The Ramsay Way

Westmead leads the way

Westmead Private Hospital is the first hospital in the world to introduce the Yeescope into everyday anaesthetic practice. The Yeescope is a single-use laryngoscope developed by one of our Anaesthetists – Dr Kevin Yee. This fully disposable instrument incorporating blade and handle was introduced following excellent feedback from a clinical trial in our operating theatres. Anaesthetists and anaesthetic nursing staff continue to provide positive feedback on this new device following the initial trial saying that its use will lead to better patient outcomes.

The introduction of the Yeescope was considered another step towards improved infection control practice in our theatre unit. Each time a used laryngoscope blade is folded onto its handle after intubation, the handle is not only contaminated but becomes a source of contamination for the next clean laryngoscope blade. Conventional laryngoscope handles have a textured surface for improved grip but this results in accumulated deposits of micro organisms, blood and protein. An internal audit of the care, handling and cleaning of laryngoscope handles highlighted the potential for cross contamination/infection of the current practice of decontaminating laryngoscope handles between cases.

Our anaesthetists who have used the Yeescope have been suitably impressed by the bright illumination that it produces compared to that from resterilised blades. One team noted that the light lasted in excess of their 8 hour case!

A unique feature of the Yeescope is the hook located at the end of the short handle. By lifting the laryngoscope handle by the hook, the tendency to lever the blade on the upper front teeth is eliminated. The ABS plastic is also more gentle on contact with teeth enamel.

Other benefits of the Yeescope include a reduction in clinical supply costs (including battery replacements, maintenance and replacement of reusable handles and blades, sterile packaging costs) and better utilisation of staff work hours (anaesthetic nursing as well as CSSO staff).

By changing to a totally disposable system as with many other healthcare products, we anticipate benefits for the patient, healthcare worker and hospital. We estimate that with the introduction of the Yeescope there is currently a cost saving of $8 to $16 per patient use.

We are now looking to utilise Yeescope on all emergency trolleys due to the ease of use and access that the scope provides.

Westmead Private Hospital CEO Carol Bryant said Westmead considered itself at the forefront of the industry in terms of improving infection control practices for the health service community.