May 6, 2022

The Culture Of Neurosurgery

American Association of Neurological Surgeons

Where

AANS Annual Meeting,
Philadelphia, PA.

When

April 29 - May 2, 2022

Neurovision Medical Products will be attending the first in-person AANS Conference in over two-years.

The American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) is a leader in the medical community with its commitment to advances in neurosurgery and the quality of patient care. This commitment is rooted in its 91 years of history and 12,000 members.¹

Each year that we have had the privilege to attend the AANS annual meeting, we are inspired and motivated by the phenomenal speakers, educational classes, global research, recent technology, and the overall culture of the AANS. This year is their first in-person convention since the pandemic started two years ago, and with a stunning course schedule, one in particular that stands out to us is the "Brain Mapping and Awake Mapping Techniques."

Research. Technology. Opportunity.

In the past 20 years alone, our knowledge of the brain and its importance has exploded! Neurologists, neuroscientists, and neurological surgeons have expanded their research into the brain's function, using the constantly advancing technology available to help their endeavors. We are in awe of these advances as Neurovision Medical Products is rooted in neurology with the focus on understanding nerve function and the goal of providing surgeons with devices dedicated to preserving nerve integrity. This surge in research and clinical application of electromyography during neurosurgery to protect brain health and neurological function motivates NMP to ask how we can help? If we want to advance our technology to support surgeons, we must take every opportunity to learn from the experts.

This course teaches the essentials of brain mapping for tumors and epilepsy, with a particular focus on technical nuances learned by experts over decades of experience.

- Brain Mapping and Awake Mapping Techniques AANS 2022

the leaders in Neurosurgery

Collectively, this group of Neurosurgeons has contributed to the growth of their specialty. The course will focus on the basics of intraoperative brain mapping for tumors and epilepsy and the delicate details of the surgical techniques that have evolved from decades of neurosurgeon's experiences.

Practical Clinic 206 - Course Directors and Faculty include:

Dr. Guy McKhann, Director, Functional Neurosurgery.
Neurological Surgery, Columbia University

Dr. Gerry Grant, Chair of Neurosurgery.
Neurosurgeon, Duke University.
Prior: Professor of Neurosurgery. Neurosurgery, Stanford University, and Standford Children's Health.

Dr. Mitchel S. Berger, Professor, Director Brain Tumor Center.
Neurological Surgery, UCSF

Dr. Richard Byrne, Professor, Chairman, Department of Neurosurgery.
Neurosurgery, Rush University Medical Center

Dr. Hugues Duffau, Chair of Neurosurgery.
Montpellier University Medical Center, France

Dr. Jorge Gonzalez-Martinez, Vice-Chair.
Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh

Dr. Nader Sanai, Chief.
Neurosurgical Oncology, Barrow Neurological Institute.
Director, Ivy Brain Tumor Center.

modern brain mapping with Intraoperative DES

Neurosurgeons Brain mapping with intraoperative direct electrical stimulation (DES).

Historically, the brain mapping definition is the study of the specific regions of the brain and the tasks they perform, also known as localization of function. Brain mapping attempts to relate the brain's structure to its role or find what parts give us specific abilities, e.g., determining what part of our brain allows us to be creative or logical using direct electrical stimulation. The application requires the patient to be awake for a portion of their surgery to confirm cognitive function (also called awake brain surgery or an awake craniotomy).

Brain mapping with intraoperative direct electrical stimulation (DES). The electrophysiological method uses evoked potential to identify and preserve the areas responsible for brain function that control speech, sight, and movement while achieving maximal tumor resection.

The technique applies DES intraoperatively to map and assess cognitive function in real-time. Surgeons use EMG stimulation on the complex brain tissue that the procedure will impact. Mapping the cognitive, sensory, and motor ability during awake surgery is applied to engage the patient in basic questions and simple motor commands to record and measure "true" evoked potential.² The EMG signal allows the surgeons to map connectivity in real-time. The technique contributes to improved intraoperative decision-making and patient care.

New research on the use of evoked potential with intraoperative DES supports the modern brain mapping technique to become the gold standard for maximal resection and widespread clinical use.³

An EMG signal from a "True" evoked potential contributes to improved intraoperative decision-making and patient care.

  1. https://www.aans.org/About-Us/History
  2. Boyer, A., Ramdani, S., Duffau, H. et al. Electrophysiological Mapping During Brain Tumor Surgery: Recording Cortical Potentials Evoked Locally, Subcortically and Remotely by Electrical Stimulation to Assess the Brain Connectivity On-line. Brain Topogr 34, 221–233 (2021). doi.org/10.1007/s10548-020-00814-0
  3. Bradford Z. Mahon, Michele Miozzo & Webster H. Pilcher (2019) Direct electrical stimulation mapping of cognitive functions in the human brain, Cognitive Neuropsychology, 36:3-4, 97-102, DOI: 10.1080/02643294.2019.1630375