Teaching surgical endoscopy of the gastrointestinal tract

Surgical endoscopy, or the utilization of endoscopic techniques in the diagnosis and treatment of surgical disease, is an integral part of the practice of modern gastrointestinal surgery and the training of surgical residents. In addition to information crucial to preoperative evaluation and postoperative surveillance, endoscopy offers alternative therapeutic and complementary intraoperative options. Surgical endoscopy can be taught as part of an integrated residency experience, a separate endoscopy rotation, a postresidency fellowship, or an individually-arranged preceptorship. Each method of teaching has relative advantages and disadvantages. The 3 surgical endoscopy training programs with which the authors have been associated include an integrated experience, a separate endoscopy rotation followed by an integrated experience, and a preceptorship followed by an integrated experience.