Keywords
endoscopic submucosal dissection - ex vivo porcine stomach model - time-limited -
en bloc resection rate - procedure speed - perforation rate
Introduction
In recent years, the detection rate of gastrointestinal tumors, especially precancerous
lesions and early cancer, has been increasing. This condition is mainly due to the
great attention devoted to tumor diseases and the development of new digestive endoscopy
technology. The improvement in detection rate has also promoted the development of
endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), which has many advantages, such as absence
of laparotomy, organ preservation, and rapid recovery.[1]
In the late 1990s, Japanese scholar Gotoda and others first reported the successful
dissection of early cancerous lesions larger than 2 cm in diameter by using ESD. ESD
is an effective and safe method for the treatment of early gastrointestinal cancer.[2]
[3] However, compared with traditional endoscopic mucosal resection, ESD is more difficult,
complicated, and time consuming; so the incidence of delayed bleeding, perforation,
infection, and other complications is increased.[4]
[5]
[6]
[7] Although the amount of and experience in ESD development differ across countries,[8]
[9] great importance is attached to the prevention and treatment of ESD complications,
especially in Western countries.[10]
[11]
[12] Therefore, endoscopists need systematic training before performing clinical ESD
treatment procedures to reduce the incidence of complications, patient pain and costs.
Prior to ESD in the human body, we have trained on animal models, such as porcine
stomach. Recently, the European Society of Gastroendoscopy provided guidelines for
ESD and recommended that at least five ESD procedures be performed in animal models
(in vivo or ex vivo) before the implementation of ESD in humans.[13]
[14]
[15]
[16]
[17]
[18]
Researchers have not determined how long ESD operators should be trained in porcine
stomach model training and how many operations should be completed before they can
implement the operation in human body independently. The coronavirus disease 2019
(COVID-19) pandemic in the past 3 years has severely challenged on-the-spot centralized
learning.[19] The number of standardized ESD training institutions in many regions is still relatively
limited. Full use of the limited training opportunities and time to achieve the training
effect is important. Research on whether to limit ESD training time has not been performed.
Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the differences between time-limited and
nonlimited groups in the training of ESD in an ex vivo porcine stomach model to provide
evidence for reasonable training methods.
Materials and Methods
Trainees
Twenty endoscopists with more than 10 years of experience in endoscopy and endoscopic
mucosal resection, without ESD experience, were selected regardless of age and gender.
Before using the ex vivo porcine stomach model for operation training, the trainees
were introduced to ESD-related equipment and techniques online. The materials included
the following contents (1) brief introduction of ESD equipment, such as endoscope
and electric cutter; (2) basic steps of ESD in the stomach; (3) dual knife cutting
techniques; (4) Insulated-tip diathermic knife (IT knife) cutting techniques; (5)
common pitfalls to be avoided in ESD operation; and (6) complications in ESD and management.
Then, the trainees reviewed videos of ESD procedures performed by experts with rich
ESD operation experience. The trainees were randomly divided into two groups by using
the random number table method with 10 participants each. The operation time for the
time-limited group was 30 minutes, and the operation for the non-time-limited group
ended with complete mucosal dissection. Each ex vivo porcine stomach model was used
to train two trainees, and each group had five operation platforms. Each trainee underwent
five procedures.
Ex Vivo Porcine Stomach Model
The porcine stomach of 6 to 9-month-old samples was used to make the training model,
and a complete esophageal connection was required. On the night before the training,
the frozen stomach was thawed at room temperature. The stomach sample was washed thoroughly
with warm water before use, and food residue was removed from the stomach. The stomach
was fixed in a 25 × 15 × 10 cm plastic box, and the open part of the stomach was tightly
clamped with hemostatic forceps. The esophagus protruded through a hole at the top
of the box and was fixed with a tube that could pass through the gastroscope. A metal
plate connected with the electrotome was placed under the stomach as an electrode
for the operation ([Fig. 1]).
Fig. 1 Ex vivo porcine model used for endoscopic submucosal dissection training.
Endoscopes and Attachments
The Olympus GIF-h190 upper endoscope (Olympus, Center Valley, Pennsylvania, United
States) and ERBE VIO 300 D electric generator (ERBE, Tübingen, Germany) were used
in all the training courses. The following settings were adopted for all operations:
Endo-Cut effect 3 and 130 Watts. Coagulation settings were not needed because no bleeding
occurred in the ex vivo porcine stomach. Dual knife (KD-650U; Olympus, Tokyo, Japan)
was used for each phase of ESD. Olympus distal attachments (D-201–11804; Olympus,
Tokyo, Japan) were utilized in all operations. All operations were performed with
normal saline and methylene blue as the lifting solution.
ESD Operation Process
ESD was performed in accordance with the standard procedure. The dual knife was used
to mark the circumference around the target area. Normal saline and methylene blue
were injected to lift the lesion. The initial mucosal incision was performed at 12
and 6 o'clock by using the dual knife. The dual knife was also used to cut the mucosa
around the mark. Submucosal dissection was performed after circumferential cutting
of the mucosa. When necessary, additional injections were made to lift and expose
the submucosa sufficiently to ensure complete dissection. ESD should be performed
in the proximal–middle part of the stomach ([Fig. 2]). Gastric antrum with thick mucosa should be avoided. The size of the resected area
was determined by the trainees. Direct or inverted ESD operation was optional for
the trainees. Clamping was required for perforation and obstruction, such as air leakage.
Fig. 2 Application of endoscopic submucosal dissection in the ex vivo model. (A) Confirmation of the mark. (B) Circumferential cut after submucosal injection. (C) Submucosal dissection of the lesion. (D) Postinterventional site of the resection.
Outcome Parameters
The following variables were recorded: (1) time of ESD operation, which is the time
from the first circumferential marking to the complete dissection of the marked gastric
mucosa; (2) completeness of the ESD resection (en bloc, incomplete), which refers
to whether all the premarkers around the mucosal lesions are included in the resected
specimens; (3) perforation, which refers to whether an obvious defect occurs on the
muscle wall of the porcine stomach during operation; and (4) resection area. The dissected
specimen was removed from the stomach and nailed to a cork board, and the area was
measured. When the specimen had an ellipse shape, the two largest diameters of the
resected specimen were measured, and the area was calculated as area (mm2) = small diameter (mm) /2 × large diameter (mm) / 2 ×π. When the specimen was circular,
the diameter of the resected specimen was measured, and the area was calculated as
area (mm2) = π × (diameter (mm)/2). Procedure speed was calculated in mm2 per minute by using the formula procedure speed = area (mm2)/time (minute).
Statistical Analysis
The data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation (SD). Chi-squared and paired
t-tests were performed for statistical analyses. All statistical analyses were performed
in StataCorp, College Station, Texas, United States. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results
In the time-limited and nonlimited groups, 100 endoscopic procedures (50 time-limited
and 50 nonlimited) were performed in the ex vivo porcine model. An overview of the
data is presented in [Tables 1] and [2].
Table 1
Date of the time-limited group
|
Number
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
ESD-1
|
En bloc resection
|
Y
|
Y
|
N
|
Y
|
Y
|
N
|
N
|
Y
|
N
|
N
|
|
Perforation
|
N
|
N
|
Y
|
N
|
N
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
N
|
N
|
|
Resection area(mm2)
|
80
|
125
|
130
|
75
|
160
|
410
|
490
|
165
|
240
|
205
|
|
Dissection time(min)
|
28
|
28
|
N[a]
|
25
|
20
|
N[a]
|
N[a]
|
22
|
N
|
N[a]
|
|
Procedure speed(mm2/min)
|
2.86
|
4.46
|
4.33
|
3
|
8
|
13.67
|
16.35
|
7.5
|
8
|
6.83
|
ESD-2
|
En bloc resection
|
N
|
Y
|
Y
|
N
|
N
|
Y
|
N
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
|
Perforation
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
Y
|
N
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
|
Resection area(mm2)
|
240
|
225
|
320
|
210
|
380
|
520
|
645
|
350
|
430
|
450
|
|
Dissection time(min)
|
N[a]
|
28
|
29
|
N[a]
|
N[a]
|
28
|
N[a]
|
25
|
29
|
29
|
|
Procedure speed(mm2/min)
|
8
|
8.04
|
11.03
|
7
|
12.67
|
18.57
|
21.5
|
14
|
14.83
|
15.52
|
ESD-3
|
En bloc resection
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
|
Perforation
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
Y
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
|
Resection area(mm2)
|
430
|
395
|
520
|
490
|
420
|
650
|
750
|
450
|
620
|
680
|
|
Dissection time(min)
|
28
|
28
|
N[a]
|
27
|
28
|
28
|
30
|
27
|
29
|
28
|
|
Procedure speed(mm2/min)
|
15.36
|
14.11
|
17.33
|
18.15
|
15
|
23.21
|
25
|
16.67
|
21.38
|
24.29
|
ESD-4
|
En bloc resection
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
N
|
N
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
|
Perforation
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
Y
|
|
Resection area(mm2)
|
650
|
768
|
765
|
683
|
815
|
1080
|
920
|
670
|
815
|
890
|
|
Dissection time(min)
|
26
|
28
|
30
|
25
|
29
|
N[a]
|
N[a]
|
26
|
30
|
28
|
|
Procedure speed(mm2/min)
|
25
|
27.43
|
23.23
|
27.32
|
28.1
|
36
|
30.67
|
25.77
|
27.17
|
31.79
|
ESD-5
|
En bloc resection
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
N
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
|
Perforation
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
Y
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
|
Resection area(mm2)
|
830
|
938
|
1078
|
1120
|
1086
|
1312
|
1190
|
910
|
1050
|
1216
|
|
Dissection time(min)
|
28
|
27
|
29
|
N[a]
|
28
|
29
|
28
|
27
|
30
|
28
|
|
Procedure speed(mm2/min)
|
29.64
|
34.74
|
37.17
|
37.33
|
38.79
|
45.24
|
42.5
|
33.7
|
35
|
43.43
|
Abbreviation: ESD, endoscopic submucosal dissection.
a En bloc resection was not performed in 30 minutes. The time is counted in 30 minutes.
Table 2
Date of the nonlimited group
|
Number
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
ESD-1
|
En bloc resection
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
|
Perforation
|
N
|
N
|
Y
|
N
|
Y
|
Y
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
|
Resection area(mm2)
|
160
|
140
|
420
|
280
|
545
|
650
|
320
|
258
|
390
|
670
|
|
Dissection time(min)
|
45
|
29
|
59
|
55
|
49
|
65
|
51
|
37
|
52
|
69
|
|
Procedure speed(mm2/min)
|
3.56
|
4.83
|
7.12
|
5.09
|
11.12
|
10
|
6.27
|
6.97
|
7.5
|
9.71
|
ESD-2
|
En bloc resection
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
|
Perforation
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
Y
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
Y
|
|
Resection area(mm2)
|
560
|
390
|
570
|
412
|
768
|
910
|
510
|
672
|
430
|
820
|
|
Dissection time(min)
|
60
|
32
|
42
|
45
|
42
|
56
|
55
|
47
|
41
|
50
|
|
Procedure speed(mm2/min)
|
9.33
|
12.19
|
13.57
|
9.16
|
18.29
|
16.25
|
9.27
|
14.3
|
10.49
|
16.4
|
ESD-3
|
En bloc resection
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
|
Perforation
|
N
|
Y
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
Y
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
|
Resection area(mm2)
|
520
|
660
|
1060
|
610
|
975
|
1180
|
690
|
680
|
760
|
1130
|
|
Dissection time(min)
|
42
|
45
|
50
|
36
|
46
|
60
|
40
|
45
|
40
|
43
|
|
Procedure speed(mm2/min)
|
12.38
|
14.67
|
21.2
|
16.94
|
21.2
|
19.67
|
17.25
|
15.2
|
19
|
26.28
|
ESD-4
|
En bloc resection
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
|
Perforation
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
|
Resection area(mm2)
|
862
|
1160
|
1550
|
1128
|
1446
|
1656
|
1270
|
1248
|
1376
|
1632
|
|
Dissection time(min)
|
45
|
50
|
60
|
52
|
50
|
60
|
45
|
56
|
48
|
60
|
|
Procedure speed(mm2/min)
|
31.37
|
33.64
|
32
|
36.15
|
32.8
|
40.33
|
34.67
|
30.79
|
32.5
|
34.67
|
ESD-5
|
En bloc resection
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
|
Perforation
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
Y
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
|
Resection area(mm2)
|
1412
|
1682
|
1920
|
1880
|
1640
|
2420
|
1560
|
1724
|
1560
|
2080
|
|
Dissection time(min)
|
45
|
50
|
60
|
52
|
50
|
60
|
45
|
56
|
48
|
60
|
|
Procedure speed(mm2/min)
|
31.37
|
33.64
|
32
|
36.15
|
32.8
|
40.33
|
34.67
|
30.79
|
32.5
|
34.67
|
Abbreviation: ESD, endoscopic submucosal dissection.
Rate of En Bloc Resection
In ESD-1 and ESD-2, the time-limited group achieved an en bloc resection rate of 50
(5 of 10) and 60% (6 of 10), respectively. In ESD-3 to ESD-5, the values were 100
(10 of 10), 80% (8 of 10), and 90% (9 of 10), respectively. In ESD-1 to ESD-5, the
nonlimited group had an en bloc resection rate of 100% (10 of 10). Compared with the
en bloc resection rate of the time-limited group, the rate of the nonlimited group
was significantly higher in ESD-1 (100 vs. 50%, p < 0.05) and ESD-2 (100 vs. 60%, p < 0.05) ([Fig. 3]).
Fig. 3 Rate of en bloc resection. ESD, endoscopic submucosal dissection.
Resection Area
The median resection area in the time-limited group for ESD-1 was 208 mm2 (SD: 138.47). In ESD-2 to ESD-5, the value was 377 mm2 (SD: 139.11), 540.5 mm2 (SD: 125.04), 805.6 mm2 (SD: 131.81), and 1073 mm2 (SD: 148.33) for the time-limited group, respectively. In each ESD procedure, the
median resection area was significantly larger in the nonlimited group than in the
time-limited group. In ESD-1, the median resection area was 383.3 mm2 for the nonlimited group (SD: 188.65, p < 0.05). The median resection area was 604.2 mm2 (SD: 181.56, p < 0.01) in ESD-2, 826.5 mm2 (SD: 237.28, p < 0.01) in ESD-3, 1332.8 mm2 (SD: 249.54, p < 0.01) in ESD-4, and 1787.8 mm2 (SD: 296.86, p < 0.01) in ESD-5 for the nonlimited group ([Fig. 4]).
Fig. 4 Resection area. ESD, endoscopic submucosal dissection.
Procedure Speed
In ESD-1 to ESD-5, the median procedure speeds in the time-limited group were 7.50 mm2/min (SD: 4.45), 13.12 mm2/min (SD: 4.75), 19.05 mm2/min (SD: 4.07), 28.25 mm2/min (SD: 3.70), and 37.75 mm2/min (SD: 4.85), respectively.
The difference in median procedure speed between the nonlimited and time-limited groups
in ESD-1 to ESD-4 did not reach significance in the statistical analysis (7.22 mm2/min [SD: 2.44] vs. 7.50 mm2/min [SD: 4.45], p = 0.65; 12.93 mm2/min [SD: 3.35] vs. 13.12 mm2/min [SD: 4.75], p = 0.26; 18.38 mm2/min [SD: 3.99] vs. 19.05 mm2/min [SD: 4.07], p = 0.18; 26.13 mm2/min [SD: 4.08] vs. 28.25 mm2/min [SD: 3.70], p = 0.31). By contrast, the procedure time in ESD-5 was significantly lower in the
nonlimited group compared with that in the time-limited group (33.89 mm2/ min [SD: 2.80] vs. 37.75 mm2/min [SD: 4.85], p < 0.05) ([Fig. 5]).
Fig. 5 Procedure speed. ESD, endoscopic submucosal dissection.
Perforations
In ESD-1 and ESD-2, four perforations were observed in the time-limited group. In
ESD-3 to ESD-5, one perforation occurred. In ESD-1 to ESD-5, three perforations, two
perforations, two perforations, no perforations, and one perforation occurred in the
nonlimited group, respectively. No significant difference in the perforation rate
was observed in each ESD between two groups (4/10 vs. 3/10, 4/10 vs. 2/10, 1/10 vs.
2/10, 1/10 vs. 0/10, 1/10 vs. 1/10; p > 0.05) ([Fig. 6]).
Fig. 6 Perforation rate. ESD, endoscopic submucosal dissection.
Discussion
The value of the ex vivo porcine stomach model in ESD training has been widely recognized.[20]
[21] Given the wide application of the model, many problems need to be considered about
how to create a highly standardized training process to obtain improved effects. Most
of the endoscopists participating in such training are in-service doctors, and taking
a few weeks or days off to complete the training on animal models is difficult with
the limited number of standardized ESD training institutions. In the particular case
of COVID-19, staff aggregation is highly restricted. Therefore, animal model training
should be arranged efficiently. Operation time is often used as an indicator to measure
operator proficiency in animal model training,[22]
[23]
[24]
[25]
[26] and limiting the operating time may be beneficial for improving training efficiency.
In our study, each trainee had a time limit of 30 minutes based on good criteria in
the skill assessment of participants according to the consensus of the National Cancer
Centre of Japan and Western supervisory endoscopy experts with experience in ESD.[27] Through the experiment, we found that most of the trainees in the time-limited group
completed the operation within 30 minutes in the third implementation. Although some
of the trainees in the time-limited group failed to resect the lesions completely
in the first two operations, the training period was shortened, and training efficiency
was improved by limiting the operation time for each case. However, in the nonlimited
group, the time for the 10 trainees to complete five operations was 206 to 301 minutes,
with an average of 248 minute. Limiting the operation time and improving the efficiency
of training may be conducive to solving the problem of time for participating trainees.
In addition, we recorded and analyzed the en bloc resection rate, resection area,
procedure speed, and perforations of the two groups. From our records, we found that
the en bloc resection rates of the first two operations in the time-limited group
(5/10 and 6/10) were significantly lower than those in the nonlimited group (10/10).
By the third operation, both groups could almost complete the operation. The resection
area of the time-limited group was significantly smaller than that of the nonlimited
group in each ESD procedure. We speculate that sufficient operation time can help
trainees achieve successful en bloc resection and remove large lesions. After five
operations, the procedure speed of all trainees increased. The speed in the fifth
operation of the time-limited group was significantly higher than that of the non-limited
group. Limiting the operation time could make the trainees pay attention to the training,
and the resection speed was improved significantly. The perforation rate of the time-limited
group was similar to that of the nonlimited group and gradually decreased with the
increase in the number of operations. No significant correlation was observed between
perforation and limited operation time, which can be reduced only by improving operation
skills. Therefore, according to the data above, the benefits of improving the procedure
speed cannot be viewed as the main basis for limiting the operation time in ESD training
requirements.
After communicating with the trainees in the two groups, we found that the psychological
pressure of the trainees in the time-limited group was higher than that of the trainees
in the nonlimited group because of the time requirement. Psychological quality training
is important for surgeons, but it is often ignored or no good training method is available.[28]
[29]
[30] By limiting the time, this study increased the psychological pressure on the participants,
resulting in some psychological quality training before the actual operation on the
human body, which is also unexpected.
However, limiting operation time is also an additional pressure for actual clinical
surgeries. In practical cases, the difficulty of ESD such as complex surgical sites,
abundant blood vessels, large lesion areas, and fibrosis cannot be measured solely
by the operating time to determine the success of the surgery. Therefore, limit operation
time may be more beneficial for the psychological quality training of trainees during
animal models training. In actual operations on human cases, senior doctors with ESD
experience need to timely replace junior doctors who lack operation experience in
performing actual procedures to ensure the success and safety of the operation.[31]
[32] However, the specific replacement time is usually determined by experience. Although
a limited time set cannot represent the specific situation of human surgery, if the
primary operator fails to achieve effective dissection within 30 minute or if perforation
is possible, then the need for replacement is not guaranteed. This information can
be confirmed by further clinical study.
This study has several limitations. This study focused on a small sample of endoscopists.
The ex vivo porcine stomach model was used, and this model does not involve the treatment
of intraoperative blood vessels and bleeding. Therefore, the conclusions still need
to be confirmed using large samples and large-scale, live porcine stomach models.
In this study, endoscopists were trained in ex vivo porcine stomach models for the
first time to limit the operation time. The results showed that limiting the training
time did not help the trainees complete large resection lesions, but it was beneficial
for improving the procedure speed. Perforation control, which requires endoscopists
to have superb operation skills, was not related to operation time. However, this
study also puts forward new opinions on limiting the operation time for the exploration
of trainers' psychological quality training, and team cooperation in clinical practice.
In short, limiting the operation time should be adopted depending on the actual situation
of the training institution.