Brief Article
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World J Gastrointest Endosc. Oct 16, 2013; 5(10): 508-513
Published online Oct 16, 2013. doi: 10.4253/wjge.v5.i10.508
Usefulness of continuous suction mouthpiece during esophagogastroduodenoscopy: A single-center, prospective, randomized study
Takao Maekita, Jun Kato, Yukihiko Nakatani, Shotaro Enomoto, Ema Takano, Masahiro Tsuji, Tsuyoshi Nakaya, Kosaku Moribata, Yosuke Muraki, Naoki Shingaki, Toru Niwa, Hisanobu Deguchi, Kazuki Ueda, Izumi Inoue, Mikitaka Iguchi, Hideyuki Tamai, Masao Ichinose
Takao Maekita, Jun Kato, Shotaro Enomoto, Kosaku Moribata, Yosuke Muraki, Naoki Shingaki, Toru Niwa, Hisanobu Deguchi, Kazuki Ueda, Izumi Inoue, Mikitaka Iguchi, Hideyuki Tamai, Masao Ichinose, Department of Gastroenterology, School of Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Wakayama 641-0012, Japan
Yukihiko Nakatani, Ema Takano, Masahiro Tsuji, Tsuyoshi Nakaya, Department of Internal Medicine, Nakaya Hospital, Wakayama, Wakayama 640-8303, Japan
Author contributions: Maekita T and Kato J designed and proposed the research; all authors approved the analysis and participated in drafting the article; Maekita T, Nakatani Y, Enomoto S, Takano E, Tsuji M and Nakaya T treated the patients; Maekita T, Nakatani Y, Enomoto S, Takano E, Moribata K, Muraki Y, Shingaki N, Niwa T, Deguchi H, Ueda K, Inoue I, Iguchi M and Tamai H collected the clinical data; Maekita T, Kato J and Ichinose M performed the statistical analysis; Maekita T and Kato J wrote the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Takao Maekita, MD, PhD, Department of Gastroenterology, School of Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, 811-1 Kimiidera, Wakayama, Wakayama 641-0012, Japan. maekita@wakayama-med.ac.jp
Telephone: +81-73-4410627 Fax: +81-73-4453616
Received: May 15, 2013
Revised: August 7, 2013
Accepted: August 20, 2013
Published online: October 16, 2013
Abstract

AIM: To develop a new continuous suction mouthpiece (CSM) and evaluate its usefulness for screening esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD).

METHODS: A total of 196 patients who were scheduled to undergo screening EGD were assigned to one of two groups: a group using the CSM and a group using a conventional mouthpiece. Extent of salivary flow, frequency of saliva suction, number of choking episodes during the examination, and incidence of aspiration pneumonia after the examination were evaluated and compared between the two groups. Adverse events during and after EGD were also examined. In addition, the oral cavity was meticulously examined after the EGD.

RESULTS: The same number of patients was randomly allocated to each group. There were no significant differences between the two groups in sex, age, biopsy procedure, duration of procedure and depth of sedation. Aspiration pneumonia and other significant adverse events were not observed in either group. The grade of extent of salivary flow was significantly lower in patients with the CSM than in patients with the conventional mouthpiece (P < 0.001). Although there was no significant difference, less frequent suctioning and fewer choking episodes were observed in patients with the CSM than in patients with the conventional mouthpiece (P = 0.082 and P = 0.084, respectively). In addition, there were no patients in the CSM group who required saliva suctioning during the procedure.

CONCLUSION: Use of the CSM during screening EGD can reduce the extent of salivary flow. The device is expected to reduce complications and contamination with saliva.

Keywords: Mouthpiece, Esophagogastroduodenoscopy, Aspiration, Saliva, Suction

Core tip: Control of salivary flow during endoscopic examination is important. We focused on a mouthpiece designed for control of saliva in this study. First, we produced a new continuous suction mouthpiece (CSM). Then, we evaluated its usefulness for esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). This study indicates that the CSM can reduce the extent of salivary flow during EGD. Moreover, it tended to reduce the frequencies of suction and choking episodes during EGD.