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Passing the fundamentals of endoscopic surgery (FES) exam: linking specialty choice and attitudes about endoscopic surgery to success

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Abstract

Introduction

Previous work has shown that up to 30% of graduating surgery residents fail the fundamentals of endoscopic surgery (FES) exam. This study investigated the extent to which FES pass rates differ in a specific sample of individuals who have chosen a career in GI surgery and to examine the relationships between FES performance and confidence in performing flexible endoscopy.

Methods

Fellows attending the 2016 SAGES Flexible Endoscopy Course were invited to complete the FES manual skills examination. Participants also provided survey responses examining demographics, fellowship type, endoscopy curricula in residency, previous endoscopic case volume, confidence in performing endoscopy, and future practice plans.

Results

Twenty-nine (age: 32.24 ± 3.24; 72% men) fellows completed the FES skills examination. Reported fellowships were MIS/Bariatric (41.4%), MIS (24.1%), bariatric (13.8%), flexible endoscopy (6.9%), Advanced GI (6.9%), and MIS/bariatric/flexible endoscopy (6.9%). Almost half (41.4%) had previously participated in a simulation curricula, with 20.7% completing a didactic endoscopy curriculum. Fellows reported performing an average of 110 ± 109.48 EGDs and 77.44 ± 58.80 colonoscopies. The majority (96.4%) indicated that they will perform endoscopy at least occasionally in practice. Overall pass rate was 60%. Previous endoscopy experience did not correlate with overall FES examination scores. However, confidence performing EGDs (r = 0.57, p < 0.01), colonoscopies (r = 0.45, p < 0.05), polypectomy (r = 0.52, p < 0.01), and PEGs (r = 0.46, p < 0.05) did.

Conclusions

These data support existing research suggesting that current flexible endoscopy training in residency may be insufficient for trainees to pass the FES examination, and that failure rates hold true even for this select group of trainees who have chosen a profession in GI surgery and intend to use endoscopy in practice.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, School of Allied Health Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, MS: BCM115, DeBakey Building, M108K, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Aimee K. Gardner

  2. Department of Surgery, NorthShore University Health System, Chicago, IL, USA

    Michael B. Ujiki

  3. Department of Surgery, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA

    Brian J. Dunkin

Authors
  1. Aimee K. Gardner
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  2. Michael B. Ujiki
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  3. Brian J. Dunkin
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Aimee K. Gardner.

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Disclosure

Dr. Aimee Gardner has ownership interest in SurgWise Consulting, LLC. Dr. Michael Ujiki receives speaking honoraria from Boston Scientific, Gore, and Medtronic. He is a consultant for Olympus. Dr. Brian Dunkin receives speaking honoraria from Boston Scientific Endoscopy, Ethicon, Gore, Medtronic (formerly Covidien), Olympus, and Pacira. He is a consultant for Boston Scientific Endoscopy and Olympus, and also has ownership interest in SurgWise Consulting, LLC. Aimee K. Gardner, Michael B. Ujiki, and Brian J. Dunkin have no conflicts of interest or financial ties to disclose.

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Gardner, A.K., Ujiki, M.B. & Dunkin, B.J. Passing the fundamentals of endoscopic surgery (FES) exam: linking specialty choice and attitudes about endoscopic surgery to success. Surg Endosc 32, 225–228 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-017-5663-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-017-5663-1

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