Enter the “Super Plumber” of Modern Medicine—the Endoscopy Center

The Endoscopy Center is a comprehensive medical facility that performs examinations and related treatments including gastroscopy, colonoscopy, duodenoscopy, bronchoscopy, thoracoscopy, mediastinoscopy, urethroscopy, cystoscopy, hysteroscopy, colposcopy, ophthalmoscopy, laryngoscope, nasal endoscopy, and otoscopy. This facility houses a wide range of cutting-edge fiberoptic endoscopes, acting like a “special forces” within the medical field, providing precise solutions for diseases affecting all cavities of the human body.

Gastroscopes—thin as noodles, yet capable of accurately capturing lesions as small as 0.1cm on the gastric mucosa, they can also remove polyps on the spot.

Colonoscopes—a 28-square-meter examination room with a private bathroom—gently explore the mysteries of the large intestine.

Bronchoscopy, thoracoscope, and mediastinoscope—respiratory system scavengers. Bronchoscopes, thinner than chopsticks, increase lung cancer detection rates by 40%. Children’s rigid metal scopes can instantly remove swallowed Lego pieces.

Hysteroscopes—a guardian of women’s health, the “golden key” for noninvasive uterine exploration. They must be used under sterile conditions to avoid abdominal infection.

Vaginoscopes—a powerful tool for cervical cancer screening, designed near windows for ventilation and privacy.

Urethrascopes and cystoscopes—urinary system scouts. Combined with holmium laser technology, they can crush stones and remove tumors in under 30 minutes, truly achieving noninvasive “diagnosis and treatment.” Funduscopy, also known as ophthalmoscopes, can provide early warning of hypertensive crisis 3-5 years in advance by observing subtle changes in retinal blood vessels. This has increased the early diagnosis rate of brain tumors by 40%.
Nasopharyngeal endoscopes, sentinels of the respiratory tract, utilize medical-grade fiber-optic light-guiding technology (with a light flux of 5,000 lumens) to provide 360-degree exploration of hidden corners from the nasopharynx to the throat.
Otoscopes, which transcend the limitations of surgical microscopes (expanding the viewing angle to 160°), can clearly visualize traditionally blind spots such as the epitympanic cavity.

Requirements for the construction of an endoscopy center

Since the majority of patients served are outpatients, the location should generally be close to the outpatient clinic, ICU, and radiology department. Since endoscopy procedures closely interact with these departments, proximity is more convenient for patients. The floor should be lower or close to the pharmacy and cashier. Since endoscopy patients are often fasting or have undergone bowel preparation the day before, they are often physically weak. This avoids the discomfort caused by standing for long periods waiting for elevators, paying bills, and picking up medications. The overall area of an endoscopy center is determined based on the number of patients treated annually. Larger endoscopy centers recommend connecting multiple operating rooms within the same discipline with doorways. This allows for multiple examinations while maintaining patient privacy, facilitates communication between medical staff, and improves efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Form should fit function, and the patient should be the primary focus. 1) Respiratory and gastrointestinal endoscopes must be separated to prevent cross-infection;
2) Functional areas must be fully and rationally arranged;
3) Personnel and material flows must be rational;
4) Clean and contaminated areas must be strictly separated;
5) Each area must be ventilated and light-permeable to facilitate operation and transportation;
6) Operating rooms must have adequate space;
7) Indoor water supply and drainage systems must be available;
8) A separate waste disposal room must be provided to collect medical waste. Dedicated corridors, hallways, and elevators must be provided;
9) Endoscope decontamination and storage rooms must be located as close to the examination room as possible.

The gastroscopy room is approximately 25 square meters and typically houses an endoscopy bed, an endoscope console, an accessories cabinet, and a physician’s desk. The bed and console should be located on the same side of the room, with wall-mounted cabinets for accessories, a wall-mounted suction system, and an oxygen system. It is important to have two suction systems: one for the endoscope and the other for oral fluids. The physician’s desk is located on the other side of the room, equipped with various documents, image acquisition terminals, and a printer. The central passage should be wide enough for two people, although both patient and physician passages are necessary. The colonoscopy room has a similar design to the gastroscopy room, but is slightly larger, approximately 28 square meters, and requires a dedicated restroom. The walls and floors of the examination room should be painted in a softer color to help ease patient anxiety. Furthermore, it is essential that the surfaces are easy to clean and durable, facilitating routine cleaning and disinfection.

The ERCP examination and treatment room, where duodenoscopy is performed, should have a total area of 60-65 square meters, divided into three areas: an operating area of 30-35 square meters, a control area of 20 square meters, and an equipment room. The operating area, where ERCP treatment is conducted, must be designed to provide X-ray shielding. It requires an X-ray machine, an endoscope, and a large accessory storage cabinet for various ERCP accessories. The control area is where the X-ray machine is controlled, endoscopic images are acquired, and physician discussions are held. This area is equipped with various terminals, allowing physicians to observe the progress of the endoscopic procedure.

Painless endoscopy is a rapidly developing technology that not only meets the specific needs of patients but also lays the foundation for endoscopic diagnosis and treatment of difficult and critically ill patients. In principle, anesthesia and recovery should be performed in a centralized area, which can be semi-open, but requires unified monitoring and management. This area should be kept as far away from the entrance area as possible to prevent waiting patients from witnessing an unconscious postoperative patient, which could increase their fear. The number of beds is generally three times the number of examination rooms. Each bed is equipped with oxygen, wall-mounted suction, and an ECG monitor, and removable curtains are used to separate the beds. The recovery room must also be staffed with a dedicated medical/nursing staff member to perform postoperative care and ensure the safe recovery of patients.

Digestive endoscopes and their accessories are reusable devices, making cleaning and disinfection particularly important. The endoscope cleaning room is divided into a contaminated area and a clean area. Endoscopes are retrieved from the contaminated area entrance, cleaned, disinfected, and dried, and then transported to the scope storage through the clean area exit. The cleaning and disinfection steps are divided into: initial wash – enzyme wash – secondary wash – disinfection – and final wash. Most of these devices are currently finished products. In principle, each endoscopy unit should be equipped with at least one endoscope decontamination system, and upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopes should have separate decontamination areas or equipment. Endoscopes transferred from the decontamination room to the storage room should be hung and stored. Small-scale endoscopy rooms can install dry, clean storage cabinets within the examination room.