Design And Validation Of A Live Animal Model For Therapeutic Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) Training Program. Taking Training To A Next Level

Aims EUS used for tumor staging has evolved into a therapeutic modality, transforming surgical procedures into minimally endoscopic treatments. Mentoring, live demonstrations, simulators, ex-vivo models/phantoms are the current teaching methods for therapeutic EUS (TEUS). Need’s to improve this training has been proposed.

To create and evaluate a high-fidelity simulated live animal model (HiFi SAM) for training interventional endoscopists in TEUS during a course called ITEC.

Methods We designed a training curriculum for TEUS that uses HiFi SAM and enables trainees working in paired groups per EUS working station to perform many realistic procedures during 3 days with expert mentorship. We addressed several aspects: EUS workstation, advance trainee profile, HiFiSAM, animal ethics, animal preparation and drug administration, surgical preparation, EUS guided therapeutic procedures, course quality analysis and structure.

Results 3 courses were performed between 2019 and 2020. 27 trainees (with different backgrounds) and 18 professors participated. Each 3-day program had 6 hours of theoretical conferences with clinical cases and 14 hours of hands-on training using ex-vivo models and HiFi SAM (IHU-Strasbourg) models on our experimental platform.

616 procedures were done and 264 (43 %) were evaluated with a mean of 88 per course. (range between 80-95). 22 (range: 20-25) TEUS procedures were defined for each HiFi SAM.

91 % (240/264) of the procedures were completed successfully. In 24 procedures, success was not achieved due to technical and/or model problems. General quality of HiFi SAM was: 71 % had an excellent rating (scale 8-10) and excellent/good in 95 % of the assessment forms.

Evaluations were (0-5): FNB: 4.79; radiofrequency: 4.76; biliary/cystic/hepatogastric drainages: 4.75/4.72/4.04, micro-biopsy: 4.50, with an overall satisfaction rate of 4.56 (91 %).

66 % of the trainees started a new procedure and/or noted improvement in previous ones.

Conclusions HiFi SAM is a complex model. Professors and trainees were satisfied with this new curriculum

Citation Sosa Valencia L, Huppertz J, Wanert F et al. eP430 DESIGN AND VALIDATION OF A LIVE ANIMAL MODEL FOR THERAPEUTIC ENDOSCOPIC ULTRASOUND (EUS) TRAINING PROGRAM. TAKING TRAINING TO A NEXT LEVEL. Endoscopy 2021; 53: S238.

Publication History

Article published online:
19 March 2021