Untutored training pathway to achieve competence in esophagogastric endoscopic submucosal dissection in a Western center.

Background And Aims: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has a long learning curve. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of an ESD unsupervised training model for experienced endoscopists.

Methods: Stepwise training included a visit to a high-volume center, unsupervised training on an ex vivo porcine model, and in vivo human upper GI cases with anatomic progression. Performance measures included en bloc resection, R0 resection, adverse event rates, and operating time.

Results: After observation of 30 esophagogastric ESDs and 15 untutored ex vivo ESDs, 5 human cases of distal gastric ESDs were performed, followed by 55 unselected esophagogastric cases. En bloc and R0 resection rates were 93.0% and 80.7%, respectively. Operating time was 14.0 min/cm in the stomach and 25.1 min/cm in the esophagus, with evidence of a learning curve for esophageal ESDs (first block 30.26 min/cm vs second block 14.81 min/cm, P = .01).

Conclusions: Untutored training for esophagogastric ESD is feasible and allows endoscopists, experienced in therapeutic endoscopy, to achieve the required standards toward competency.