Establishing endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) – Learning curve experience in an Austrian referral centre

Introduction: ESD is the treatment of choice for mucosal pre-/cancers of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Benefits of ESD are curative resection en-bloc, conclusive histopathology, and near zero rate of local recurrence [1]. ESD was introduced in Japan, where it spreads by clinical tutoring. In Europe, however, ESD is to be established without clinical tutoring. Aim: To introduce ESD for GI indications [1]. Methods: After extensive experimental preparation [2], a single senior endoscopist (F.B.) performed ESD on 45 successive epithelial neoplasias in the GI tract – all indications for en-bloc-resection [1]. ESD…