AIMS AND CONTENT

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Students will need to understand the theoretical and practical foundations for using techniques to monitor and map the structures of the nervous system in various surgical contexts, primarily neurosurgery and orthopaedics.

TEACHING METHODS

Lectures will be given face-to-face, possibly supplemented by practical demonstrations in small groups.

Students with documented Specific Learning Disorders (DSA) or special needs must contact the lecturer and the dedicated DSA Representative in the Department before the start of the lessons in order to agree on the specific teaching methods and ensure the correct achievement of the learning objectives and outcomes.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Mapping and monitoring techniques
- Electroencephalography, electrocorticography, cortical stimulation
- Intraoperative evoked potentials
- Electromyographic monitoring

Intracranial surgery
- Intraoperative mapping during brain tumour surgery
- Intraoperative mapping and monitoring during surgery for tumours of the brainstem, the pontocerebellar angle and the skull base
- Neurophysiology during epilepsy surgery
- Neurophysiology for surgery for movement disorders

Spinal surgery
- Intraoperative monitoring for lumbar stenosis
- Monitoring of surgery for fractures and extramedullary tumours
- Mapping and monitoring for intramedullary tumour surgery
- Mapping and monitoring of procedures for tethered cord and cauda equina
- Monitoring during procedures for scoliosis and other spinal deformities
- Rhizotomies and pain surgery

Peripheral nerve surgery
- Neurophysiology during peripheral nerve and cranial nerve surgery

Vascular and cardiac surgery
- Monitoring of carotid endarterectomy procedures
- Monitoring during aneurysm clipping procedures
- Monitoring of procedures on the heart, ascending aorta and descending aorta

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Intraoperative neuromonitoring (Nuwer, MacDonald editors, 2022, Elsevier)

Neurophysiology in Neurosurgery (Deletis, Shils, Sala, Seidler editors, 2020, Elsevier)

A practical approach to Neurophysiologic intraoperative monitoring (Husain, 2008, Demos Medical Publishing)

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

In October, according to the calendar published online.

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral examination

ASSESSMENT METHODS

During the examination, the university’s guidelines regarding the assessment of students with learning difficulties or other special educational needs will be followed (e.g. extra time for written exams, the use of mind maps which must be submitted to lecturers for approval at least one week before the exam date).

Students must have a grasp of the core concepts of the subject in order to pass the exam.