Sunday, February 12, 2012

Neuronavigational Neuroendoscopy - To Be or Not To Be? An International Pilot Questionnaire-Based St

Publication year: 2012
Source: World Neurosurgery, Available online 10 February 2012
Yavor Enchev
ObjectiveThe almost age-old neuroendoscopy (NE) and neuronavigation (NN) in its twenties independently and indisputably have proved their high value as neurosurgical armamentarium and became even indispensable in some pathologies. However, nowadays the effectiveness of their simultaneous and combined application still is a matter of debate. The purpose of our pilot international, questionnaire-based survey was to assess the position of the opinion leaders in the field of neuroendoscopy world-wide toward the neuronavigational neuroendoscopy (NNNE).MethodsWithin 3 months, a questionnaire with 17 questions was emailed repeatedly to 55 leading academic neuroendoscopic neurosurgeons from 50 institutions in 24 countries. The questionnaire covered aspects of personal and institutional experience in NE, NN and NNNE, the most frequently treated pathologies by NNNE as well as inquiring the neurosurgeons' opinion for the importance and future of NNNE.ResultsForty one questionnaires were returned (response rate- 74.6%). Six questionnaires were excluded due to incomplete or incorrect answers, leaving in the survey 35 respondents from 35 institutions in 18 countries. The less experienced neurosurgeons rely in higher degree on NNNE. Most frequently, NNNE is performed for "Hydrocephalus (other procedures than third ventriculostomy)", "Transsphenoidal surgery", "Tumor biopsy" and "Cyst fenestration". Regardless their neurosurgical and NE experience, over 75% of the respondents state that NNNE extends the range of neuroendoscopic procedures in their neurosurgical departments.ConclusionNNNE represents a valuable operative technique with excellent future prospects. NNNE extends the range of neuroendoscopic procedures, transforming some number of patients from "non-operable" neuroendoscopically to suitable for neuroendoscopy.





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