Welcome to ENDODRAPE™.com, your source for information about the ENDODRAPE™ Colonoscopy Draping System and its benefits in providing effective contamination control in the endoscopy setting.

The ENDODRAPE™ Colonoscopy Draping system provides hospitals, surgery centers, and health care facilities a practical solution for containing colonoscopy contamination that is:

• Cleaner
• Safer
• Reduces Turn-Over Time
• Efficient
• Easy to Use
• Economical

Colonoscopy provides the most effective tool for early detection of colon cancer and related disease, and is an invaluable tool for diagnosing other enteric disorders such as diverticulitis, colitis, colon or rectal bleeding, etc.) Current technology equips health care providers and facilities with unsurpassed resolution for viewing the interior of the colon and immediate removal of polyps or biopsy of suspect tissue areas that may cause concern. The fact is that colonoscopy screenings and early detection procedures save lives.

THE CHALLENGE:

Any medical procedure that results in contact with body fluids and secretions has associated risks and endoscopic (colonoscopy, EGD, ERCP) procedures are no exception. There are extensive guidelines and recommendations for the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for healthcare providers ^1-3, instructions for thorough sanitization of the scopes, and protocols for cleaning carts and equipment between patients.^1-6 These standards recognize the risks that can be present from contact or transmission of enteric secretions, which can most notably include C.diff, VRE, MRSA, and E. coli, in addition to blood borne pathogens, GI borne viruses, and other pathogens that, when present, are often colonized or have reservoirs in the GI tract. ^1,2,7,9,10 Until now, options for contamination control for the procedure cart and equipment have traditionally consisted of a bed pad, chux pad, towels, or linens placed under the patient’s hips during the procedure. Limited attention has been placed on the risks for the contamination present during an endoscopy procedure that is transferred from the scope or patient secretions by direct or indirect contact with adjacent environmental surfaces (cart rails, frame, mattress, patient), or the risks associated with the spread of enteric (fecal) contamination to other persons or surfaces throughout the facility after the procedure is completed. This window of risk is greatest from the time the patient is transported out of the endoscopy suite and taken to the recovery area, and continues up to the point that the cart is sanitized after an inpatient is returned to the hospital floor or, in the case of an outpatient procedure, discharged directly from the recovery area.

In all health care settings, universally accepted Standard Precautions are designed to reduce the risks of transmission of microorganisms and other potentially infectious agents, applying to all patients receiving care regardless of the diagnosis or presumed infection status. ^1,2 CDC Standard Precautions apply to blood and “all body fluids, secretions, excretions, except sweat, regardless of whether they contain visible blood”. ^1-3 The extent to which Standard Precautions are implemented in a health care environment is significantly influenced by the type of anticipated exposure and the risks such exposure may have to health care providers and other patients in the facility. As would be expected, routine hand washing remain the most critical component of any infection control policy or protocol, as the hands are “easily contaminated during the process of care-giving or from contact with environmental surfaces in close proximity to the patient. ^1,2,7,11,12 In addition to hand washing, personal protective equipment (PPE) and environmental controls are recommended and implemented based on anticipated exposure ^1-3. Such precautions are particularly important in the endoscopy setting as the GI tract is often a reservoir for pathogens such as C.diff, VRE, MRSA, and E. coli,^1,2,7,8,9,10 though patients can often be asymptomatic and risks for carriage of these pathogens frequently goes undetected. Infection control guidelines developed by the CDC and HICPAC state that equipment and items in the patient’s environment that are likely to have been contaminated with infectious body fluids must be handled in a manner to prevent transmission of infectious agents, as even indirect or inadvertent exposures to opportunistic pathogens in the environment can result in infections with significant morbidity or mortality.^11,12

Published infection control guidelines further recommend contact and transmission based precautions where there is fecal incontinence or other discharges from the body that suggest an increased potential for extensive environmental contamination and risk of transmission, especially when contamination can contain epidemiologically important pathogens for which additional precautions are needed. ^1,2,11,12 To prevent environmental contamination, The CDC recommends the use of barrier protective coverings (Category II) for non critical equipment surfaces that are touched frequently with gloved hands during the delivery of patient care, likely to become contaminated with blood or body substances, and difficult to clean. ^1,11,12 Additionally, the use of disposable equipment and devices is strongly recommended (Category IB) to reduce the transmission of MDRO’s and minimize cross contamination with multiple resistant microorganisms and enteric viruses.^1,7,11,12

THE SOLUTION:

The ENDODRAPE™ Colonoscopy Draping System offers a cleaner, safer, and more cost-effective method of contamination control in endoscopy. The disposable ENDODRAPE™ establishes a comprehensive Zone of Protection, guarding patients, staff, and equipment from exposure to bacteria and contamination present during even routine colonoscopies. The ENDODRAPE™ saves time and money by improving turn-over efficiency and decreasing the risk of contamination spread to patients and staff in the recovery area and throughout the facility.

CLEANER:

The ENDODRAPE™ Colonoscopy Draping System provides effective contamination control for a cleaner procedure room/OR Environment. In an era of increased focus on CDAD, VRE, MRSA, and other enteric bacteria and pathogens, facilities are seeking methods for preventing contamination spread to staff, patients, and the facility. The CDC and HICPAC guidelines recommend the use of barriers when contact with contamination is likely. Historically, chux or linens have been used as the sole method for contamination control during these procedures. These provide only limited protection for a small area and leave critical areas (rails, mattresses, and surrounding linens) exposed throughout the procedure. Such contamination can be readily spread after the patient is moved to recovery.
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SAFER:

The ENDODRAPE™ maintains a safer environment for patients, physicians, staff, and the facility by reducing contact transmission of contamination during the procedure. Decreasing risks for hospital and facility acquired infections is a key tenet of the JCAHO patient safety goals¹³ and infection control initiatives in facilities throughout the country.^1,3 Additionally, the patented ENDODRAPE™ barrier system prevents expensive damage that can occur when a scope inadvertently falls to the floor, and promotes optimal patient positioning and improved ergonomics for the physician.
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REDUCES TURN-OVER TIME:

Not all patients complete their bowel preparation prior to their scheduled colonoscopy procedure, and prep compliance is likely to be even lower in patients scheduled for afternoon procedures.¹⁴ Poor colonoscopy prep equates to increased contamination, delays in procedure room turn-over due to increased cleaning required prior to moving the patient to recovery, and decreased departmental efficiency. The ENDODRAPE™ streamlines the clean up after a procedure and eliminates the delays caused by complicated or “messy” cases resulting from poor or incomplete bowel preparation. When the procedure is completed, the ENDODRAPE™ and all contamination is disposed of quickly and easily. By streamlining the clean up process, department efficiency is improved and procedure rooms are available for additional cases.
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EASY TO USE:

The disposable ENDODRAPE™ is applied quickly and easily by nursing staff once the patient is positioned and ready for sedation. The ENDODRAPE™ accommodates patient repositioning during the procedure, and clean up is effortless.
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EFFICIENT:

The ENDODRAPE™ ensures needed supplies are readily available and protected from contamination. By streamlining procedure and clean up processes, the ENDODRAPE™ promotes efficient use of OR time and staffing. Saving even a few minutes per procedure can enable your facility to increase procedure capacity equating to increased potential revenue for your facility.
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ECONOMICAL:

The ENDODRAPE™ saves money by decreasing turn over time of your procedure room or O.R., reducing the infection control risks and costs associated with contamination and cross contamination of your facility, reducing the costs of using multiple chux, towels, or linens (including costs for handling and cleaning excess linens), and helps to prevent damage to the scope during the procedure. Current research evaluating the costs of treating hospital and healthcare associated infections finds that a single case of C. diff can cost a facility between $3669 and $15180 to treat,^24,25 with even higher costs for infections caused by VRE or MRSA. The ENDODRAPE™ can easily pay for itself 2-5 times over¹⁵, or more, when considering the risks and costs associated with less effective barriers.
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For more information, contact Vortek Surgical today and see how the ENDODRAPE™ is “Setting a New Standard of Care in Colonoscopy.”