The evolution of gastrointestinal endoscopy at the Mount Sinai Hospital.

ABSTRACT

Gastrointestinal endoscopy came to The Mount Sinai Hospital in the 1950s, along with the Wolf-Schindler gastroscope. In 1961, it was supplemented by the Eder-Hufford semi-flexible esophagoscope and later by the Olympus gastrocamera and then the Hirschowitz fiberoptic instruments from ACMI and Olympus. A formal training program was started by Jerome Waye in 1966 for flexible gastroscopy and esophagoscopy. In 1969, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) was introduced. Colonoscopy was at first performed under x-ray control, and subsequently replaced by the nonfluoroscopic method of colonoscopic topography, which was developed by Dr. Waye. A full-time nurse who was in charge of the endoscopy unit founded the Society for Gastrointestinal Nurses and Assistants while working at The Mount Sinai Hospital.