Here we are, on the final day of the Congress!
Thursday saw the last sessions and events of this wonderful EANS2024 Sofia Congress. Early in the morning, one had to choose between eight parallel sessions and two masterclasses. The Vascular Parallel Session was devoted to the management of AV malformations and fistulas.
The neuro-oncologists discussed various extra-axial tumors such as craniopharyngiomas and meningiomas, endoscopic sellar tumor surgery and there were several presentations dealing with the surgical and radiosurgical treatment of brain metastases. The Spine Parallel Session included various talks on spinal trauma. Pituitary surgery was the main topic of the Skull Base Parallel, while the Trauma Session focused on long-term outcomes after traumatic brain injury. The peripheral nerve surgeons discussed peripheral nerve oncology among other issues.
The masterclasses were organised by the Functional Section and the Young Neurosurgeons Committee, respectively. Hemispheric disconnection surgery was addressed by five talks from expert epilepsy surgeons. P. Dimova (Sofia, Bulgaria) discussed hemispherotomy indications. H. Clusmann (Aachen, Germany) and T. Blauwblomme (Paris, France) presented the respective techniques for lateral and parasagittal-vertical hemispherotomies, while the talks by M. von Lehe (Neuruppin, Germany) and K. Fountas (Larissa, Greece) reviewed outcomes and complications. The Young Neurosurgeons masterclass consisted of four presentations dealing with the concept of the connectome, white matter dissection and cortical mapping. Speakers included S. Sarubbo (Trento, Italy), C. Destrieux (Tours, France), S. Ille (Heidelberg, Germany) and H. Duffau (Montpellier, France).
After a short coffee break, everybody joined the Global Plenary Session “Working in low-income countries – how to start the journey.” E. Uche (Nsukka, Nigeria) delivered a talk on how global collaborations could foster the growth of neurosurgery in Africa (and by implication) in low and middle-income countries in general. M. Tisell (Göteborg, Sweden) presented the global role of EANS including the work that has already been done. The lectures were followed by presentations of two Best Abstracts. E. dos Santos Rubio (Willemstad, Curacao) detailed her recent experience with being a solo neurosurgeon in Curacao and surrounding islands. R. Mahesparan (Bergen, Norway) presented data on the prevalence of neural tube defects diagnosed during ultrasound examinations in pregnant women in Ethiopia.
The scientific program of the congress ended with the Neuro-Oncology Plenary. This year’s topic was “Meningiomas – current research perspectives”. G. Zadeh (Toronto, Canada) gave an impressive talk detailing and describing all the recent multiomics advances that will hopefully help us understand in the near future meningioma development, progression and response to treatment much better. Interestingly, it may well be possible to define molecular subtypes of meningiomas which differ with respect to the prognostic impact of the extent of resection (and also adjuvant radiotherapy). Acerbi (Pisa, Italy) shared his experience with fluorescence-based meningioma surgery with the audience. This talk was followed by a presentation by A. Maier (Kopenhagen, Denmark) which focused on molecular and clinical aspects of malignant meningiomas. Finally, T. Mathiesen (Copenhagen, Denmark) provided a thoughtful overview of some issues related to extent of resection in meningioma surgery, and how DOTATEC PET scanning and histological studies of the dura surrounding the tumour may help with assessing residual tumour and thereby the risk of recurrence. After all, while our understanding of meningioma biology makes great progress, while surgical techniques are continuously refined, we are still basically left with the extent of resection classification published by D. Simpson as early as in 1957. As evidenced by the data and scope of the work presented it would seem that meningioma research is very much alive and kicking!
The session was concluded by a presentation of this year’s Best Neuro-Oncology Abstract. G. Spena (presenting for A. Ferrari, Pavia, Italy) detailed interesting findings providing novel insights into how the various aspects of language are represented in the brain. These may well have an impact on how we perform and which tasks we use for language testing during awake surgery.
The congress was concluded with the Closing Ceremony which left everybody deeply impressed. This was a truly impressive, educative, vibrant and wonderful Congress.
A big “THANK YOU” to everybody involved in its organisation, above all to our host, the Bulgarian Society of Neurosurgery and the Congress President, Nikolay Gabrovsky.
Thank you so much, Bulgaria, thank you Sofia!
The EANS2024 Annual Congress in Sofia has been a remarkable showcase of the present and the future of European neurosurgery, centered around the theme “Innovation, Education, Leadership”
Set against the impressive backdrop of the National Palace of Culture, attendees experienced a stellar scientific program that highlighted cutting-edge advancements. The congress emphasised the rapid evolution of neurosurgical techniques, pushing the limits of what is possible in our field. I am immensely proud of European neurosurgery and the talent of our neurosurgeons. With a diverse range of scientific sessions, masterclasses, and interactive discussions, EANS2024 has firmly established itself as the premier event in the neurosurgical calendar.
This year, we introduced new keynote speakers to align with our congress’s three core themes. Prof. Roelfsema’s pioneering work on visual brain prosthesis, Prof. Jocelyne Bloch’s innovations in spinal cord paralysis treatment, along with insights from AI expert Martin Vechev and EnduroSat CEO Raycho Raychev, brought fresh perspectives on innovation and technology. I’m especially pleased with how well this adjustment to our program resonated with the audience.
We also took time to celebrate significant achievements within our community. Professor Pierre-Hugues Roche received the EANS Award for Exceptional Service, recognising his outstanding contributions, while Professor Jacques Brotchi was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Other notable accolades included Prof. Niklas Marklund’s European Lecture on traumatic brain injury research, and Lauren Harris receiving the prestigious Braakman Prize for her exceptional performance in the FEBNS examination. A historic milestone was achieved with the inaugural FEBNS Award Ceremony, recognising excellence in neurosurgical education.
The camaraderie within EANS has been extraordinary, reflecting the strength and unity of our community. It has been heartwarming to witness young neurosurgeons finding their place within EANS, contributing to the association’s continued growth and future success.
The social program was another high point, with last night’s congress party bringing together neurosurgeons from around the world in a spirit of collegiality. A highlight for me was Prodromos’ unforgettable rendition of Bon Jovi’s “It’s My Life”!
I want to express my gratitude to those who make this possible: our families and our teams, who support us while we’re here in Sofia. A special thanks goes to my team in the EANS—the EXCOM members, the EANS board, and the EANS office—for their tireless efforts. Much of EANS2024’s success is due to the exceptional leadership of Congress President, Professor Nikolay Gabrovsky, and the invaluable contributions of Valentini and the entire EANS team.
As EANS President, I strive to open doors (and minds) and build bridges, creating opportunities for collaboration, innovation, and growth. I see it as my responsibility to pave the way for the next generation of neurosurgeons, ensuring that our community thrives, and that the spirit of excellence and collegiality that defines EANS continues to flourish.
As we continue to advance European neurosurgery with dedication, hard work, ingenuity, skill, integrity, and honesty, I want to thank each and every one of you for your dedication, your trust, and for giving me the incredible privilege of leading our cherished EANS.
Best regards,
Torstein Meling
Reaching new milestones and expanding horizons for European Neurosurgery
Dear EANS Community,
With this message, on behalf of the EANS Office, I would like to sincerely thank you for being part of the EANS Family. As we are now in the last day of the EANS2024 Sofia Congress, I wish to express my gratitude to everyone that contributed to the realisation of this truly excellent event. I am happy to report a very successful congress, with more than 1850 participants, 49 industry partners and 9 scientific halls running in parallel, offering a diverse range of educational opportunities to those that joined us in beautiful Sofia. What began as an aspiring project in Dublin 2019, is now leaving a remarkable legacy to the EANS. We have already started working on our EANS2025 Vienna Congress, so please stay tuned for updates in the coming weeks.
As our organisation continues to evolve, we take major steps towards continuously broadening our already extensive educational portfolio. Our Training, Specialised and Hands-On Courses, and our CME accredited events create the map of a pan-European EANS educational and training presence. At the same time, we proudly continue our weekly Webinar Series, covering all aspects of neurosurgery and offering free education to our global community.
We greatly value the two pillars of our Association: Our National Member Societies and our Individual Members. We are pleased to welcome Malta to our family and commit to working closely with them for the development of EANS neurosurgical activities in their country too. At the same time, we are enhancing our support to the Member Societies’ annual neurosurgical events, while also increasing the benefits for our Individual Members. We are in the course of developing an EANS Code of Conduct to safeguard our community’s values and principles. Furthermore, we have just launched our EANS Mobile Application project, and we expect to have our Mobile App available in 2025. It is going to be a great tool for neurosurgeons to network, discover educational and training opportunities, and many more.
Please stay tuned and active in our community and family. There is a lot to exchange and share!
Hearty regards,
Valentini Amarantidou
EANS Executive Director
Advancing Neurosurgical Frontiers: EANS Frontiers Committee Update!
he Frontiers Committee has made significant strides over the past year in fostering collaboration and academic contributions across multiple subspecialties within neurosurgery. Our efforts have been focused on content development for the EANS website, ensuring that key subspecialties—including Radiosurgery, Orbital Surgery, and Endovascular Neurosurgery—have up-to-date educational resources available to members and the wider neurosurgical community. Additionally, we have facilitated joint sessions with other sections, such as the upcoming session with the Vascular Section at the EANS Congress in Sofia, aimed at exploring innovations in Endovascular Neurosurgery.
Looking ahead, the Frontiers Committee will continue to prioritise scholarly output and multidisciplinary collaboration. We aim to expand our involvement in webinars, symposia, and the development of advanced courses, while also contributing to the EANS journal Brain and Spine and other platforms. Our future objectives include ensuring that each Frontier has comprehensive content on the EANS website by the end of 2024, and we are already planning initiatives for the EANS2025 Congress in Vienna to further grow our presence and impact within the field.
We are committed to evolving in line with the needs of the neurosurgical community and to maintaining the momentum that we have built over the past year!
The Trauma and Critical Care Section is happy to welcome you in the heart of its activities
The EANS Trauma and Critical Care Section (TCC) is dedicated to enhancing the quality of care for patients with traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries across Europe, and this is done by fostering collaborative research, investing in education, building strong networks with allied specialist societies, and developing guidance and recommendations. Besides its engagement in the EANS Annual Congresses, webinars and Training Courses, the TCC organises its own Annual Neurotrauma Update Meetings, and its Neurotrauma Crash Courses, and works on the development of recommendations and consensus statements.
A Special Issue on neurotrauma in Brain and Spine has just been finalized. We are currently finishing a consensus project on the management of traumatic brain injury in elderly and are still working on a guideline on when to restart antithrombotic drugs following traumatic brain injury.
You can be part of data extraction and writing and can get involved in the prospective TBI registry we are building. A survey on care organisation in pediatric traumatic brain injury has just been initiated. In addition, through the section, you can become part of a vibrant international community and exchange with the European Neurotrauma Organization, the International Neurotrauma Society, In TBIR and others, or engage in one of the section’s working groups elaborating on specific topics in an inspiring international team.
Several clinical research ideas are at hand, but we are also interested in your ideas. The TCC section is a beautiful blend of established experts and young colleagues and is happy to welcome you in its circle. If you are interested to join, please send an email to bart.depreitere@uzleuven.be or speak with one of us in Sofia.
Our next Congress destination: Vienna!
Dear Friends,
We would like to invite you to Vienna for the EANS2025 Annual Congress!
This will take place on 5-9 October 2025 at Messe Wien Exhibition & Congress Center.
It will be our great honour and privilege to host you in Vienna and work together for another unforgettable EANS Congress.
The 2025 Congress Theme will be “Embracing Collaboration in Neurosurgery”, reflecting the current need to provide a platform for our community to foster multinational partnerships towards the betterment of Neurosurgical practice and treatment.
We firmly believe that the EANS2025 Vienna congress will be an excellent opportunity for all professionals related to Neurosurgery, to develop new collaborations and strengthen already existing relationships.
We would like to personally invite you to discover Vienna, a truly vibrant city with amazing history, gastronomy and culture.
Join us for the EANS2025 Congress!
Warm regards,
Claudius Thomé
EANS2025 Congress President
Listen to what our Awardees had to say!
Brain & Spine: Submit your paper to the Special Topic Issue “Spinal Cord Injury Management”
Join the #EANS2024 Social Campaign!
Our competition is still running! Get a chance to win a free registration for the EANS2025 Congress in Vienna. The steps are easy:
– Take a photo
– Post it online on Instagram, X, Facebook, or/and LinkedIn using the #EANS2024.
– Tell your friends to vote for you – Visit the EANS2024 Social Wall to like their favourite post!
The post with the most likes on this Social Wall will be the winner. Hurry up! Vienna awaits you!
The winner will be announced at our next EANS Monthly Newsletter (November issue)! Time to vote your winner!
Join EANS today.
