Latest news with #EvoEndo
Medscape
14-05-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Train Advanced Practice Providers in Transnasal Endoscopy?
Advanced practice providers (APPs) can be trained to perform transnasal endoscopy (TNE) with a single-use ultra-slim gastroscope with only topical anesthesia, a pilot study showed. 'Our study showed that TNE can be performed safely by APPs, is well tolerated by patients, and significantly impacted patient management,' Whitney Kucher, PA-C, with Northwestern Medicine, Chicago, told Medscape Medical News . 'The chief benefit of having APPs perform TNEs is increasing patient access and expediting management of upper GI [gastrointestinal] symptoms in patients,' said Kucher who presented the study at Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2025. The EvoEndo single-use endoscopy system received 510(k) clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration in early 2022. The system includes a sterile, single-use, flexible gastroscope designed for unsedated transnasal upper endoscopy and a small portable video controller. Unsedated TNE can be used to evaluate and diagnose a wide range of upper GI conditions that may require frequent monitoring, including eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), dysphagia, celiac disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Barrett's esophagus (BE), malabsorption, and abdominal pain. Kucher and colleagues assessed the ability for APPs to use the EvoEndo system to perform safe and accurate esophageal assessment using in-office TNE, following training. TNE training lasted about 4 weeks and consisted of a stepwise approach involving lectures, simulation-based training, and hands-on supervised TNEs (10 per APP). Once training was completed, and after providing consent, 25 patients were enrolled to undergo supervised TNE by an APP. Their mean age was 55 years, and 58% were women. Indications for TNE were uncontrolled GERD symptoms in 12 patients, history of EoE in six patients, high-risk screening for BE in five patients, and dysphagia in two patients. Technical success was achieved in all but one patient (96%), and there were no adverse events. All 25 patients completed the procedure, with 17 (72%) giving it a TNEase score of 1 (with ease/no discomfort) or 2 (mild/occasional discomfort). Only two patients reported a score of 4 (very uncomfortable) but still completed the exam. The average TNE procedure time was 7.3 minutes. TNE findings changed management in 23 of 25 (92%) patients. The test led to a change in proton pump inhibitor dosing or interval in 14 patients (56%). Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) interval was extended in five patients (20%) and scheduled sooner in three patients (12%). Two patients (8%) had no change in management. The study team said more data are needed in terms of learning curves, competency metrics, and health economics before widespread adoption can be supported. 'We are working on developing a standardized training plan so we can train more GI APPs in our department. We have plans to start an APP-driven TNE program in the coming months,' Kucher told Medscape Medical News . Caveats and Cautionary Notes Commenting on this study for Medscape Medical News , Amitabh Chak, MD, president of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, noted that the results are 'similar to older studies where TNE appeared quite promising and APPs could be trained. There have been previous studies that APPs can perform colonoscopies and EGDs.' Chak cautioned that previous studies showed that it took at least 50 supervised examinations for APPs to achieve the needed skills. 'Intubation transnasally can be painful for patients if not done with skill. Cognitive skills take longer. The gastroesophageal junction is dynamic, and recognition of subtle pathology takes training,' Chak noted. 'TNE has been around at least two decades. The challenge with uptake of TNE for Barrett's screening has been acceptance by primary care physicians, patients and payers,' Chak told Medscape Medical News .
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Children's of Alabama Completes 150+ Sedation-Free TNEs With the EvoEndo Endoscopy System
DENVER, March 04, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--EvoEndo®, Inc. (EvoEndo) announces that Children's of Alabama has now completed over 150 Sedation-Free Transnasal Endoscopies (TNE) using the EvoEndo® Single-Use Endoscopy System. Children's of Alabama is the first provider in the region to bring this innovative technology to their patients five and older. Pediatric gastroenterologist Dr. Nick CaJacob exclaimed, "We are thrilled to celebrate our 150th sedation-free transnasal endoscopy case here at Children's of Alabama, a milestone that demonstrates our commitment to providing innovative technology to reduce the healthcare burden of our patients and their families." He continued, "This procedure allows us to eliminate the need for general anesthesia and decrease procedure and recovery time. Our team includes child life and specialized GI nursing support to create a comforting, family-friendly environment that reduces stress for both children and their families. We look forward to continuing to serve the children of Alabama with gastrointestinal issues through innovations such as sedation-free transnasal endoscopy that make care safer, easier, and more accessible." Dr. Diana L. Montoya Melo added, "Unsedated transnasal endoscopy has been a great addition to our practice, particularly for our large EoE population. Patients and caregivers are very appreciative of having a sedation-free option for evaluation of their diseases. Families love how efficient the process is, and how in less than 30 mins they can be evaluated, be present during the evaluation, and return to their normal lives without missing school or work." EvoEndo is excited to continue expanding sedation-free TNE with the EvoEndo System across the nation. CEO Jonathan Hartmann stated, "We are delighted that Children's of Alabama is making this patient-friendly alternative to sedated endoscopy available. The work that Drs. CaJacob and Montoya are doing is outstanding. They are helping families and patients by providing this clinically and scientifically advanced treatment option that enables them to spend less time in the hospital and more time participating in school, sports, and family activities." About Children's of Alabama Since 1911, Children's of Alabama has provided specialized medical care for ill and injured children. Ranked among the best children's hospitals in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, Children's serves patients from every county in Alabama and nearly every state. Primary medical care is provided in more than a dozen communities across central Alabama. Children's is the only health system in Alabama dedicated solely to the care and treatment of children. It is a private, not-for-profit medical center that serves as the teaching hospital for the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) pediatric medicine, surgery, psychiatry, research, and residency programs. The medical staff consists of UAB faculty and Children's full-time physicians as well as private practicing community physicians. About EvoEndo EvoEndo is the only medical device company dedicated to pediatric (age 5+) gastroenterology patients and designed the EvoEndo Single-Use Endoscopy System for small anatomy and sedation-free procedures. At EvoEndo, we achieve big things through small scopes. Our ultra-slim technology unleashes the potential of sedation-free endoscopy to improve the lives of patients, families, and healthcare professionals. The EvoEndo® Model LE Gastroscope is intended for the visualization of the upper digestive tract in adults and pediatric patients, specifically for the observation, diagnosis, and endoscopic treatment of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenal bulb in patients over the age of five. The gastroscope is a sterile, single-use device and can be inserted orally or transnasally. The EvoEndo® Controller is intended for use with an EvoEndo® Endoscope for endoscopic diagnosis, treatment, and video observation. To learn more, please visit View source version on Contacts Media Contact EvoEndo, Rochaprocha@ 303.276.5753
