The field of interventional endoscopy is rapidly changing and ever growing. With all the new advancements emerging, there is even more research being done. Practicing gastroenterologists, advanced endoscopists, GI researchers, device companies, pharmaceuticals are collectively pushing our profession to new levels of providing better options and care for patients. This educational program highlights where the advanced endoscopy profession is today with disease states commonly diagnosed or treated therapeutically with ERCP and EUS, while providing a glimpse into where techniques are headed in the next few years. One trend that could be the most important for patients – the increasing integration of EUS into general gastrointestinal (GI) training and practice. How can we address by facilitating more EUS training? As newer linear-array EUS scopes are smaller and durable one could find these easy to manipulate similar to a standard gastroscope. Could we find ways to increase the volume of experienced endosonographers who could be introduced into future general GI practices, on an ongoing basis? Combining this high number of qualified endosonographers with access to simple, effective, diagnostic and therapeutic devices could lead to a literally exponential trend of integration of quality EUS into the management of wide variety clinical problems and cancers. These type of questions and trends is where we hope to immerse and engage the entire GI Team in the latest news on ERCP and EUS diagnostics, therapeutics, training, medico-legal and risk-assessment strategies, reimbursement, overview of various disease states and cancers, advice on guideline recommendations along with clinical and translational research points.
Upon completion of this educational activity, participants will be able to: