Decontamination of trans-oesophageal echocardiography (TOE) probes to a validated standard is a troublesome area, since their electrical components prohibit full immersion. We report the development of a novel device designed to keep the electrical components of the TOE probe dry while allowing the rest of the probe to be subjected to a validated decontamination process.
American Society of Anesthesiologists and the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists Task Force on Transesophageal Echocardiography ( 1996) Practice guidelines for perioperative transesophageal echocardiography. Anesthesiology84(4): 986-1006.
2.
Department of Health (2007) Health Technical Memorandum 01 - 01: Decontamination of Reusable Medical Devices Part A. HSMO: London.
3.
Department of Health Estates and Facilities ( 1997) Health Technical Memorandum 2030: Washer-disinfectors: Validation and Verification. London: HSMO.
4.
Orme RM, Oram M., McKinstry CE(2009) Impact of echocardiography on patient management in the intensive care unit: an audit of district general hospital practice. British Journal of Anaesthesia102(3): 340-4.
5.
Spaulding EH ( 1972) Chemical disinfection and antisepsis in the hospital. Journal of Hospital Research9: 5-31.
6.
Wright S. ( 2007) Peri-operative transoesophageal echocardiography. B ritish Journal of Cardiology14(2): 83-9.
