Training in diagnostic and therapeutic ERCP
Moreira, V.; Martín-de-Argila, C.; Meroño, E.; García Plaza, A.
Revista Espanola de Enfermedades Digestivas Organo Oficial de la Sociedad Espanola de Patologia Digestiva 86(6): 901-907
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 1130-0108 PMID: 7873266 Document Number: 429494
Training in diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography procedures is difficult and tedious. Currently, there is no consensus on how to plan and put it into practice. We believe that training in these procedures must be included in the training program of the gastroenterology resident, since the efficiency of these methods (both diagnostic and therapeutic) in biliopancreatic disease including their clinical, social and economic benefits are beyond doubt. Training in diagnostic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography should be planned for about 3 months including at least 100 procedures under supervision of an experienced endoscopist; on the other hand, training in the therapeutic aspects needs, in our opinion, a longer period, perhaps and additional 3 to 6 month period, although this goal is difficult to achieve in the 4-year program of a gastroenterology resident. A frequent performance of the techniques is required to acquire competence. In this paper, we emphasize the ideal conditions that, must be fulfilled to achieve an appropriate training in the diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.