Untutored learning curve for endoscopic submucosal dissection in New Zealand

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a specialised endoscopic technique in the treatment of large pre-cancerous and early cancerous gastrointestinal lesions that avoids the need for surgical resections. The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility, efficacy and safety of learning ESD in an untutored approach in a prevalence-based setting within New Zealand.

Over a 4-year period, 80 ESD procedures were performed at a single tertiary centre within New Zealand. We retrospectively reviewed basic demographics of the patients, along with successful en bloc resection rates, dissection speeds, histological diagnoses (including margin assessments) and complications.

We captured 80 procedures. Within this database we achieved an en bloc resection of 88.7% (71 out of 80 cases) and an R0 resection of 72.5% (58 out of 80 cases). The international benchmark for dissection speed of 9cm2/h was achieved within the first block of 20 cases and was maintained throughout. There was a perforation rate of 6.25% (five patients), with one patient (1.25%) requiring emergency surgery for a rectal perforation.

Our study shows it is feasible and safe to learn ESD within a low-volume tertiary centre within New Zealand via a prevalence-based approached. The majority of patients were able to have en bloc resection and a R0 resection. Our intent is that this data be used to help design a more formalised training process for learning ESD within a New Zealand setting.