Troubleshooting common endoscopic malfunctions: a study integrating a preoperative checklist and troubleshooting guide into surgical resident training.

Use of a checklist, with no further intervention, significantly improves the ability of novice endoscopists to identify and remedy common equipment malfunctions. Introduction of a troubleshooting checklist may represent a simple and low-cost way to improve both efficiency and safety in the endoscopy suite.