BACKGROUND _ AIMS: Complete eradication of @entity355 ( @entity355 ) often requires multiple sessions of radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Little is known about the effects of case volume on the safety and efficacy of RFA or about the presence or contour of learning curves for this procedure. METHODS: We collected data from the US RFA @entity1 Registry (from 148 institutions) for @entity1 who underwent RFA for @entity355 from July 2007 to July 2011. We analyzed the effects of the number of @entity1 treated by individual endoscopists and individual centers on safety and efficacy outcomes of RFA. Outcomes, including @entity850 , @entity548 , hospitalization, and complete eradication of intestinal metaplasia (CEIM), were assessed using logistic regression. The effects of center and investigator experience on numbers of treatment sessions to achieve CEIM were examined using linear regression. RESULTS: After we controlled for potential confounders, we found that as the experience of endoscopists and centers increased with cases, the numbers of treatment sessions required to achieve CEIM decreased. This relationship persisted after adjusting for @entity1 age, sex, race, length of @entity355 , and presence of @entity1141 (P < .01). Center experience was not significantly associated with overall rates of CEIM or complete eradication of @entity1141 . We did not observe any learning curve with regard to risks of @entity850 , @entity360 , perforation, or hospitalization (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: Based on analysis of a large multicenter registry, efficiency of the treatment, as measured by number of sessions needed to achieve CEIM, increased with case volume, indicating a learning curve effect. This trend began to disappear after treatment of approximately 30 @entity1 by the center or individual endoscopist. However, there was no significant association between safety or efficacy outcomes and previous case volume.

Effects of the Learning Curve on Efficacy of Radiofrequency Ablation for XXXX .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients', 'patient', 'Patient'] @entity355 :: ('MESH:D001471', 'Disease') :: ['BE', "Barrett's esophagus"] @entity548 :: ('MESH:D006470', 'Disease') :: ['bleeding'] @entity850 :: ('MESH:D003251', 'Disease') :: ['stricture'] @entity360 :: ('MESH:D006471', 'Disease') :: ['gastrointestinal bleeding'] @entity1141 :: ('MESH:C535662', 'Disease') :: ['pretreatment dysplasia', 'dysplasia']
@entity355 :: (MESH:D001471,Disease) :: ['Barrett's Esophagus']
