Introduction: The elevated risk of complications and technical complexity of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has limited its implementation in our medical system.
Objective: To design and evaluate a training program for learning the ESD technique.
Methods: Four endoscopists with no experience with ESD underwent a 4-step training program: 1) review of the existing literature, didactic material, and theoretical aspects of ESD; 2) ESD training in an ex-vivo animal model; 3) ESD training in an in-vivo animal model (supervised by ESD expert); and 4) ESD performance in a patient. A standard gastroscope and an ESD knife (IT, Flex or Hook-knife Olympus) were employed. The classical ESD technique was performed: rising of the lesion, circumferential incision, and submucosal dissection.
Results: Ex-vivo animal model: 6 x swine stomach/esophagus -cost < 100 euro; 6 x ESD: antrum (n = 2), body (n = 3) and fundus/cardia (n = 1)-; size of resected specimen: 4-10 cm; ESD duration: 105-240 minutes; therapeutic success: 100%; complications: perforation (1/6: 16%) sealed with clips. In-vivo animal model: 6 ESD (antrum/body of stomach: 4; esophagus: 2); size: 2-5 cm; duration: 40-165 minutes; success: 100%; complications: 0%.
Patient: ESD of a gastric lesion located in the antrum/body; size: 3 cm; duration 210 minutes; a complete resection was achieved; no complications.
Conclusions: The results of the present study support the usefulness of this model for learning ESD in our system.