Inside Neurosurgeon focuses on the news and views of the AANS and other neurosurgical organizations. The AANS Neurosurgeon invites submissions of news briefs and bylined articles to Inside Neurosurgeon. Instructions for all types of submissions to the AANS Neurosurgeon are available here
AANS Awards
2009 International Awards: 3 Recipients Announced
The AANS announces three international awards for 2009. Additional information
about these awards is available at www.aans.org/international.
- Best International Abstract. Jizong Zhao, MD, Beijing Tian Tan Hospital, Beijing, China, is honored for his abstract, “Surgical Treatment for Hypertensive Intracerebral Hemorrhage in 2,464 Patients: A Multicenter Single-Blind Controlled Trial in Mainland China.” Dr. Zhao will present his abstract during Plenary Session I on Monday, May, 4. There he will be presented with a framed scroll and the $500 award.
- International Travel Scholarship. Sang-Hyung Lee, MD, PhD, Seoul, South Korea, is the scholarship recipient for his abstract, “Apoptosis of Hippocampal Neurons on Synergistic Effect of Amyloid B-Peptide 1-42 and Ethanol.” The scholarship provides $1,500 to support the attendance of a neurosurgeon from a developing country at the AANS Annual Meeting. Dr. Lee will receive the award at the AANS International Reception, 6:30 p.m. on Monday, May 4, at the Mingei International Museum.
- International Visiting Surgeon Fellowship. Haitham Handhel Shareef, MBChB, IBMS, Baghdad, Iraq, is the fellowship recipient. Dr. Shareef has planned an observational experience that includes studying recent advances in spinal instrumentation; cerebrovascular surgery, especially that of aneurysm clipping; and general neuroendovascular skull base surgery techniques. He will work with Alan S. Boulos, MD, at Albany Medical Center in Albany, N.Y.
New Online
Member Announcements Now Posted Online: News Page Lists Appointments, Awards,
Obituaries
The new AANS Member News area of the AANS Web site features announcement of
members’ professional appointments, awards, retirement and obituaries. The
area, www.aans.org/membership/MemberNews.aspx, is restricted to postings about
AANS members. Announcements can be submitted through the www.myaans.org password protected site by logging in with user name and password, selecting Member
News from the tool bar at left, and following the submission instructions.
Submissions are reviewed and usually are posted within one week.
AANS Policy
3 Policy Statements Released: Neurocritical Care, Pediatric Emergency Care,
VATS
The AANS recently released three policy statements concerning neurocritical care, pediatric emergency care, and video-assisted thoracic spinal surgery. Summaries of these statements follow; these and previous policy statements are available in their entirety by selecting the headlines below.
Neurosurgeons and Neurocritical Care
Neurosurgical residency training approved bythe Accreditation Council for
Graduate Medical Education includes critical care management of patients with
neurological disorders. Neurosurgeons are fully trained in neurointensive care
by reason of training program requirements and upon completion of training
are competent to independently manage and direct treatment of patients with
neurological disorders requiring critical care. Additional training in critical
care is optional but not necessary for neurosurgeons to manage neurocritical
care patients following residency training. Certification in neurological surgery
through the American Board of Neurological Surgery includes certification for
critical care of patients with neurological conditions. No other certification
is required for ABNS diplomates for privileges in neurological surgery or neurocritical
care management. Additional certification by organizations unrecognized by
the American Board of Medical Specialties is unnecessary for ensuring neurosurgeon
training, competency, or credentialing in intensive or critical care.
Optimizing Neurosurgical Emergency Care for the Pediatric Patient
Optimal pediatric neurosurgical emergency care is delivered when a board-eligible
or board-certified neurosurgeon performs necessary lifesaving and stabilizing
neurosurgical interventions and procedures for a pediatric patient prior to
elective transfer to a pediatric hospital when that transfer will result in
a significant delay. Regional hospitals and trauma centers, children’s hospitals,
and state legislatures should work collaboratively with their neurosurgeons
to develop the financial and capital infrastructure, medicolegal protections,
appropriate credentialing profiles, and efficient triage and transfer protocols
to insure emergent neurosurgical intervention is provided for the pediatric
patient at the earliest opportunity.
Video-Assisted Thoracic Spinal Surgery
Thoracic spinal surgery and peripheral nerve surgery, including sympathectomy,
are traditional and integral components of neurosurgical training and practice.
Video-assisted thoracic surgery, VATS, of the spine is a minimally invasive
technique performed by neurosurgeons for conditions traditionally treated by
neurosurgery. These conditions include thoracic sympathectomy for hyperhydrosis,
upper extremity complex regional pain syndromes, and thoracic spinal surgery
for thoracic disc herniation, spinal tumor, spinal instability, and scoliotic
deformity. Neurosurgeons currently in training receive experience in VATS during
residency and are examined for competency in the procedure and its indications
by the American Board of Neurological Surgery. Neurosurgical residency programs
provide opportunity for training in minimally invasive neurosurgical techniques,
including VATS, for sympathectomy and spinal disorders.
Resident Education in 2008
7 Courses Highly Rated by Participants
Michele S. Gregory and Joni L. Shulman
Residents participating in the Spinal Deformity course receive hands-on training, exposure to concepts and accessibility to new technologies that are not always available within their residency programs.
The AANS continues its efforts to provide residents with advanced neurosurgical training in key areas of educational support that are not always available within their residency programs. A record seven residency education courses were held in 2008. They were produced by the AANS departments of education and development and represent an outstanding collaboration between organized neurosurgery and AANS corporate sponsors. Participating residents, faculty and corporate supporters ranked each course with a resoundingA-plus in terms of hands-on training, exposure to concepts and accessibility to new technologies.
- The seven courses included:
- Spinal Deformity, March 2008—Robert Heary, MD, course director (course supporter: DePuy Spine)
- Endovascular Techniques, April 2008—Robert Rosenwasser, MD, course director (course supporters: Boston Scientific, Cordis Neurovascular, EV3, and Micrus Endovascular Corporation)
- Minimally Invasive Spinal Techniques, August 2008—Kevin Foley, MD, and Charlie Branch, MD, course directors (course supporters: Medtronic, Medtronic Neurologic Technologies and Carl Zeiss Meditec)
- Peripheral Nerve, September 2008—Allan Friedman, MD, course director (course supporters: Integra and AANS)
- Pediatric Neurosurgery Review, October 2008—Rick Boop, MD, course director (course supporters: Codman, Medtronic Neurologic Technologies and Stryker Spine)
- Fundamentals in Spinal Surgery, November 2008—Regis Haid, MD, and Christopher Shaffrey, MD, course directors (course supporters: Biomet Spine, DePuy Spine, Globus Medical, and Medtronic)
- Socioeconomic Review, December 2008—Gary Bloomgarden, MD, and Rick Boop, MD, course directors (course supporter: Medtronic)
Offered for the first time this year were the Spinal Deformity and Peripheral Nerve courses. Both courses provided residents with hands-on training in specific neurosurgical areas using cadaver materials and were extremely well received.
“I think the quality of the AANS courses is exceptional, and much better when compared to courses sponsored solely by private companies,” said Juan Martin Valdivia, MD, chief resident at the University of Arizona. “The residents get an unbiased review of the literature and it actually contributes to their learning and decision-making in the clinical setting… the AANS courses are the best out there in terms of academic improvement.”
A survey conducted in 2008 asked neurosurgical program directors and neurosurgical residents to rank the existing five AANS resident course topics and asked for suggestions on new topics. The program directors and the neurosurgical residents differed somewhat in their ranking of courses, indicating to AANS Education and Practice Management Committee Chair John A. Wilson, MD, and AANS Development Committee Chair William T. Couldwell, MD, the need to introduce additional course topics focusing on different areas of interest that would appeal to residents throughout the U.S. and Canada.
As a result of the survey, the 2009 course schedule includes two new courses: Stereotactic Radiosurgery, directed by Jason P. Sheehan, MD, and Nuances of Technique and Complication Avoidance in Cerebrovascular Neurosurgery, directed by Aaron A. Cohen-Gadol, MD. As for all of the courses, residents must be nominated by their program directors to participate. Announcements of each course are made to the program directors and residency coordinators about 12 weeks in advance.
The AANS resident education program began in 2006 thanks to Jon H. Robertson, MD, the 2007-2008 AANS president, who envisioned how residents and corporate sponsors could mutually benefit from educational courses that provide advanced training without added expense for the programs or residents. Since the inception of the AANS resident education program, 382 residents have been fortunate enough to participate.
From the industry perspective, there are many advantages for corporations in partnering with the AANS on this type of educational effort. Bill Christianson of DePuy Spine indicated that the company is firmly committed to the support of educational opportunities for medical students, residents and fellows. “The AANS resident education courses are one example ofthetypeof program we are proud to support,” he said.
Dr. Wilson noted that the courses are presented in an unbiased, noncommercialized setting by expert neurosurgical faculty members who have complete control over course content. “As a residency program director whose residents have attended several of the courses, I can attest to their great value to the residents’ overall training,” he said. “As a member of the AANS, I am proud of what our organization has done to bring organized neurosurgery and industry together for the benefit of our residents and their future patients.”
Michele S. Gregory is AANS director of development, and Joni L. Shulman is AANS associate executive director, education and meetings. The authors reported no conflicts for disclosure.