Study Says Simulation Based Mastery Learning Improves Endoscopic Performance

Research conducted by Matthew Ritter, MD, FACS (associate professor and vice chair for Education at Uniformed Services University, and a Surgical Endoscopist) and his team, indicates simulation based mastery learning (SBML) using Limbs & Things Endoscopy Training System is a good choice for novice learners preparing for the Fundamentals of Endoscopic Surgery (FES) exam. The Endoscopy Training System teaches the five essential skills needed to perform safe endoscopy – scope manipulation, tool targeting, retroflexion, loop management and mucosal inspection.

Starting in the 2017-2018 academic year, general surgery residents will be required to pass the manual FES exam. There is currently no standard training platform for the FES exam and failure rates have been estimated at up to 40%. So far, the research shows 100% of residents who used the ETS System using Dr. Ritter’s curriculum passed the FES exam. Limbs & Things (in partnership with National Capital Region Simulation Consortium and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) / Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Department of Surgery and Kyoto Kagaku) posted a video on how the Endoscopy Training System platform works.

The abstract, published in Surgical Endoscopy, shows residents can develop the technical skills required to pass the FES manual skills exam, saying that post-training performance is similar to a clinical experience of around 300 endoscopies. The study recommends the SBML curriculum for those looking for strategies to develop or remediate flexible endoscopy skills.

Limbs & Things launched the ETS System at SAGES in March. The trainer will also be on the Limbs & Things booth #217 at the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress, October 22-26 in San Diego, CA.

*Development team: Lead by Matthew Ritter, MD, FACS. Other initial development team members include Tiffany Cox, MD; Kristen Trinca, MD and Jonathan Pearl, MD, FACS.