoscope with carbon stylet enabled improved insertion rate of the entire colon. This equipment is useful for difficult colonoscopy cases, such as diverticulosis and adhesion in the sigmoid colon, and in thin patients.
