Evaluation of Biomechanical Forced During the Practice of Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection

The prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among endoscopists is estimated between 29 and 89%. The most common disorders are carpal tunnel syndrome, De Quervain tenosynovitis, lateral epicondylitis and neck pain. Factors associated with MSD among gastroenterologists practicing endoscopy are: the high number of procedures (more than 20/week), the procedure time (more than 16 hours/week) and the number of years of practice.With the evolution of digestive endoscopy superficial cancer can endoscopically be removed by endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) avoiding surgical resections. The number of procedures is increasing, with longer examination times in case of ESD (about 2 hours). This volume of hours and procedures may in the near future further increase the risk of MSDs in the population of gastroenterologists. Some good practice recommendations have been proposed to improve practitioner comfort, similar to what is recommended for digestive surgeons. It is recommended to use a height-adjustable examination table, position the screen at eye level, and use a seat during the procedure. There is little data on the biomechanical forced experienced by an endoscopist when performing endoscopy and colonoscopy, and none when performing ESD.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the biomechanical forced experienced by the gastroenterologist during an ESD the practice of submucosal dissection.