Learning Curve of Double Balloon Enteroscopy

Double balloon enteroscopy (DBE) is a time-consuming procedure. Although prospective research on the learning curve for this procedure is lacking, there are data from prospective cohorts that have evaluated the learning curve of DBE. It is evident that a significant amount of time and a minimum of 10 to 15 procedures are required to acquire the skills necessary to perform DBE. Knowledge of these technical data may be helpful for endoscopists planning to perform DBE, to plan the case load in individual endoscopy units, and for establishing baselines for DBE skill certification.

Keywords: double balloon enteroscopy, double balloon enteroscope, learning curve, endoscopy skills

Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Infectious Diseases, Otto-von-Guericke University, Universitätsklinikum Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.

Address reprint requests to Klaus Mönkemüller, MD, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Infectious Diseases, Universitätsklinikum Magdeburg, Otto-von-Guericke University, Leipziger Straβe 44, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany.

PII: S1096-2883(08)00002-8

doi:10.1016/j.tgie.2008.01.001

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