Holding and manipulating the endoscope: A user's guide

The way endoscopists hold and manipulate the endoscope during examination varies. The lack of a standard manual on how to hold and manipulate the endoscope has perhaps contributed to the variation seen in practice. Unfortunately, the knowledge of how to properly hold the endoscope is not innate. What seems to be the simplest form may actually be incorrect. Developing the ability to hold and to manipulate the endoscope correctly requires practice and time. We are very pleased to contribute to this chapter given the paucity of literature and the importance of this foundational technique when performing endoscopy.