Endoscopic measurement using ultrasound- The ScopeMeasure Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Feasibility study of endoscopic measurement using ultrasound
IRAS ID
281118
Contact name
Simon K C Toh
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 0 months, 31 days
Research summary
About 1 million endoscopies are performed in the UK each year. This test involves passing a flexible telescope via the mouth of the patient to examine the gullet and stomach of the patient for diagnosis and treatment. It is often done with the patient awake with a local anaesthetic throat spray and/or mild sedation, and rarely under general anaesthetic. It is the most important test to diagnose heartburn and hiatus hernias, peptic ulcers and precancerous & cancerous lesions of the gullet and stomach. Measurements of size of hiatus hernia and position of lesions are vital to decide best treatment, but this is currently inaccurately done with the endoscopist estimating the distance by looking at the 5cm interval markings in the dark on the scope at that time. This study looks at using existing ultrasound technology adapted to attach to the scope that is entirely outside the patient at all times and is therefore totally safe for the patient. It measures the distance of any lesion of interest from the mouth and displays this in real-time on the screen, so helping the endoscopist to accurately know the position of the lesion and save this on the photograph taken if needed. We have tested and calibrated this method in a simulated plastic endoscopy model and this study is a preliminary investigation in a small series of patients to assess the feasibility, accuracy and user-friendliness of this technique of measurement in diagnostic endoscopy.
REC name
South Central - Berkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/SC/0387
Date of REC Opinion
23 Nov 2020
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion