Program Requirements for Residency/Fellowship Education in Neuroendovascular Surgery/Interventional Neuroradiology: Special Report on Graduate Medical Education

Neuroendovascular Fellowship Training: Self-Assessment of a Program Accredited by the Committee on Advanced Subspecialty Training

The University at Buffalo's neuroendovascular fellowship is one of the longest running fellowship programs in North America. The burgeoning neurointerventional workforce and the rapid growth in the neurointerventional space on the heels of groundbreaking clinical trials prompted us to assess the fellowship's academic impact and its graduates' perceptions and productivity. An anonymized web-based survey was sent to all former neuroendovascular fellows with specific questions pertaining to current practice, research and funding, and perceptions about the fellowship's impact on their skills, competitiveness, and compensation. Additionally, the h-index was calculated to assess the academic productivity of each graduated fellow. Among 50 former fellows, 42 (84%) completed the survey. The fellows came from various countries, ethnic backgrounds, and specialties including neurosurgery (n = 39, 93%), neurology (n = 2, 5%), and neuroradiology (n = 1, 2%). Twenty (48%) respondents were currently chairs or directors of their practice. Most (n = 30, 71%) spent at least 10% of their time on research activities, with 27 (64%) receiving research funding. The median h-index of all 50 former fellows was 14. The biggest gains from the fellowship were reported to be improvement in endovascular skills (median = 10 on a scale of 0-10 [highest]) and increase in competitiveness for jobs in vascular neurosurgery (median = 10), followed by increase in academic productivity (median = 8), and knowledge of vascular disease (median = 8). In an era with open calls for moratoriums on endovascular fellowships, concerns over market saturation, and pleas to improve training, fellowship programs perhaps merit a more objective assessment. The effectiveness of a fellowship program may best be measured by the academic impact and leadership roles of former fellows.

Cerebrovascular neurosurgery in evolution: the endovascular paradigm

Endovascular technique represents an important, minimally invasive approach to treating cerebrovascular disease. In this article, we discuss the origins of endovascular neurosurgery as a discipline in the context of important technical milestones, evidence-based medicine, and future cerebrovascular neurosurgical training. Cerebrovascular neurosurgery has seen a steady, convergent evolution toward the surgeon capable of seamless incorporation of open and endovascular approaches to any complex vascular disease affecting the central nervous system. Neurosurgery must assume the leadership role in the multidisciplinary neurovascular team.

Nagoya university training system for neuroendovascular therapists

SUMMARY

It is very important to train more neuroendovascular therapists (NETists) in response to Japan's growing social needs. Since the supply of qualified NETists is still insufficient to cover Japanese institutions, therefore some emergency cases with indications for endovascular therapy may be overlooked, untreated or treated by other methods resulting in unfavorable outcomes. Thus, neuroendovascular therapies are situated as one of the important tratment modalities for neurosurgical diseases (1,2). We studied our present states of the endovascular neurosurgery and introduce our training system.

[The new residency program in neurological surgery in Spain]

A new Residency Program in Neurological Surgery has been recently elaborated by the "Comisión Nacional de Neurocirugía" following the requirement of the National Council of Specialities. This new Program, which will replace the one proposed in 1992, has been designed in a similar way as those applied in countries providing the best neurosurgical training. Changes included deal with the definition of the speciality, and the introduction of new rotations,a resident Log Book, a Tutor with a well defined profil and commitments, a structured planning of academic and clinical objectives, a rotation or training in research, and a planning for continuous evaluation of the progress of the resident. It is likely that an appropriate application of the new Program in Spanish neurosurgical units with accreditation for training will result in formation of highly competent neurosurgeons. However, there are new challenges for improving neurosurgical training and the development of our speciality in Spain, as those related with new legislation regulating resident working hours, or some political decisions changing the mechanisms for controlling the number of resident positions per year.

Basilar apex aneurysms: surgical results and perspectives from an initial experience

OBJECTIVE

To demonstrate that well-trained neurosurgeons can successfully treat patients with basilar apex aneurysms, to encourage young neurosurgeons in appropriate clinical environments to develop this expertise, and to describe a personal experience with an initial series.

METHODS

In a consecutive series of 500 aneurysms treated surgically over 3.5 years, 57 aneurysms in 56 patients were located at the basilar apex, 47% of which were large or giant in size.

RESULTS

Most aneurysms (77%) were treated by direct clipping through an orbitozygomatic-pterional transsylvian approach. The surgical mortality rate was 9%, and permanent neurological morbidity associated with treatment occurred in 5%. Good outcomes (Glasgow Outcome Scale score 5 or 4) were achieved in 84%. Good outcomes increased from 79% in the first half of the series to 90% in the second half, and the mortality rate decreased from 21 to 4%.

CONCLUSION

Young neurosurgeons can acquire technical proficiency with basilar apex aneurysms while achieving optimal patient outcomes. Young neurosurgeons with the right training, talent, and temperament are needed to deal with those patients with basilar aneurysms who require surgery and with a possible shortage of basilar aneurysm surgeons in the future. The learning curve is characterized by increased temporary clipping, better perforator dissection, and more sophisticated permanent clipping technique. The path to proficiency can be as demanding mentally as it is technically.

Treating complex nervous system vascular disorders through a "needle stick": origins, evolution, and future of neuroendovascular therapy

In the past few decades, dramatic improvements have occurred in the field of neuroendovascular surgery. Endovascular therapy today is a well-established treatment modality for a variety of cerebrovascular and nonvascular central nervous system diseases. The foundation of this spectacular evolution was laid by the efforts of pioneering visionaries who often worked alone and under difficult, almost impossible, conditions. Ongoing device development and refinement have revolutionized the field at a dizzying, exhilarating pace. With a better understanding of the molecular basis of diseases and further advancements in gene therapy, neuroendovascular techniques have an enormous potential for application to the entire spectrum of central nervous system diseases as a minimally invasive vehicle for the delivery of biological factors.