State of Accredited Endovascular Neurosurgery Training in India in 2021: Challenges to Capacity Building in Subspecialty Neurosurgical Care

Trends in Global Research for Treating Intracranial Aneurysms: A Bibliometric Analysis

OBJECTIVE

Although significant advancements have been made in the detection, surveillance, and treatment of intracranial aneurysms, research and care can differ vastly based on location. Currently, there is lack of knowledge regarding the trends in literature and how the field is evolving with new technology. Here, we use bibliometric analysis to visualize the knowledge structure of the field and identify global research trends in intracranial aneurysm treatment.

METHODS

The Web of Science Core Collection was queried for primary research and review articles related to intracranial aneurysm treatment. Four thousand seven hundred and 2 relevant documents were collected and publications over time on different treatment types and publications and citations of journals were collected. VOS viewer was used for the following: 1) identify relationships between keywords, 2) identify co-authorship patterns among organizations and countries, and 3) analyze citation patterns of countries, organizations, and journals.

RESULTS

Our results show that research in flow diversion increased at a rapid rate but tended to have low link strength with keywords related to evaluating patient risk and mortality. The highest publication producing countries were the United States of America, Japan, and China, although China had fewer citations relative to its peers. Korean organizations showed less international collaboration. The USA has been the leader in terms of productivity and collaboration in the field, as have several US-based journals such as Journal of Neurosurgery, Neurosurgery, and World Neurosurgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Evaluating the safety of flow diversion treatment remains a pressing area of research. Chinese and Korean organizations may be of interest for global collaborations.

Academic neurosurgery in Nepal: Present status and future directions

Introduction

The establishment of local neurosurgery training programs in Nepal has proven critical for the expansion of the discipline across the country. This paper aims to describe the evolution, current status, challenges, and future directions of academic neurosurgery in Nepal.

Research question

What is the current status and international standing of academic neurosurgery in Nepal?

Material and methods

Information related to growth and development in Nepal was obtained from universities and regulatory bodies in Nepal. Variables described are the current number of neurosurgeons, the number of neurosurgical centers and centers with accreditation for training, the description of existing training models, the number of graduates, and the contribution of Nepalese neurosurgeons to world literature.

Results

Formal neurosurgical training started in Nepal in 1999. Of 67 hospitals with neurosurgical facilities, 10 (14.9%) are accredited. Three training models (MCh, NBMS, and FCPS) currently exist. Of 116 neurosurgeons currently practicing in the country, 47 (40.5%) are homegrown. The contribution of the Nepalese neurosurgical community to the world includes the training of the first two Maldivian neurosurgeons and an increasing presence in world neurosurgical literature.

Conclusions

Although comparable to other countries with similar economies, Nepal still faces some challenges to the sustainability and further developments of Neurosurgery. Continued concerted efforts will help Nepalese neurosurgeons achieve the goal of securing self-reliance in neurosurgical education.