The use of advanced technology for preoperative planning in cranial surgery - A survey by the EANS Young Neurosurgeons Committee

Introduction

Technological advancements provided several preoperative tools allowing for precise preoperative planning in cranial neurosurgery, aiming to increase the efficacy and safety of surgery. However, little data are available regarding if and how young neurosurgeons are trained in using such technologies, how often they use them in clinical practice, and how valuable they consider these technologies.

Research question

How frequently these technologies are used during training and clinical practice as well as to how their perceived value can be qualitatively assessed.

Materials and methods

The Young Neurosurgeons' Committee (YNC) of the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies (EANS) distributed a 14-items survey among young neurosurgeons between June 1st and August 31st, 2022.

Results

A total of 441 responses were collected. Most responders (42.34%) received "formal" training during their residency. Planning techniques were used mainly in neuro-oncology (90.86%), and 3D visualization of patients' DICOM dataset using open-source software was the most frequently used (>20 times/month, 20.34% of responders). Software for 3D visualization of patients' DICOM dataset was the most valuable technology, especially for planning surgical approach (42.03%). Conversely, simulation based on augmented/mixed/virtual reality was considered the less valuable tool, being rated below sufficiency by 39.7% of responders.

Discussion and conclusion

Training for using preoperative planning technologies in cranial neurosurgery is provided by neurosurgical residency programs. Software for 3D visualization of DICOM datasets is the most valuable and used tool, especially in neuro-oncology. Interestingly, simulation tools based on augmented/virtual/mixed reality are considered less valuable and, therefore, less used than other technologies.

SURG-14. COMPARABLE SURVIVAL OUTCOMES BETWEEN THE ELDERLY AND THEIR YOUNGER COUNTERPARTS AFTER RESECTION OF BENIGN MENINGIOMAS

OBJECTIVE

Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database, we characterized the patterns of surgical recommendations and outcomes after benign meningioma resection in the elderly population.

METHODS

27,839 adult meningioma patients were identified in SEER between 1973- 2015 and 6,967 patients were identified between 2016-18. Patients were stratified into four age groups:18-39, 40-59, 60-79, and > 80 years old. The likelihood for recommendation to proceed with resection, extent of resection, and survival outcome were determined using logistic regression models.

RESULTS

In a multi-variate model that accounted for gender, race, marital status, tumor size, and tumor location, the likelihood of recommendation to proceed with benign meningiomas resection decreased with advancing age. Relative to patients age 40-59, the likelihood of recommendation for surgery were 1.130 (95%CI=0.925-1.380, P=0.230), 0.593 (95%CI=0.531-0.662, P< 0.001), and 0.173 (95%CI=0.146-0.205, P< 0.001) for patients age 18-39, 60-79, and >= 80, respectively. A similar trend in the likelihood of gross total resection (GTR) was observed. Relative to patients age 40-59, the likelihood of gross total resection were 1.009 (95%CI=0.913-1.114, P=0.867), 0.903 (95%CI=0.849-0.961, P=0.001), and 0.580 (95%CI=0.512-0.657, P< 0.001) for patients age 18-39, 60-79, and >= 80, respectively. However, survival after meningioma resection did not vary significantly as a function of patient age. Relative to patients age 40-59, the hazard of death after GTR of meningioma resection were 1.324 (95%CI=0.795-2/203, P=0.280), 0.813 (95%CI=0.639-1.035, P=0.092), and 0.913 (95%CI=0.618-1.350, P=0.649) for patients age 60-79, and >= 80, respectively. These results were validated using SEER data from 2016-2018.

CONCLUSION

This analysis provide evidence that surgeons exert caution in surgical resection of benign meningioma in the elderly, with decreased likelihood for recommending surgery in this population. In patients selected for and underwent gross resection, survival outcome in the elderly was comparable to their younger counterparts, suggesting safety of procedure in appropriately selected elderly.