Is Endoscopic Resection Currently Available in Non-tertiary or Non-academic Hospitals? / 대한소화기내시경학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) has been gaining popularity with the advances in the technique and the accumulating experience. The objectives of this study are to assess the current situation of endoscopic resection (ER) in primary clinics and community-based hospitals and to suggest an affordable training program. METHODS: A questionnaire about the indications to perform ER for gastric or colonic lesions was sent to the doctors working in the non-tertiary hospitals by mail. RESULTS: The responders who were performing EMR or polypectomy for gastric lesions accounted for 43% (31/72) and 44.8% (47/101), respectively, of the total responders. The percentage of responders who had experience with performing EMR or polypectomy for colonic lesions accounted for 56.6% (30/53) and 87.3% (62/71), respectively, of the total responders. The indication for ER for treating gastric and colonic lesions was restricted to the size of 1~2 cm irrespective of the type or location of lesion. Most of the responders assumed that ER should be performed in their clinics and they wanted to have a chance to improve these techniques. CONCLUSIONS: The infrastructure for therapeutic endoscopy, such as ER, should be progressively expanded. Therefore, well designed schematic training programs are currently needed to advance using ER more commonly in clinical practice.