Efficacy of spray flushing in the reprocessing of flexible endoscopes: A randomized controlled trial

Table 1 Endoscopic working channel cleanliness scale

Working channel findings	Endoscope inspection ratings
Dark colored debris	0 (none): No dark colored debris
	1 (mild): Small dark particles or linear debris in up to 3 locations
	2 (moderate): Small dark particles or debris in > 3 locations or larger debris in 1 location
	3 (severe): Larger dark particles or debris in > 1 location
Light colored debris	0 (none): No light colored/reflective debris
	1 (mild): Small light-colored/reflective particles or residue in up to 3 locations
	2 (moderate): Small light-colored/reflective particles or residue in > 3 locations, or larger debris/residue in 1
	3 (severe): Larger light-colored/reflective particles or debris in > 1 location or present in continuous large
Opaque fluid	0 (none): No opaque fluid
	1 (mild): Up to 5 individual drops of opaque fluid within channel
	2 (moderate): 6 to 10 individual drops of opaque fluid within channel
	3 (severe): Greater than 10 individual drops of opaque fluid or pooling of fluid within channel
Clear fluid	0 (none): No clear fluid
	1 (mild): Up to 5 individual drops of clear fluid within channel
	2 (moderate): 6 to 10 individual drops of clear fluid within channel
	3 (severe): Greater than 10 individual drops of clear fluid or pooling of fluid within channel

Table 2 Teflon tube damage scale

Damage	Endoscope inspection ratings
Scratch characteristics	0 (none): No scratches visualized
	1 (mild): Superficial, with regular margins, < 1 image field in length
	2 (moderate): Deeper, with irregular margins or > 1 image field in length
	3 (severe): Deep with irregular margins
Scratch severity	0 (none): No scratches visualized
	1 (mild): < 10 scratches visualized
	2 (moderate): 10-20 scratches visualized
	3 (severe): > 20 scratches visualized
Adherent peel	0 (none): No adherent peel visualized
	1 (mild): Localized to 1 small (< 1 cm) site
	2 (moderate): Present in 2–3 locations or 1-2 cm site
	3 (severe): Present in > 3 locations or single > 2 cm site

Table 3 Comparison of details of cleanliness scores of endoscopic working channels, n (%)

Working channel findings	Control group (n = 30)	Experimental group (n = 30)	χ2	P value
Dark colored debris	4 (13.3)	2 (6.7)	0.74	0.671
Light colored debris	20 (66.7)	13 (43.3)	3.30	0.069
Residual debris	22 (73.3)	14 (46.7)	4.44	0.035
Opaque fluid	2 (6.7)	3 (10.0)	0.22	1.00
Clear fluid	14 (46.7)	18 (60.0)	1.07	0.438

Table 4 Comparison of damage scoring details for Teflon tubes

Working channel findings	Control group (n = 30)	Experimental group (n = 30)	Z	P value
Scratch characteristics	1 (1, 2)	1 (1, 2)	-1.473	0.141
Scratch severity	1 (1, 2)	1 (1, 1)	-1.629	0.103
Adherent peel	1.5 (1, 2)	1 (1, 2)	-1.777	0.076