Scientific Directors: Renato Galzio – Maurizio Fornari – Franco Servadei
WFNS Skull Base Committee Chairs: Sebastien Froelich – José Alberto Landeiro
Course Coordinator: Andrea Cardia
The XIX Course of Applied Microneurosurgery - Neurosurgical approaches and variations, took place at the “Mario Luzzatto Simulation Center” in the Humanitas University Milan, February, 22 – 24, 2018.
The Course was organized with the patronage of the Humanitas University, of the University of Pavia, of the Skull Base Committee of the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS) and of the Italian Society of Neurosurgery (SINch). The Scientific Directors were Maurizio Fornari (head of the Department of Neurosurgery of the Humanitas Research Hospital), Renato Galzio (Professor of Neurosurgery at the University of Pavia and head of the Department of Neurosurgery of the IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo di Pavia), and Franco Servadei (Professor of Neurosurgery at Humanitas Univarsity and President of the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies). The course coordinator and director of the Microsurgical Innovation Lab, Andrea Cardia, is head of the neurovascular section of the Humanitas Research Hospital. Also contributing to the course organization were the chairmen of the WFNS Skull Base Committee, Professors Froelich and Landeiro.
The topics dealt with the most used approaches in the skull-base surgery and their common variants, specifically, the pterional approach, the fronto-temporo-orbito-zygomatic approach (FTOZ), the supraorbital approach, the retrosigmoid and the cranio-vertebral junction approaches. Special sessions were reserved for the endoscopic anatomy of the subarachnoid cisterns and for endoscope-assisted Microneurosurgery under the supervision of Professor Manfred Tschabitscher.
The presence of an international faculty, composed by some of the most important experts in neurosurgery such as Vladimir Beneš, from Prague; Helmut Bertalanffy, from Hannover; Sebastien Froelich from Paris; Paolo Cappabianca, from Naples; Roberto Delfini, from Rome; Francesco Di Meco, from Milan; Alessandro Ducati, from Turin; Giuseppe Esposito, from Zurich; Paolo Ferroli, from Milan; Marco Fontanella, from Brescia; José Alberto Landeiro, from Rio de Janeiro; Giovanni Battista Lasio, from Milan; Vincenzo Paternò, from Hannover; Paolo Perrini, from Pisa; Luca Regli, from Zurich; Antonio Santoro, from Rome; JieTang, from Beijing and Manfred Tschabitscher, from Vienna, made it possible to organize an intensive and fruitful Course.
The Course was attended by 19 participants from 4 countries and 3 continents. Two of the participants from countries with limited facilities were admitted free. Attendees were neurosurgeons and residents in Neurosurgery, and during the three days of the course they were involved in both theoretical and hands-on sessions. The theoretical sessions were characterized by detailed descriptions of each approach: from indications to the surgical technique and case discussions performed by the faculty members and teachers and learners.
Notwithstanding, the core of the Course was represented by the amazing hands-on sessions. The laboratory, in the new location of the “Mario Luzzato Simulation Center” was provided with six workstations, fully equipped with microscope, endoscope and monitor, in order to obtain a real operative room set-up. A total of nine specimens fresh frozen with injected arteries were used. One master station hosted the live demonstration of selected approaches performed by leading masters in skull-base surgery and endoscopic workshops of the cisternal anatomy of the anterior and posterior cranial fossa. Participants were divided in six groups of two people, performing a step-by-step dissection of all the described approaches under the supervision of dedicated tutors, with special attention in the detection and the study of all the anatomical structures involved.
During the entire event the atmosphere was friendly, and participants really appreciated the scientific and professional attention of all the Faculty.
The XIX Course of Applied Microneurosurgery, organized for the first time in the new location of the” Luzzato Simulation Center” at the Humanitas University, represents, thanks to the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies, only the beginning of an International learning route on skull-base anatomy at our Institution. This project will be characterized by annual Courses addressed to residents and neurosurgeons of all countries, with the aim to create a worldwide neurosurgical training network. We will also continue to provide support for those neurosurgeons who need it.
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