ChatGPT encounters multiple opportunities and challenges in neurosurgery

BACKGROUND

ChatGPT, powered by the GPT model and Transformer architecture, has demonstrated remarkable performance in the domains of medicine and healthcare, providing customized and informative responses. In our study, we investigated the potential of ChatGPT in the field of neurosurgery, focusing on its applications at the patient, neurosurgery student/resident, and neurosurgeon levels.

METHOD

The authors conducted inquiries with ChatGPT from the viewpoints of patients, neurosurgery students/residents, and neurosurgeons, covering a range of topics, such as disease diagnosis, treatment options, prognosis, rehabilitation, and patient care. The authors also explored concepts related to neurosurgery, including fundamental principles and clinical aspects, as well as tools and techniques to enhance the skills of neurosurgery students/residents. Additionally, the authors examined disease-specific medical interventions and the decision-making processes involved in clinical practice.

RESULTS

The authors received individual responses from ChatGPT, but they tended to be shallow and repetitive, lacking depth and personalization. Furthermore, ChatGPT may struggle to discern a patient's emotional state, hindering the establishment of rapport and the delivery of appropriate care. The language used in the medical field is influenced by technical and cultural factors, and biases in the training data can result in skewed or inaccurate responses. Additionally, ChatGPT's limitations include the inability to conduct physical examinations or interpret diagnostic images, potentially overlooking complex details and individual nuances in each patient's case. Moreover, its absence in the surgical setting limits its practical utility.

CONCLUSION

Although ChatGPT is a powerful language model, it cannot substitute for the expertise and experience of trained medical professionals. It lacks the capability to perform physical examinations, make diagnoses, administer treatments, establish trust, provide emotional support, and assist in the recovery process. Moreover, the implementation of Artificial Intelligence in healthcare necessitates careful consideration of legal and ethical concerns. While recognizing the potential of ChatGPT, additional training with comprehensive data is necessary to fully maximize its capabilities.

Ruptured blebs and racing hearts: autonomic cardiac changes in neurosurgeons during microsurgical clipping of aneurysms

INTRODUCTION

In this study, we intend to evaluate the autonomic changes occurring in neurosurgeons and thus the stress during microsurgical clipping of aneurysms.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The aim of the current study is to evaluate the heart rate variability (HRV) of the neurosurgeons during microsurgical clipping of aneurysm by using continuous real time monitoring of the ECG intraoperatively.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Lead II ECG was recorded using Bioharness(®) (Zephyr Technologies, Annapolis, MD) in 4 healthy neurosurgeons who performed 29 microsurgical clipping of aneurysms. ECG from 21 surgeries was analysed (LabChart(®) software, ADInstruments, Dunedin, New Zealand) across five stages: Baseline (BL), sylvian fissure dissection (SFD), perianeurysmal dissection (PAD), clipping of the aneurysm (CLIP) and haemostasis (HEMO).

RESULTS

There was a reduction in TP and an increased LF/HF ratio in spite of suppression of both LF and HF powers. Contrary to the common understanding that the sympathetic limb of the autonomic system mostly mediates responses during stress and anxiety, we found that there was a significant contribution of the parasympathetic system too.

View of U.S. spine surgeons regarding cost reduction measures

Background

This is a cross-sectional study. Our objective is to survey spine surgeons' views of responsibility to reduce healthcare costs, enthusiasm for cost reduction strategies, and agreement regarding roles in cost containment. The rising cost of healthcare has spurred debate about reducing expenditures. Previous studies have found that attitudes of anesthesiologists are predominantly in alignment with those of American physicians, but less is known about the views of spine surgeons.

Methods

After obtaining institutional approval, an electronic survey was disseminated to active members of AO Spine North America (AOSNA) via email. Respondents were asked eight questions about their age, gender, years in practice, practice facility, political views and opinions regarding management of healthcare costs.

Results

From 91 respondents, most were under the age of 60 years (87%), male (96%), and in practice for less than 30 years (91%), practiced at university hospitals (47%) and held politically conservative views (47%). Most responsibility was allocated to hospital and health systems, health insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, and device manufacturers. Respondents were most enthusiastic about rooting out fraud and abuse and aware of their role in managing the cost of healthcare. Spine surgeons who were in practice for longer were more enthusiastic about reducing cost by reducing overall physician reimbursement via bundled payments, Medicare payment reduction, ending fee-for-service, penalizing surgeons for patient readmissions, and lowering compensation to individual spine surgeons.

Conclusions

Spine surgeons allocated responsibility to reduce healthcare costs to healthcare systems, were most enthusiastic about eliminating wasteful spending, and were in agreement regarding their responsibility to control the costs of healthcare. Compared to US physicians of various specialties and anesthesiologists, spine surgeons assigned less responsibility to trials lawyers and expressed markedly less enthusiasm for limiting access to expensive treatments.

Building a Brain Tumor Practice: Objective Analysis of Referral Patterns and Implications for the Growth of a Subspecialty Surgical Program

Introduction Growth of surgical caseload among specialties with a large contribution margin is an important financial objective for hospitals. In this study, we examined the diversity of referral patterns to a neurosurgeon over an eight-year interval and examined practice attributes related to surgical growth. Methods The electronic records of all patients undergoing an intracranial surgical procedure between August 2011 and August 2019 by an academic neurosurgeon were reviewed retrospectively. The Herfindahl-Hirschman index (HHI) was used to assess the distribution of referrals among community physicians who referred such patients; a value of HHI <0.15 indicates diversity. The yearly HHI trend was evaluated using meta-regression. Results The neurosurgeon's brain surgery caseload progressively increased on an annual basis from 1.4 to 12.5 cases per week between 2012 and 2018. Among the 1540 cases referred by 1775 different physicians, 78% were from three counties in southeast Florida and 8.1% from two counties in southwest Florida. The HHI declined between 2013 and 2018 by 0.023 per year (0.0046 standard error [SE], p = 0.0073) with the estimated value 0.0063 (0.0014 SE) < 0.15 in 2018 (p < 0.0001). The findings indicate that the base of referring physicians was highly diverse and that growth in caseload was accompanied by significantly less concentration of referrals. Conclusion Surgical growth in the neurosurgeon's practice resulted from a small number of referrals from many physicians, not from many referrals from a small number of physicians. Few physicians referred a sufficient number of patients to warrant attribution of the referral itself to personal knowledge of their patients' eventual outcomes. Rather, factors promoting timely access to patient care appear to have been the driving force for growth.

Evaluation of Patients With Cognitive Impairment Due to Suspected Idiopathic Normal-Pressure Hydrocephalus at Medical Centers for Dementia: A Nationwide Hospital-Based Survey in Japan

Objective

Treatment of idiopathic normal-pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) requires collaboration between dementia specialists and neurosurgeons. The role of dementia specialists is to differentiate patients with iNPH from patients with other dementia diseases and to determine if other dementia diseases are comorbid with iNPH. We conducted a nationwide hospital-based questionnaire survey on iNPH in medical centers for dementia (MCDs).

Methods

We developed a questionnaire to assess how physicians in MCDs evaluate and treat patients with cognitive impairment due to suspected iNPH and the difficulties these physicians experience in the evaluation and treatment of patients. The questionnaire was sent to all 456 MCDs in Japan.

Results

Questionnaires from 279 MCDs were returned to us (response rate: 61.2%). Patients underwent cognitive tests, evaluation of the triad symptoms of iNPH, and morphological neuroimaging examinations in 96.8, 77.8, and 98.2% of the MCDs, respectively. Patients with suspected iNPH were referred to other hospitals (e.g., hospitals with neurosurgery departments) from 78.9% of MCDs, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tap test was performed in 44 MCDs (15.8%). iNPH guidelines (iNPHGLs) and disproportionately enlarged subarachnoid space hydrocephalus (DESH), a specific morphological finding, were used and known in 39.4% and 38% of MCDs, respectively. Logistic regression analysis with “Refer the patient to other hospitals (e.g., hospitals with neurosurgery departments) when iNPH is suspected.” as the response variable and (a) using the iNPHGLs, (b) knowledge of DESH, (c) confidence regarding DESH, (d) difficulty with performing brain magnetic resonance imaging, (e) knowledge of the methods of CSF tap test, (f) absence of physician who can perform lumbar puncture, and (g) experience of being told by neurosurgeons that referred patients are not indicated for shunt surgery as explanatory variables revealed that the last two factors were significant predictors of patient referral from MCDs to other hospitals.

Conclusion

Sufficient differential or comorbid diagnosis using CSF tap test was performed in a few MCDs. Medical care for patients with iNPH in MCDs may be improved by having dementia specialists perform CSF tap tests and share the eligibility criteria for shunt surgery with neurosurgeons.

Gender Differences in Perceived Stress among Neurosurgeons: A Cross-Sectional Study

Purpose

Surgeons are subjected to enhanced levels of work-related stress and women are likely to face unique challenges due to sub-optimal representation. The present study was conceived with a primary objective to study the gender differences faced by surgeons and neurosurgeons in particular. The secondary objective was to assess the correlation between the various stress inducers and busters of normal working and daily life and the mental state of neurosurgeons.

Methods

The study was a cross-sectional, multi-centric study in which a structured questionnaire was sent to neurosurgeons through various neurosurgical forums of the country. A total of 93 complete responses were included in the study. The questions were broadly divided into four themes, demographic working data, stress inducers, stress busters, and questions to reflect the mental state of the respondent.

Results

There were 74 males and 19 females in the study, with an average age of 39.34 ± 8.57 years. Statistically significant gender differences were noted in rating the out-patient department (OPD) hours, lectures and seminars, performing and assisting surgeries, attending conferences and working in the intensive care unit (ICU), with women scoring lower than men for these activities. There were no significant gender differences in the mental state of the respondents. A strong correlation was found between scoring for performance and assisting of surgery and the mental state questions, and a strong negative correlation was noted between music, playing games, going to the gym, practicing yoga and the mental state questions, indicative of a protective effect.

Conclusions

There was no significant gender differences in the perceived stress levels among neurosurgeons. Women appeared more comfortable with certain normal activities of working. A strong negative correlation was reported for activities such as music, playing games, yoga, and going to the gym, indicating a protective effect.

The Enigma of the Impervious Nobel Prize for Neurosurgeons

The Nobel Prize, which has been highly esteemed since its establishment in 1901, carries significant status within the scientific community. The Nobel Prize in Physics, Chemistry, Medicine, and Economics has long been recognized for its recognition of significant scientific contributions. However, the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine holds a distinct significance due to its direct association with advancements in human health. The subject of neurosurgery, which encompasses both clinical and academic domains, has witnessed remarkable developments; nonetheless, it has not yet been awarded a Nobel Prize. The objective of this investigation is to elucidate the factors contributing to the enigmatic nature of this recognition and propose feasible techniques that can be implemented to achieve it.

Need to Incorporate Endovascular Neurosurgery in Neurosurgery Curriculum in India: Stay Abreast or be Left Behind

Endovascular neurosurgery is one of the most rapidly evolving subspecialties in the field of neurosurgery. Since its inception, it has taken up almost 50%-60% of the cerebrovascular workload. Various specialties are competing to claim this field; still, no one can argue against a neurosurgeon's suitability in performing endovascular techniques. Currently, the field is shared between neurosurgeons and neuroradiologists, each getting different pie shares in various parts of the world. However, in India, barring a few residency programs, most neurosurgery programs offer little or no exposure to endovascular techniques. There is an urgent need for endovascular neurosurgery to be incorporated in the neurosurgery training curriculum in the country. Performing DSAs is the first step toward starting an endovascular neurosurgery unit. We have presented here the data of the DSAs done by a single neurosurgeon over almost 3 years. We have discussed our experience in the hope that fellow neurosurgeons across the country find it useful.

A history of Colombian neurosurgery: events, persons, and outcomes that have shaped the specialty in the country

The history of Colombian neurosurgery is a collective legacy of neurosurgeon-scientists, scholars, teachers, innovators, and researchers. Anchored in the country's foundational values of self-determination and adaptability, these pioneers emerged from the Spanish colonial medical tradition and forged surgical alliances abroad. From the time of Colombian independence until the end of World War I, exchanges with the French medical tradition produced an emphasis on anatomical and systematic approaches to the emerging field of neurosurgery. The onset of American neurosurgical expertise in the 1930s led to a new period of exchange, wherein technological innovations were added to the Colombian neurosurgical repertoire. This diversity of influences culminated in the 1950s with the establishment of Colombia's first in-country neurosurgery residency program. A select group of avant-garde neurosurgeons from this period expanded the domestic opportunities for patients and practitioners alike. Today, the system counts 10 recognized neurosurgery residency programs and over 500 neurosurgeons within Colombia. Although the successes of specific individuals and innovations were considered, the primary purpose of this historical survey was to glean relevant lessons from the past that can inform present challenges, inspire new opportunities, and identify professional and societal goals for the future of neurosurgical practice and specialization.

Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders in Endoscopic Sinus and Skull Base Surgery: A Systematic Review With Meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Endoscopic sinus and skull base surgery has led to significant improvements in patient outcomes, yet may have come at a cost to surgeons' musculoskeletal (MSK) health. We aimed to determine the prevalence and characteristics of work-related MSK disorders (WRMDs) in endoscopic sinus and skull base surgeons; to investigate contributing factors for WRMD in this population; and to evaluate the effectiveness of ergonomic interventions on the severity or prevalence of WRMD in this population.

DATA SOURCES

Medline, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Scopus from inception to April 2, 2024. A bibliographic examination was performed for further papers.

REVIEW METHODS

Inclusion criteria included original peer-reviewed papers with work-related MSK outcomes (prevalence, contributing factors, and interventions) relating to endoscopic sinus and/or skull base surgeons in any language.

RESULTS

Of 25,772 unique citations, 37 studies met the inclusion criteria. The pooled lifetime, point, and 12-month prevalences of WRMD were 75.9% (95% confidence interval; I2, 67.2%-83.6%, I2 95.6%), 80.8% (77.0%-84.3%, I2 98.0%), and 82.0% (71.8%-90.3%, I2 60.96%) respectively. The neck, lumbar spine, and thoracic spine were the most commonly involved areas. One of 9 studies on contributing factors investigated discomfort as an outcome. The remainder focussed on surrogate outcomes (eg, posture, hand dysfunction). Two of the 13 intervention studies investigated pain or fatigue as an outcome. The remainder targeted posture, muscle activity, or workload.

CONCLUSION

WRMDs are highly prevalent in endoscopic sinus and skull base surgeons. Further studies focusing on the direct outcomes of WRMD such as pain are needed.

Higher Risk of Intervertebral Disc Herniation among Neurosurgeons Than Neurologists: 15 Year-Follow-Up of a Physician Cohort

High physical activity or workload has been associated with intervertebral disc degeneration. However, there is little data on physicians' risks of disc disease. The study aimed to investigate the incidences of spinal problems among neurologists and neurosurgeons. A cohort of neurologists and neurosurgeons was derived from Taiwan's national research database. During the study period, the incidences of intervertebral disc herniation or spondylosis among these specialists were calculated. Another one-to-one by propensity score matched cohort, composed of neurologists and neurosurgeons, was also analyzed. A Cox regression hazard ratio (HR) model and Kaplan-Meier analysis were conducted to compare the risks and incidences. The entire cohort comprised 481 and 317 newly board-certified neurologists and neurosurgeons, respectively. During the 15 years of follow-up, neurosurgeons were approximately six-fold more likely to develop disc problems than neurologists (crude HR = 5.98 and adjusted HR = 6.08, both p < 0.05). In the one-to-one propensity-score matched cohort (317 neurologists versus 317 neurosurgeons), there were even higher risks among neurosurgeons than neurologists (crude HR = 8.15, and adjusted HR = 10.14, both p < 0.05). Neurosurgeons have a higher chance of intervertebral disc disorders than neurologists. This is potentially an occupational risk that warrants further investigation.

A Comprehensive Review of Pyogenic Spondylitis Management for Neurosurgeons

Older populations have been increasing recently, resulting in an increase in cases of pyogenic spondylitis. Neurosurgeons who frequently treat the elderly are at a higher risk of encountering this condition. Therefore, this article provides a summary of the literature and our experience to help neurosurgeons effectively manage pyogenic osteomyelitis. It is important not to rule out pyogenic spondylosis when examining a patient with back pain, even in the absence of a fever. This is because the chronic type is common, easily overlooked, and early diagnosis and treatment are crucial. Empirical antibiotics should be avoided in cases where blood culture and biopsy are negative, to prevent microbial resistance and an increase in difficult-to-treat cases. Biopsies, such as computed tomography-guided percutaneous biopsy and full endoscopic debridement and drainage, should be attempted. Currently, 6 weeks of parenteral antibiotic therapy is the main treatment for pyogenic spondylitis. Surgical treatment is recommended if this method is ineffective. However, in the early stages, full endoscopic debridement and drainage and percutaneous pedicle screw fixation are optional.

Lumbar spine fusion surgery versus best conservative care for patients with severe, persistent low back pain

Aims

People with severe, persistent low back pain (LBP) may be offered lumbar spine fusion surgery if they have had insufficient benefit from recommended non-surgical treatments. However, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) 2016 guidelines recommended not offering spinal fusion surgery for adults with LBP, except as part of a randomized clinical trial. This survey aims to describe UK clinicians' views about the suitability of patients for such a future trial, along with their views regarding equipoise for randomizing patients in a future clinical trial comparing lumbar spine fusion surgery to best conservative care (BCC; the FORENSIC-UK trial).

Methods

An online cross-sectional survey was piloted by the multidisciplinary research team, then shared with clinical professional groups in the UK who are involved in the management of adults with severe, persistent LBP. The survey had seven sections that covered the demographic details of the clinician, five hypothetical case vignettes of patients with varying presentations, a series of questions regarding the preferred management, and whether or not each clinician would be willing to recruit the example patients into future clinical trials.

Results

There were 72 respondents, with a response rate of 9.0%. They comprised 39 orthopaedic spine surgeons, 17 neurosurgeons, one pain specialist, and 15 allied health professionals. Most respondents (n = 61,84.7%) chose conservative care as their first-choice management option for all five case vignettes. Over 50% of respondents reported willingness to randomize three of the five cases to either surgery or BCC, indicating a willingness to participate in the future randomized trial. From the respondents, transforaminal interbody fusion was the preferred approach for spinal fusion (n = 19, 36.4%), and the preferred method of BCC was a combined programme of physical and psychological therapy (n = 35, 48.5%).

Conclusion

This survey demonstrates that there is uncertainty about the role of lumbar spine fusion surgery and BCC for a range of example patients with severe, persistent LBP in the UK.