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62nd Annual Meeting of the German Society of Neurosurgery (DGNC)
Joint Meeting with the Polish Society of Neurosurgeons (PNCH)

German Society of Neurosurgery (DGNC)

7 - 11 May 2011, Hamburg

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Live surgery at neurosurgical training courses – essential infrastructure, technical setup and educational considerations

Meeting Abstract

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  • F. Roser - Klinik für Neurochirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Tübingen
  • G. Pfister - Klinik für Neurochirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Tübingen
  • F.H. Ebner - Klinik für Neurochirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Tübingen
  • M. Tatagiba - Klinik für Neurochirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Tübingen

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie. Polnische Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgen. 62. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie (DGNC), Joint Meeting mit der Polnischen Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgen (PNCH). Hamburg, 07.-11.05.2011. Düsseldorf: German Medical Science GMS Publishing House; 2011. DocP 106

doi: 10.3205/11dgnc327, urn:nbn:de:0183-11dgnc3277

Published: April 28, 2011

© 2011 Roser et al.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/deed.en). You are free: to Share – to copy, distribute and transmit the work, provided the original author and source are credited.

Outline

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Objective: To report about the infrastructure and technical set-up for live surgeries at neurosurgical training courses.

Methods: Between 2007 and 2010, seven neurosurgical training courses with live surgeries were organized at the Department of Neurosurgery at our clinic. Here, we share our experience and report the essential set-up.

Results: Our department organized three skull base, two cervical spine and one spinal cord stimulation hands-on dissection course with live surgeries over the last three years. The course structure included lectures, cadaver dissections and live surgeries. The technical set-up included video transmission via an ip-based network with a fiberglass backbone between the OR and lecture room. Up to four video signals may be transmitted simultaneously (e.g. microscope, endoscope, X-ray, overview) Two bi-directional audiostreams allow for continuous interaction. For anatomy, masterpiece dissections and personal tutorials for a group of four participants are essential to achieve an adequate educational level. During surgery, bi-directional discussions offer the participant to interfere and ask questions. Important issues are careful selection of patients operated live, who have a well-presentable pathology (avoid bloody tumors), always plan with a buffer of at least one patient (cancellation due to infection, etc.), and choose didactic cases in order to show the technique. The live surgery should include the whole procedure: intraoperative set-up, positioning, anesthesiological procedures and handling of intraoperative situations. Matching the awareness for ecological protection and educational demands in medicine the courses can be transmitted to corresponding faculties worldwide or being distributed as a webstream to offer participation without travelling or additional costs, which is a rewarding option for neurosurgeons in developing countries.

Conclusions: A professionally prepared step-by-step education including surgical anatomy, cadaver dissection with masterpiece and live surgeries with online discussion offers a high level training with enrichment of both the participants and tutors.