Tag Archives: fellowship training

How Many Times Have You Done This?

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Two recent studies illustrate the need for better endoscopic training for fellows:

  • AM Banc-Husu et al. JPGN 2017; 64: e88-e91.
  • EA Mezoff et al. JPGN 2017; 64: e96-e99.

In the first study from CHOP, the authors performed a retrospective review of their endosocpic database from 2009-2014.  Out of 12,737 upper endoscopies, 15 patients underwent 17 upper endoscopies which required a therapeutic intervention to control nonvariceal bleeding (1:750 procedures).  therefore, among their 24 fellows, this resulted in less than 1 therapeutic endoscopy per fellow.

In the second study, “a recent study suggests that fellows are largely unable to achieve the prescribed case volume recommended to achieve competence.”  The authors found that control of nonvariceal bleeding [and other advanced endoscopy cases] “were performed exclusively but relatively infrequently by members of this advanced endoscopy service. Fellows…participated in relatively few.”

My take: Fortunately, life-threatening nonvariceal bleeding cases are infrequent.  The downside of the rarity of these cases is the lack of subspecialty expertise, particularly in recently trained physicians.  My recommendations:

  1. Work with experience physicians (adult and pediatric) until sufficient expertise is developed.
  2. Even experienced physicians should collaborate on these difficult cases
  3. Efforts to improve simulation would be welcome –similar to aviation pilots.

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Arc de Triomph

More Training Needed for Wireless Capsule Endoscopy

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A recent study (NM Hijaz et al. JPGN 2015; 61: 421-23) shows that there is little formal training in wireless capsule endoscopy.  Though this study was merely a 5-item questionnaire sent to program directors (adult and pediatric), it showed that only 4% of pediatric program respondents had a formal training module and only 27% have a hands-on course.  These results were based on a 39% pediatric program response (25/64).

My take: Despite the low response rate to the questionnaire, given the increasing use of WCE as an evaluation tool, better training is needed.

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sunf

Training Not Meeting Procedure Thresholds for Fellows

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With expanding numbers of pediatric GI trainees, it is even more concerning that training centers have had difficulty providing adequate experience for their trainees.  In a recent study (JPGN 2014; 58: 27-33), not one of 12 centers was able to meet the threshold for all of the procedures.

The authors provide NASPGHAN procedural competency guidelines in Table 2. The 2013 guidelines lowered the threshold for almost all procedures in comparison to the 1999 guidelines.  One notable exception was foreign bodies which was increased to 10. Then, the authors examined the frequency of procedures actually performed between 2009-2011.

Key findings (with the lower thresholds)

  • Polypectomy (threshold, n=10) 67% of programs meeting 2013 NASPGHAN guidelines
  • Control of nonvariceal bleeding/Sclerotherpy/Variceal band ligation (threshold, n=15) 17% of programs meeting 2013 NASPGHAN guidelines. Mean number per fellow of nonvariceal bleeding cases was 2 procedures. Mean number per fellow of banding/sclerotherapy was 7 procedures. With the 1999 guidelines, the threshold had been 35 for these procedures combined.
  • Esophageal, pyloric and duodenal stricture dilatation (threshold, n=15) 42% of programs meeting 2013 NASPGHAN guidelines
  • PEG (threshold, n=10) 42% of programs meeting 2013 NASPGHAN guidelines (training not available at 42% of these institutions)
  • Percutaneous liver biopsy (threshold, n=15) 67% of programs meeting 2013 NASPGHAN guidelines
  • Foreign-body removal (threshold, n=10) 58% of programs meeting 2013 NASPGHAN guidelines

It is noted that the 2013 guidelines “reclassified control of variceal and nonvariceal bleeding from a level 2 to a level 1 procedure, stressing that expertise in hemostasis should be achieved during fellowship.” “Without supplemental training, none of these programs, which are likely representative of most programs, were able to provide sufficient opportunities to meet the NASPGHAN guidelines.” Besides spending more time working with adult gastroenterologists, other potential ways to gain more experience includes simulators and hands-on training courses.

Take-home message: Pediatric gastroenterology training centers are not providing enough procedural experience and need to make rotating with adult gastroenterologists mandatory. It is unfair to trainees and vulnerable patients to consider their training complete with these obvious deficiencies.

When families ask the newly trained pediatric gastroenterologist how many cases like this that they have completed, how will they feel if the honest answer is two?

Related blog post:

Training for Tomorrow | gutsandgrowth