A Novel Approach for Free, Affordable, and Sustainable Microsurgery Laboratory Training for Low- and Middle-Income Countries: University of Wisconsin-Madison Microneurosurgery Laboratory Experience.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), approximately 5 million essential neurosurgical operations per year remain unaddressed. When compared with high-income countries, one of the reasons for this disparity is the lack of microsurgery training laboratories and neurosurgeons trained in microsurgical techniques. In 2020, we founded the Madison Microneurosurgery Initiative to provide no-cost, accessible, and sustainable microsurgery training opportunities to health care professionals from LMICs in their respective countries. METHODS: We initially focused on enhancing our expertise in microsurgery laboratory training requirements. Subsequently, we procured a wide range of stereo microscopes, light sources, and surgical instrument sets, aiming to develop affordable, high-quality, and long-lasting microsurgery training kits. We then donated those kits to neurosurgeons across LMICs. After successfully delivering the kits to designated locations in LMICs, we have planned to initiate microsurgery laboratory training in these centers by providing a combination of live-streamed, offline, and in-person training assistance in their institutions. RESULTS: We established basic microsurgery laboratory training centers in 28 institutions across 18 LMICs. This was made possible through donations of 57 microsurgery training kits, including 57 stereo microscopes, 2 surgical microscopes, and several advanced surgical instrument sets. Thereafter, we organized 10 live-streamed microanastomosis training sessions in 4 countries: Lebanon, Paraguay, Türkiye, and Bangladesh. Along with distributing the recordings from our live-streamed training sessions with these centers, we also granted them access to our microsurgery training resource library. We thus equipped these institutions with the necessary resources to enable continued learning and hands-on training. Moreover, we organized 7 in-person no-cost hands-on microanastomosis courses in different institutions across Türkiye, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Paraguay. A total of 113 surgical specialists successfully completed these courses. CONCLUSION: Our novel approach of providing microsurgery training kits in combination with live-streamed, offline, and in-person training assistance enables sustainable microsurgery laboratory training in LMICs.

From Ibni Sina (Avicenna) to Present, History of International Fellowship and Observership: University of Wisconsin-Madison Experience.

Since the inception of the International Fellowship (IF) Program in the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2006, training has been provided to 219 residents, neurosurgeons, and medical students from 18 countries and five continents. These IFs took a long academic and geographic journey to improve their skills in patient care. The advanced training, they received lead to 14 of these IF neurosurgeons to return to their hometowns with higher academic appointments, including two chairmen, seven professors, two associate professors, two assistant professors, and one consultant neurosurgeon. An additional measure of success for the IF Program is that fellows continue to communicate with their mentors and with their prior fellow international colleagues long after their fellowship ends.

Low-Cost Stereoscopic Recordings of Neurologic Surgery Operative Microscopy for Anatomic Laboratory Training.

OBJECTIVE: Stereoscopic video recordings of operative microscopy during neuroanatomic dissections are an important component of surgical training and research in well-financed medical schools and teaching hospitals. However, the high cost of the latest operative microscopes with integrated video recording equipment can be a limiting factor in their worldwide use. The aim of the present work is to provide a simple low-cost 3-dimensional (3D) stereoscopic operative microscope recording system that can be used even in economically and resource-limited locations. This is achieved by using readily available smartphones, smartphone accessories, and computer software. METHODS: Stereoscopic recording is accomplished by attaching and aligning matched or similar smartphones to the eyepieces of an operative microscope using readily available smartphone mounting connectors. Video recordings from the smartphones are then transferred to a personal computer and processed with a video-editing software to generate stereoscopic movies that are viewed on a smartphone using virtual-reality glasses. RESULTS: The setup time to mount and align the smartphone cameras typically requires 15-30 minutes. Video image quality and 3D depth presentation is more than sufficient for surgical training and research purposes. The implementation cost ranges from $1,315-$7,066, or much less if smartphones and a computer are already available. CONCLUSIONS: The 3D video system demonstrated herein can be implemented on any type of operative microscope, including older units for which commercial stereo recording systems are not available. The system and method presented herein can be readily and affordably implemented in low-budget environments for clinical training and research.

A novel, low-cost, reusable, high-fidelity neurosurgical training simulator for cerebrovascular bypass surgery.

OBJECTIVECerebrovascular bypass surgery is a challenging yet important neurosurgical procedure that is performed to restore circulation in the treatment of carotid occlusive diseases, giant/complex aneurysms, and skull base tumors. It requires advanced microsurgical skills and dedicated training in microsurgical techniques. Most available training tools, however, either lack the realism of the actual bypass surgery (e.g., artificial vessel, chicken wing models) or require special facilities and regulations (e.g., cadaver, live animal, placenta models). The aim of the present study was to design a readily accessible, realistic, easy-to-build, reusable, and high-fidelity simulator to train neurosurgeons or trainees on vascular anastomosis techniques even in the operating room.METHODSThe authors used an anatomical skull and brain model, artificial vessels, and a water pump to simulate both extracranial and intracranial circulations. They demonstrated the step-by-step preparation of the bypass simulator using readily available and affordable equipment and consumables.RESULTSAll necessary steps of a superficial temporal artery-middle cerebral artery bypass surgery (from skin opening to skin closure) were performed on the simulator under a surgical microscope. The simulator was used by both experienced neurosurgeons and trainees. Feedback survey results from the participants of the microsurgery course suggested that the model is superior to existing microanastomosis training kits in simulating real surgery conditions (e.g., depth, blood flow, anatomical constraints) and holds promise for widespread use in neurosurgical training.CONCLUSIONSWith no requirement for specialized laboratory facilities and regulations, this novel, low-cost, reusable, high-fidelity simulator can be readily constructed and used for neurosurgical training with various scenarios and modifications.

Intraoperative dynamic assessment of the posterior communicating artery and its branches by indocyanine green videoangiography.

BACKGROUND: True hemodynamic assessment of the posterior communicating artery (PComA) by preoperative angiography in terms of its perforators and configuration (adult vs. fetal vs. transitional) can be challenging in the surgical treatment of aneurysms involving the PComA, posterior cerebral artery, and basilar artery. Indocyanine green videoangiography (ICG-VA) is a widely accepted new technique in the surgical treatment of intracranial aneurysms to assess the patency of the parent artery, branches, and residual flow within the aneurysm after clipping. CASE DESCRIPTION: Here we report two cases in which ICG-VA was utilized to assess either the direction of flow in the PComA or preservation of the PComA perforators with temporary clip application before dividing the PComA. CONCLUSIONS: Our experience is that ICG-VA can be used to assess the main trunk, and perforating branches of the PComA providing real-time, dynamic intraoperative information of the surgical field. Therefore we suggest that ICG-VA may increase the safety of surgical treatment of aneurysm involving PComA.