The activities of the Joint Section on Cerebrovascular Surgery continue to thrive and expand. Membership has exceeded 500 and our free-standing Annual Meetings have been a resounding success. The Section has also continued its communication with the American Society of Interventional and Therapeutic Neuroradiology (ASITN), as well as with the American Heart Association. The CV Section’s Annual Meeting is held in conjunction with the American Heart Association’s International Stroke Meeting, thereby allowing greater interaction and dialogue.
Third Annual Meeting
The Third Annual Meeting took place at Disney World, in Orlando, Florida on February 1-4, 1998. This was the first meeting held in conjunction with the ASITN. The meeting was under the directorship of Drs. Robert Harbaugh, from the Joint Section, and Michele Mawad, from the ASITN.
The scientific sessions focused on the basic science of cerebrovascular disease, innovations in the management of cerebrovascular disease and outcomes analysis. Special lectures were given by Albert Rhoton, MD, on Small Arteries, Large Deficits: Strategically Situated Perforating Arteries; as well as Charles L. Bosk PhD, who spoke on “Forgive and Remember.”
Our international relationships were expanded by a presentation by Hirosi Abe, MD, on The Surgical Treatment of Moya Moya disease. Target Therapeutics also supported the Lussenhop lecture, which was given by Alex Berenstein, MD, on Endovascular Neurosurgery: The Birth of a New Specialty. Bayer Award presentations were also given by Drs.E. Sander Connely and Nicole Moayeri. Panel discussions by leading neurosurgeons and endovascular surgeons proved to be of great value, as it gave everyone an opportunity to voice opinions and discuss difficult cases.
Upcoming Events
The Joint Section also has several upcoming events. The CV Section session at the AANS Annual Meeting and two sessions at the CNS Annual Meeting are near completion. Next year’s Joint Section Annual Meeting will again be held in association with the American Heart Association. It is scheduled to take place on January 28-30, 1999, at the Grand Ole Oprey in Nashville, Tennessee. Because of this year’s success, the ASITN has also agreed to have a meeting in conjunction with the Joint Section. The meeting will be under the directorship of Drs. Philip Stieg and Randall Higashida.
The CV Section plans to continue its expansion through innovations, collaborative efforts and communication. Our educational goals have been met, but we continue to seek new methods. Recent results from the North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial (NASCET) data for carotid stenosis, between 50-69 percent, will undoubtedly expand the number of endarterectomies performed. The role for stenting in this disease will continue to be discussed. The indications for clip vs. coil remain a controversial topic and clearly outcomes analysis will be extremely important in these discussions. Any individuals wishing to become a member of the CV Section should contact Joshua Bederson, MD, (212) 831-3324, or the AANS office in Chicago directly, (847) 692-9500.