GUIDELINE

Guidelines for safety in the gastrointestinal endoscopy unit

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Historically, safety in the gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy unit has focused on infection control, particularly
around the reprocessing of endoscopes. Two highly publicized outbreaks in which the transmission of infectious
agents were related to GI endoscopy have highlighted
the need to address potential gaps along the endoscopy
care continuum that could impact patient safety.
In 2009, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
(CMS) Conditions for Coverage eliminated the distinction
between a sterile operating room and a non-sterile procedure room. Hence, GI endoscopy units are now held to the
same standards as sterile operating rooms by CMS1
without evidence demonstrating that safety or clinical
outcomes in endoscopy are thereby improved. Although
the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
(ASGE) has previously published guidelines on stafng,
sedation, infection control, and endoscope reprocessing
for endoscopic procedures (Multisociety guideline on reprocessing exible gastrointestinal endoscopes: 2011;
Infection control during GI endoscopy; Minimum stafng
requirements for the performance of GI endoscopy; Multisociety sedation curriculum for gastrointestinal endoscopy),2-5 the purpose of this document is to present
recommendations for endoscopy units in implementing
and prioritizing safety efforts and to provide an
endoscopy-specic guideline by which to evaluate endoscopy units. As a general principle, requirements for safety
ought to be rooted in evidence that demonstrates a benet
in outcomes. When data are absent, these requirements
may be derived from experts with experience in the safe
delivery of care in the GI endoscopy setting. Additionally,
consideration should be given to the promotion of efcient care and cost containment, with avoidance of
requirements unsupported by evidence that then contribute to rising healthcare costs.

Over the past 2 years, surveyors have called into question accepted practices at many accredited endoscopy
units seeking reaccreditation. Many of these issues relate
to the Ambulatory Surgical Center Conditions for
Coverage set forth by CMS and the lack of distinction
between the sterile operating room and the endoscopy
setting. The following is a summary of issues that have
been faced by endoscopy units throughout the country
along with the ASGE position and accompanying
rationale.

ISSUES AND RATIONALE

Copyright 2014 by the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

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1. Issue: Structural requirements for 40-inch doors and

room sizes O400 square feet required of sterile operating rooms
Position: Standard 36-inch doors, if they accommodate
patient transport mechanisms, and room sizes 180
square feet are adequate and safe for endoscopy units
because they do not use the same large equipment or
number of staff as the operating room.6
2. Issue: Requirement for a written policy on trafc patterns in the endoscopy unit
Position: The unit should dene low-risk exposure and
high-risk exposure areas and activities within the
endoscopy unit and describe the attire and personal
protective equipment (PPE) that should be worn
in each area. Endoscopy staff can move freely
throughout the unit provided that there is appropriate
use and changing of PPE.
3. Issue: Requirement for endoscopy personnel to don full
sterile operating room PPE, including new scrubs, hair
covers, and booties
Position: It is recommended that staff directly engaged
in GI endoscopy or in processes in which splash or
contamination could occur wear gloves, face and/or
eye shields, and impervious gowns. Units should
develop policies that are consistent with Occupational
Safety and Health Administration and state-mandated
recommendations for wearing face and/or eye shields
or masks.7 Scrubs or other attire may be worn from
home because endoscopy is not a sterile procedure.

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4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

Likewise, there is no need for hair covers or booties.

Staff must remove and appropriately discard used PPE
before leaving the procedure area.
Issue: Supervision of moderate sedation
Position: Moderate sedation may be administered safely
under the supervision of a non-anesthesia physician
who is credentialed and privileged to do so.
Issue: Role of capnography
Position: There is inadequate data to support the routine
use of capnography when moderate sedation is the target.
Issue: Requirement that 2 nurses (1 monitoring, 1
circulating) are present when moderate sedation is
performed
Position: When moderate sedation is the target, a nurse
should monitor the patient and can perform interruptible tasks. If more technical assistance is required, a second assistant (nurse, licensed practical nurse [LPN], or
unlicensed assistive personnel [UAP]) should be available to join the care team.
Issue: Stafng requirements when sedation and monitoring is provided by anesthesia personnel
Position: When sedation and monitoring are provided
by anesthesia personnel, a single additional staff person
(nurse, LPN, or UAP) is sufcient to assist with the technical aspects of the procedure.
Issue: Technical capabilities of technicians
Position: Unlicensed technicians who have received
initial orientation and ongoing training and are deemed
competent by their units, can assist with and participate
in tissue acquisition during the endoscopic procedure,
including but not limited to the opening and closing
of forceps, snares, and other accessories.

BACKGROUND
The overall risk of transmission of healthcare-associated
infections during the performance of endoscopic procedures is estimated to be very low.8 Historically, according
to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
most cases have occurred from a breach in proper cleaning and disinfection of endoscopic equipment. Despite
the low risk of healthcare-associated infections from
endoscopic procedures, outbreaks of certain hospitalbased healthcare-associated infections, such as Clostridium difcile and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus
aureus, have brought healthcare-associated infections to
the attention of hospital administrators and other stakeholders and have raised the publics concern over safety
in hospitals. In addition, several highly publicized cases
of hepatitis C infection in the outpatient endoscopy
setting have heightened interest in ensuring safety in
ambulatory endoscopy centers and ofce-based endoscopy units. The outbreak of hepatitis C among patients
undergoing endoscopy at 2 facilities owned by a single
physician in Nevada was attributed to improper injection
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techniques, whereas an infection control breach among

patients who underwent colonoscopy at 2 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers in Florida and
Tennessee was attributed to installation of an improper
irrigation valve on the endoscope and failure to change
irrigation tubing between cases.9,10 Although the risk of
infections from endoscopic procedures, regardless of
the setting, remains low, these cases highlight the need
to address potential gaps along the endoscopy care continuum that may impact patient safety outcomes.2-5
Changes to the CMS Ambulatory Surgical Center Conditions for Coverage that went into effect in 2009 eliminated
the distinction between a sterile surgical room and a
non-sterile procedure room, providing further impetus
for this guideline. As a result of these conditions, nonsterile procedure environments, including endoscopy
units, are now held to the same standards as sterile operating rooms even though requirements for facilities, infection control, stafng, and sedation applicable to the sterile
operating room may not be relevant or necessary for
endoscopy units. To date, the Association of periOperative
Registered Nurses and other organizations have set standards for sterile operating environments.11 This document
is endorsed by organizations with specic expertise in the
safe delivery of care in the non-sterile, GI endoscopy environment, which recognize the important distinction
between the endoscopy and sterile operating room settings. Safety in the GI endoscopy unit begins with clear
and effective leadership that fosters a culture of safety
including team work, openness in communication, and
efforts to minimize adverse events. Although issues of
governance and culture are important, they are outside
the scope of this document. Table 1 provides a summary
of the key strategies to maintain safety in the GI endoscopy
unit.

FACILITIES
Facilities are the foundation of a unit, the layout of
which should provide a safe environment for patients
and staff. Facilities should be designed to comply with local
and state building codes as well as the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 101 Life Safety Code.12 The specic version of the Code will depend on currently
accepted practice for CMS and state regulations.13,14 Recommendations for facility standards are largely based on
expert opinion and put into practice by accreditation
bodies; however, no association with patient outcomes
has been shown.

Recommendations for architectural layout

Each unit should have a designated ow for the safe
physical movement of dirty endoscopes that does not
cross-contaminate clean endoscopes coming out of the
cleaning process and their storage. Although circular ow
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TABLE 1. Summary of the key strategies to maintain safety in the GI endoscopy unit
Each unit should have a designated flow for the safe physical movement of dirty endoscopes and other equipment.
Procedure rooms vary in size, with more complex procedures requiring greater space for more specialized equipment and, in some
cases, additional staff.
Before starting an endoscopic procedure, the patient, staff, and performing physician should verify the correct patient and procedure to
be performed.
A specific infection prevention plan must be implemented and directed by a qualified person.
Gloves and an impervious gown should be worn by staff engaged in direct patient care during the procedure.
The unit should have a terminal cleansing plan that includes methods and chemical agents for cleansing and disinfecting the procedural
space at the end of the day.
For patients undergoing routine endoscopy under moderate sedation, a single nurse is required in the room in addition to the
performing physician.
Complex procedures may require additional staff for efficiency but not necessarily for safety.
At a minimum, patient monitoring should be performed before the procedure, after administration of sedatives, at regular intervals
during the procedure, during initial recovery, and before discharge.
For cases in which moderate sedation is the target, the individual responsible for patient monitoring may perform brief interruptible
tasks.
For cases in which moderate sedation is the target, there is currently inadequate data to support the routine use of capnography.

is preferable, some units may be constrained by the existing footprint of the facility.
Recommendations for the endoscopic procedure
room. Endoscopic procedure rooms vary in size, with
more complex procedures such as ERCP requiring greater
space for more specialized equipment and possibly additional staff. For endoscopy, procedure rooms should not
be held to the same standards as sterile operating rooms,
which require space for anesthesia support and a greater
number of staff members and bulkier equipment, none
of which are essential for the performance of endoscopy.
Standard endoscopic procedures require less space, with
requirements varying from as little as 180 square feet to
300 square feet.6
The following are issues within the endoscopic procedure room that are related to patient safety:
1. Actual marking of the site is not required for endoscopic
procedures because endoscopy does not involve lateral
right-left distinction levels such as those found in spinal
procedures or those done on multiple structures such as
ngers or toes. Before starting an endoscopic procedure,
the patient, staff, and performing physician should verify
the correct patient and procedure to be performed.
2. A reliable and adequate source for oxygen is required.
Sources may include in-wall or free-standing oxygen.
In some units, carbon dioxide may be used for insufation of the GI lumen, but this is not a requirement.
3. A suction source for the equipment and patient must
be present either in-wall or portable. For tubing and
portable suction, the manufacturers guidelines must
be followed.

4. An uninterruptible source of power, supplied either by

a generator or battery source is required. The purpose
of a secondary power source is to allow completion of
the current procedure in the event that the primary power source malfunctions. Procedures should not be
started when the only source of power is the secondary
source.
5. Units must practice re safety in adherence with the
NFPA 101 Life Safety Code, which also dictates the number and type of electrical outlets tied to the generator.12
The NFPA 101 Life Safety Code recommends that not all
outlets be tied to the generator in case the generator
fails to disengage once power is restored.
6. The units debrillator and crash cart should be
checked at the beginning of each day to ensure that
all components are functional, fully stocked, and readily
accessible.
7. The routine monitoring of temperature and humidity
within the endoscopic procedure area, although advocated by CMS to theoretically curtail growth of microorganisms and reduce re hazard, has not been associated
with safety outcomes in endoscopic units. In the
absence of published guidelines on the optimal ranges
for these parameters, routine monitoring of temperature and humidity is not currently warranted.1
8. Puncture-resistant containers for biohazardous materials
and sharps should be located so that sharps are not
passed over the patient.15
9. If special therapeutic procedures are planned, specic
room features may be required, such as leaded walls
when at-table uoroscopy is utilized.16

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Recommendations for the endoscopic recovery

area
1. The recovery bays should provide privacy and sufcient
space for monitoring and care. The minimum space per
bay has not been established. Unit facilities must be able
to provide the level of recovery appropriate to the level
of sedation utilized.17

Recommendation for storage of supplies

1. Sterile supply items such as intravenous (IV) solutions
should be protected from splash contamination
during environmental cleaning (8-10 inches off the
oor), damage from compression (stacking only ridged
containers), and water damage (no storage under
sinks).
2. Units should have a process for periodically verifying
that supplies marked with an expiration date have not
expired. Compliance with this process should be
documented.

Recommendations for hand hygiene

Proper hand washing is considered to be the cornerstone of preventing the transmission of pathogens.
1. Hand hygiene should be performed before patient contact (even if gloves are to be worn); after patient contact
and before exiting the patient care area; after contact
with blood, body uids, or contaminated surfaces
(even if gloves are worn); before performing invasive
procedures (ie, placement or access of intravascular
lines); and after glove removal.20
2. The use of soap and water is required when hands are
visibly soiled and after caring for patients with known
or suspected infectious causes of diarrhea such as
C difcile. Otherwise, the use of alcohol-based hand
agents is adequate.21

Recommendations for PPE

ASGE has published several guidelines detailing ways

to minimize the risk of transmission of infection within
the endoscopy unit.2,18 In addition to meticulous endoscope reprocessing, a specic infection prevention plan
must be implemented to prevent the transmission of
pathogens in the unit and to provide guidance should
a breach occur. Active Infection Prevention Surveillance
programs and ongoing educational and competency evaluation of staff regarding activities within the preprocedure, intraprocedure, and postprocedure phases are
necessary to ensure overall safety of patients and healthcare workers. Infection prevention plans for a specic
unit must be directed by a qualied person. Although
state regulations may vary, CMS allows the unit to
designate the specic training and competency of the
individual.
The infection prevention plan must be documented in
writing and should include a set of policies and procedures
appropriate for and targeted to the specic procedures
performed in addition to likely sources of nosocomial
infection in the unit. The plan should include a process
for the ongoing assessment of compliance with the program and methods for correction.
Standard precautions, the minimum infection prevention practices applicable to all patient care regardless of
the suspected or conrmed infection status of the patient,
are the foundation of a sound infection prevention strategy. These include:
1. Hand hygiene
2. PPE
3. Safe medication administration practices
4. Safe handling of potentially contaminated equipment or
surfaces in the patient environment.19

The unit should have written policies and procedures

regarding PPE that denes activities in which PPE should
be worn and the appropriate type.22 For sterile environments, the use of PPE is commonly dictated by the trafc
pattern and location of care, dened as unrestricted,
semi-restricted, and restricted areas.23 In contrast, in
the non-sterile endoscopy environment, the use of PPE
is dependent on the degree to which staff have the potential to come into direct contact with patients and their
bodily uids during specic activities, rather than the
location of care. The risk of exposure can be categorized
into low-risk exposure and high-risk exposure, which are
dened as follows:
1. Low-risk exposure: Any personnel not in direct contact
with a contaminated endoscope, device or bodily uid
or with the potential for splash contamination. For
example, personnel entering the procedure area for a
brief period of time who are not involved in direct patient care are considered at low-risk exposure.
2. High-risk exposure: Any personnel working in direct
contact with a contaminated endoscope, device, or
bodily uid or any personnel in direct patient care
with the potential to come into contact with a contaminated endoscope, device, or bodily uid.
Low-risk exposure activities require no PPE. Personnel
whose exposure status may change during an endoscopy
procedure should have immediate access to PPE should
the need arise. High-risk exposure activities require the
use of gloves and impervious gowns. Because of the potential for splash exposure to the face, individual units
should develop policies based on Occupational Safety
and Health Administration and state-mandated recommendations for wearing face and/or eye shields or
masks.22 Hair and shoe covers and gown classications
above Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation level 1 are often included in PPE recommendations.24 These items generally are mandated for the sterile
operating room environment, but there is no evidence to

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support their requirement or benet in the non-sterile

endoscopy environment.
1. Staff must remove and appropriately discard used PPE
before leaving the procedure room. PPE should not
be reused or worn to care for more than 1 patient.
2. Scrub attire may be worn from home, because endoscopic procedures are performed in a non-sterile
environment.
3. Individuals may elect to wear regular clothing covered
by an impervious gown. There is no requirement to
change clothing once the individual arrives at work.
4. If clothing under the procedure room attire is contaminated with a signicant amount of blood or body uids,
the items should be placed in a bag, identied as a
potential biohazard, then sent for cleaning to a laundry
facility capable of properly cleaning and disinfecting
clothing used in healthcare settings.

Recommendations for safe medication

administration practices
Safe medication administration practices promote safety
in medication administration and have become a highly
scrutinized activity within healthcare,25 in part because of
evidence of pathogen transmission resulting from the
improper use or reuse of syringes, multiple-dose drug
vials, and IV equipment. The Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention and ASGE have issued guidelines outlining
safe injection practices.3,19,26 Units should adhere to the
following:
1. Preparing medications for multiple patients should be
done in an area away from direct patient care or procedure rooms.
2. Units should appropriately label all medications,
including those used for sedation, unless the medication is for immediate use (prepared and administered immediately without leaving the providers
hand).26
3. Medications marked either on the container or noted
in the package insert as single patient use should
be used for a single patient only and any remaining
drug should be discarded.
4. Units should use new uid administration sets (eg, IV
tubing) for each patient.
5. Units should prepare and administer injections by
using aseptic technique (ie, cleansing the access diaphragms of medication vials with 70% alcohol before
inserting a device in the vial). Single-dose vials, ampules, bags, or bottles of IV solution should be used
for a single patient only.
6. Use of a single-dose vial is preferred over multipledose vials, particularly when medications will be
administered to multiple patients.3
7. If a multiple-dose vial will be used for more than
1 patient, they should remain in a centralized medication area and should not enter the patient procedure
area. These should be dated when opened and
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8.
9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

discarded according to protocols, in compliance with

nationally accepted guidelines, such as those published by the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention.27
Units should not re-use a syringe to enter a medication
vial or solution, even with a new needle.
Units should not use the same syringe to administer
medications to multiple patients regardless of whether
the needle is changed or an intervening length of IV
tubing is used.
Units should dispose of used syringes and needles at
the point of use in a sharps container that is closable,
puncture-resistant, and leak-proof.28
Units should develop a clearly dened policy for the
management of sharps and sharps-related injuries,
including the reporting of blood and body uid
exposures. This should be in compliance with federal,
state, and local guidelines.
Units should maintain a log of sedation medications
wasted between patients that can be used to reconcile
used and wasted vials at the end of the day.
If tubes of lubricant are used for more than one examination, the unit should observe appropriate infection
control habits and discard any tube that has potentially
been contaminated.
Although the multiple-society guideline recommends
using sterile water in the irrigation bottle, it is acceptable to use tap water because this has been shown
to be safe.29 The rates of bacterial cultures are
no different with the use of tap water versus sterile
water, and neither has been associated with clinical
infections.30,31
Units should follow federal and state requirements for
the protection of healthcare personnel from exposure
to blood-borne pathogens.

Recommendations for safe handling of

potentially contaminated equipment or
surfaces
Environmental cleaning of surfaces with an appropriate
Environmental Protection Agencylabeled disinfectant is
mandatory, especially for surfaces that are most likely to
become contaminated with pathogens, such as those in
close proximity to the patient (eg, side rails) and other
frequently touched surfaces in the unit. Facility policies
and procedures should address prompt and appropriate
cleaning and decontamination of spills of blood or other
potentially infectious material.20,32 Units should:
1. Maintain material safety data sheets for all chemicals
used for cleaning and disinfection. These sheets
should detail the safe and proper use and emergency
protocol for a chemical. Material safety data sheets
should be used for training staff on each chemicals
safe use.
2. Follow the manufacturers directions for surface disinfection of patient care items.
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Appropriate contact time of disinfectant to achieve

germicidal kill should be followed.
B Alcohol should not be used to clean environmental
surfaces.
3. Properly clean and disinfect surfaces that are frequently touched by personnel or dirty equipment in
the endoscopic procedure area at the beginning of
the day, between cases, and during terminal cleansing.
Frequently-touched surfaces may include endoscopy
keyboards and video monitors and consoles.
B

Recommendations for terminal cleansing

Terminal cleansing involves the cleaning of surfaces
to physically remove soil and biolm, followed by proper
disinfection. Typically, this requires use of 2 distinct
agents because chemical disinfectants are not effective at
cleansing, and cleansing agents are not effective at disinfecting surfaces.
1. The unit should have a terminal cleansing plan that includes methods and chemical agents for cleansing and
disinfecting the procedural space at the end of the day.
2. Agents for terminal cleansing should have efcacy in
spore removal, which may differ from requirements
for agents used in sterile operating rooms.
3. Before the rst case of the day, staff should verify that all
procedural and recovery areas have been properly
cleansed.
4. A training and competency assessment program should
be in place for staff members who are involved in terminal cleansing to ensure proper and safe handling and
use of the chemicals.

Recommendations for reusable medical

equipment
The reprocessing protocol of reusable medical equipment such as endoscopes and endoscopic accessories
must be strictly followed.3 The details of reprocessing
according to their Spaulding Classication are well
described.33 These policies should be a part of the
units policies and procedures and core competency
assessment.
Single-use devices as determined by the manufacturer
label or packaging insert may not be reprocessed unless
they are specically listed in the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) 510(k) database. If so, they must
be reprocessed by entities that have complied with FDA
regulatory requirements and have received FDA clearance
to reprocess specic single-use devices.34
Written policies and procedures regarding infection
control for a unit should be documented.

environment for the patient and to ensure the safe performance of the endoscopic procedure. The minimum safe
stafng of an endoscopy room is outlined in the ASGE
Minimum stafng requirements for the performance of
GI endoscopy.4 For patients undergoing routine endoscopy under moderate sedation, a single registered nurse
(RN) is required. There is no evidence that stafng
beyond a single RN improves the safety of the patient.
There are some circumstances in which additional assistance can be helpful for the technical aspects of the procedure, such as in ERCP, yet there are no published safety
or clinical outcomes data to support the routine use of a
circulating nurse for endoscopic procedures. Guidelines
for stafng requirements in other settings, such as the
sterile operating room, do not apply to the endoscopic
procedure room because of inherent differences in these
settings.35
Both patient and procedural factors should be considered in determining stafng requirements. Patient factors
that affect stafng requirements include the level of sedation that is planned (ie, whether the patient is receiving
no sedation, moderate sedation, or deep sedation) and
the medical condition of the patient, which is determined
from the history and physical examination and is reected
in the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Physical
Status Classication System score of the patient. Procedural factors include the anticipated length of the procedure and whether the procedure is intended to be
diagnostic or whether a therapeutic intervention is
planned. Complex interventional procedures, such as
EUS and ERCP may require additional staff for efciency,
but there is no evidence to suggest that this improves
safety or patient outcomes.

Recommendations for preprocedure stafng

1. Stafng models in the preprocedure area should
support activities required to prepare patients for
endoscopy.
2. The ratio of RNs to patients in preprocedure care is
variable depending on the complexity of the patient
mix.

Recommendations for intraprocedure stafng

based on level of sedation4

Stafng requirements for the performance of GI endoscopy should be based on what is required to create a safe

1. No sedationdOne assistant (RN, LPN, or UAP) other

than the physician performing the procedure should
be present to assist with the technical aspects of the
procedure.
2. Moderate sedation (also known as conscious sedation)d
Sedation should be directed by a physician who is
credentialed and privileged to do so. Moderate sedation
can be administered by an RN. During the period in
which the patient is sedated, the RN must monitor the
patient for vital sign changes, hypoxemia, and comfort.
The RN may assist with minor, interruptible tasks. In
the event that more intense technical assistance is

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required, a second assistant (RN, LPN, or UAP) should be

available to join the care team for the technical aspects of
the procedure.
3. Deep sedationdMost institutions require that deep
sedation be administered by an anesthesia professional
such as an anesthesiologist, certied registered nurse
anesthetist (CRNA), or anesthesiologist assistant who
is credentialed and privileged to do so. In this situation,
the anesthesia provider should be responsible for
administering sedation and monitoring the patient. A
second staff person (RN, LPN, or UAP) is required to
assist with technical aspects of the procedure.4,17

Recommendations for postprocedure stafng

1. An RN is required to monitor patients who have
received sedation until the patient is stabilized and to
assess for adverse events related to the endoscopic
procedure.
2. Once the patient is stable, postprocedure activities such
as providing food or drinks and assistance in changing
clothes can be performed by an RN, LPN, or UAP.
3. The ratio of RNs to patients in the postprocedure setting
is variable depending on the complexity of the patient
mix.

Recommendations for training

1. SedationdSedation should be administered by an RN
under the supervision of the endoscopist who is credentialed and privileged to do so or by anesthesia personnel
(physician or CRNA) who are credentialed and privileged to do so. These individuals should be specically
trained in endoscopic sedation, including the modes of
action and adverse events of the sedative agents being
used. This training should be documented. The staff
administering sedation must have the knowledge and
skills to recognize when the sedation level becomes
deeper than planned and to manage and support patients cardiopulmonary responses to sedation accordingly. On verication of the RNs training, the unit
should document the privileging of the RN to provide
moderate sedation under the direct supervision of a
physician. LPNs and UAPs are not qualied to administer
sedation.
2. Technical assistancedTechnical assistance can be provided by a variety of staff members, including UAPs,
LPNs, RNs, and GI technicians. Training in the use of
endoscopic equipment, accessories, and ancillary equipment should be documented and include an objective
assessment of initial competence and annual competency testing thereafter to ensure and document that
skills are maintained.
3. Basic and advanced cardiac life supportdAll staff with
clinical responsibilities must have basic life support certication. At least one individual with advanced cardiac
life support certication must be present in the unit
when patients are present.
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4. A written policy on staff training along with the type and

frequency of core competency assessment should be
documented.

ENDOSCOPIC SEDATION
Sedation can improve the quality of GI endoscopy, the
likelihood of a thorough and complete examination,
patient satisfaction, and patient willingness to undergo examination or reexamination. The choice of specic sedation agents and the level of sedation targeted should be
determined on a case-by-case basis by the endoscopist in
consultation with the patient. Endoscopy without sedation
may be appropriate in some instances. For a detailed
discussion including supporting evidence, please refer to
the 2008 ASGE guideline: Sedation and Anesthesia in GI
Endoscopy.17

Recommendations for the sedation-related

environment
1. Units should comply with applicable federal and
state laws regarding licensure and/or certication of
all staff involved in the administration and monitoring of sedation and document training and
competencies.
2. Established discharge criteria should be attained before
discharge from the endoscopy unit. Patients who
received IV sedation during their endoscopic procedure
should be discharged in the presence of a responsible
individual. A written policy on discharge requirements
should be documented.
3. An agreement should exist between the unit and a hospital facility for the transfer of patients who require escalation of care. A written transfer agreement should be
documented.
4. A focused history and physical examination, including
the patients current medications and ASA classication, should be completed before the start of the
procedure.17

Recommendations for sedation-related

equipment
1. All sedation-related equipment, before initial use and
then at intervals dictated by the manufacturers guidelines, should be examined and veried to be in proper
working order by a qualied biotechnician.36
2. Oxygen, suction for the mouth, and electronic
equipment that can monitor and display pulse,
blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and continuous
electrocardiographic rhythm assessment should be
available in the procedure room. A written policy
for equipment checks and maintenance should be
in place. A log to monitor compliance should be
maintained.
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Safety in the GI endoscopy unit

Recommendations for patient monitoring

1. All patients undergoing endoscopy should be monitored, the frequency of which depends on procedural
and patient factors (eg, type of sedation, duration and
complexity of procedure, patient condition). At a minimum, monitoring should be performed before the procedure, after administration of sedatives, at regular
intervals during the procedure, during initial recovery,
and just before discharge.5
2. Units should have procedures in place to rescue patients who are sedated deeper than intended.5,17,37,38
3. When the target level is moderate sedation (also known
as conscious sedation):
B The individual assigned responsibility for patient
monitoring may perform brief, interruptible tasks.4,5
B Minimal monitoring requirements include electronic
assessment of blood pressure, respiratory rate, heart
rate, and pulse oximetry combined with visual monitoring of the patients level of consciousness and
discomfort.
B Currently, there are inadequate data to support the
routine or required use of capnography during
endoscopic procedures in adults when moderate
sedation is the target.5,39,40
4. When deep sedation is targeted:
B The individual responsible for patient monitoring
must be dedicated solely to that task and may
not perform any other function during the
procedure.4,5
B The use of capnography in EUS, ERCP, and colonoscopy to assess the adequacy of ventilation may
reduce the incidence of hypoxemia and apnea,41,42
but its impact on the frequency of other sedationrelated adverse events such as bradycardia and hypotension is unknown. As such, capnography may
be considered for the performance of endoscopy
under deep sedation. However, there is no safety
data to date to support the universal use of capnography in such cases.
B Documentation of the clinical assessments and
monitoring data during sedation and recovery is
required.

4.

5.

6.
7.

all sedative and analgesic medications is strongly

recommended.
Controlled substances should be stored in a doublelocked cabinet, and a daily medication log compliant
with state and federal regulations should be maintained.
Disposal of unused narcotics and other controlled drugs
should be witnessed by 2 individuals and documented.
Medications should be given only under the order of the
supervising physician or anesthesia professionals when
applicable.
Reversal agents for opioids and benzodiazepines should
be readily available.
A written policy should be in place for the identication,
documentation, and review of adverse drug reactions.

Recommendations for emergency management

1. Appropriate pharmaceutical agents, oxygen, oral suction, laryngoscope, Ambu bag, and debrillator should
be readily available in the unit.
2. Units should train and periodically provide in-service education for staff in the use of equipment for emergency
management.4 Training and assessment of competency
should be documented.

DISCLOSURES
All authors disclosed no nancial relationships relevant to this article.
Abbreviations: ASA, American Society of Anesthesiologists; ASGE,
American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy; CMS, Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid Services; CRNA, certied registered nurse
anesthetist; FDA, U.S. Food and Drug Administration; GI,
gastrointestinal; IV, intravenous; LPN, licensed practical nurse; NFPA,
National Fire Protection Association; PPE, personal protective
equipment; RN, registered nurse; UAP, unlicensed assistive personnel.

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directly responsible for overseeing medication usage
in the unit.
3. Medications should be securely stored under environmental conditions consistent with the manufacturers instructions on the label. The use of single-dose vials for

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Volume 79, No. 3 : 2014 GASTROINTESTINAL ENDOSCOPY 371

Safety in the GI endoscopy unit

Prepared by:
ASGE ENSURING SAFETY IN THE GASTROINTESTINAL ENDOSCOPY UNIT
TASK FORCE
Audrey H. Calderwood, MD, Co-Chair
Frank J. Chapman, MBA, Co-Chair
Jonathan Cohen, MD
Lawrence B. Cohen, MD
James Collins, BS, RN, CNOR
Lukejohn W. Day, MD
Dayna S. Early, MD

This document is a product of the ASGE Ensuring Safety in the

Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Unit Task Force. This document was
reviewed and approved by the Governing Board of the American
Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. This document was
reviewed and endorsed by the American Association for the
Study of Liver Diseases, American College of Gastroenterology,
American Gastroenterological Association Institute, Ambulatory
Surgery Center Association, American Society of Colon and Rectal
Surgeons, and Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic
Surgeons.

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