Training Simulators for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy: Current and Future Perspectives
1
The BioRobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, 56025 Pisa, Italy
2
Center of Research in Biomedical Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
3
Department of Excellence in Robotics & AI, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, 56127 Pisa, Italy
4
Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Unit, University Hospital of Parma, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy
5
Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences University of Foggia, 71121 Foggia, Italy
6
LIDER-Lab, DIRPOLIS Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, 56025 Pisa, Italy
7
Department of Gastroenterology, Pomeranian Medical University, 71-252 Szczecin, Poland
8
The Centre for Digestive Diseases Endoklinika, 70-535 Szczecin, Poland
9
Department of Social Medicine & Public Health, Pomeranian Medical University, 71-252 Szczecin, Poland
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These senior authors equally contributed to this work.
Academic Editor: Stephen P. Pereira
Cancers 2021, 13(6), 1427; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers13061427
Received: 17 February 2021
/
Revised: 11 March 2021
/
Accepted: 16 March 2021
/
Published: 20 March 2021
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modern Gastrointestinal Cancers Detection, and Treatment: How the Recent Pandemic Shapes the Field in the Years to Come)
Simple Summary
Over the last decades, visual endoscopy has become a gold standard for the detection and treatment of gastrointestinal cancers. However, mastering endoscopic procedures is complex and requires long hours of practice. In this context, simulation-based training represents a valuable opportunity for acquiring technical and cognitive skills, suiting the different trainees’ learning pace and limiting the risks for the patients. In this regard, the present contribution aims to present a critical and comprehensive review of the current technology for gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy training, including both commercial products and platforms at a research stage. Not limited to it, the recent revolution played by the technological advancements in the fields of robotics, artificial intelligence, virtual/augmented reality, and computational tools on simulation-based learning is documented and discussed. Finally, considerations on the future trend of this application field are drawn, highlighting the impact of the most recent pandemic and the current demographic trends.
Gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy is the gold standard in the detection and treatment of early and advanced GI cancers. However, conventional endoscopic techniques are technically demanding and require visual-spatial skills and significant hands-on experience. GI endoscopy simulators represent a valid solution to allow doctors to practice in a pre-clinical scenario. From the first endoscopy mannequin, developed in 1969, several simulation platforms have been developed, ranging from purely mechanical systems to more complex mechatronic devices and animal-based models. Considering the recent advancement of technologies (e.g., artificial intelligence, augmented reality, robotics), simulation platforms can now reach high levels of realism, representing a valid and smart alternative to standard trainee/mentor learning programs. This is particularly true nowadays, when the current demographic trend and the most recent pandemic demand, more than ever, the ability to cope with many patients. This review offers a broad view of the technology available for GI endoscopy training, including platforms currently in the market and the relevant advancements in this research and application field. Additionally, new training needs and new emerging technologies are discussed to understand where medical education is heading.
View Full-Text
Keywords:
GI endoscopy; medical simulation; medical education; training; gastroscopy; colonoscopy; simulators
▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited
MDPI and ACS Style
Finocchiaro, M.; Cortegoso Valdivia, P.; Hernansanz, A.; Marino, N.; Amram, D.; Casals, A.; Menciassi, A.; Marlicz, W.; Ciuti, G.; Koulaouzidis, A. Training Simulators for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy: Current and Future Perspectives. Cancers 2021, 13, 1427. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers13061427
AMA Style
Finocchiaro M, Cortegoso Valdivia P, Hernansanz A, Marino N, Amram D, Casals A, Menciassi A, Marlicz W, Ciuti G, Koulaouzidis A. Training Simulators for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy: Current and Future Perspectives. Cancers. 2021; 13(6):1427. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers13061427
Chicago/Turabian StyleFinocchiaro, Martina, Pablo Cortegoso Valdivia, Albert Hernansanz, Nicola Marino, Denise Amram, Alicia Casals, Arianna Menciassi, Wojciech Marlicz, Gastone Ciuti, and Anastasios Koulaouzidis. 2021. "Training Simulators for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy: Current and Future Perspectives" Cancers 13, no. 6: 1427. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers13061427
Find Other Styles
Note that from the first issue of 2016, MDPI journals use article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.
