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Copyright ©The Author(s) 2015. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. May 7, 2015; 21(17): 5176-5182
Published online May 7, 2015. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v21.i17.5176
Learning models for endoscopic ultrasonography in gastrointestinal endoscopy
Gwang Ha Kim, Sung Jo Bang, Joo Ha Hwang
Gwang Ha Kim, Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine and Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan 602-739, South Korea
Sung Jo Bang, Department of Internal Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan 682-714, South Korea
Joo Ha Hwang, Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98104, United States
Author contributions: Kim GH and Bang SJ contributed equally to the work; Kim GH and Bang SJ contributed to the review of the literature and initial draft of manuscript; Hwang JH contributed to revising and final approval of the manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest: All authors declare no conflict-of-interest related to this paper.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Correspondence to: Gwang Ha Kim, MD, PhD, Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine and Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, 179, Gudeok-ro, Seo-gu, Busan 602-739, South Korea. doc0224@pusan.ac.kr
Telephone: +82-51-2407869 Fax: +82-51-2448180
Received: December 17, 2014
Peer-review started: December 18, 2014
First decision: January 22, 2015
Revised: February 5, 2015
Accepted: March 19, 2015
Article in press: March 19, 2015
Published online: May 7, 2015
Processing time: 146 Days and 20.2 Hours
Abstract

Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) has become a useful diagnostic and therapeutic modality in gastrointestinal endoscopy. However, EUS requires additional training since it requires simultaneous endoscopic manipulation and ultrasonographic interpretation. Obtaining adequate EUS training can be challenging since EUS is highly operator-dependent and training on actual patients can be associated with an increased risk of complications including inaccurate diagnosis. Therefore, several models have been developed to help facilitate training of EUS. The models currently available for EUS training include computer-based simulators, phantoms, ex vivo models, and live animal models. Although each model has its own merits and limitations, the value of these different models is rather complementary than competitive. However, there is a lack of objective data regarding the efficacy of each model with recommendations on the use of various training models based on expert opinion only. Therefore, objective studies evaluating the efficacy of various EUS training models on technical and clinical outcomes are still needed.

Keywords: Endoscopic ultrasonography; Training; Phantom; Computer simulation; Animal model

Core tip: The present review offers a summary of learning models for endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS). The models currently available for EUS training include computer-based simulators, phantoms, ex vivo models, and live animal models. Although each model has its own merits and limitations, the value of these different models is complementary than competitive. However, there is a lack of objective data regarding the efficacy of each model with recommendations on the use of various training models based on expert opinion only. Therefore, objective studies evaluating the efficacy of various EUS training models on technical and clinical outcomes is needed.