Wednesday’s agenda was a powerhouse of knowledge and innovation, filled with cutting-edge research, inspiring speeches, and invigorating discussions that left attendees buzzing with excitement and curiosity.
The morning kicked off with electrifying parallel sessions across multiple disciplines, where eager participants delved into the most pressing challenges and advancements in neurosurgery.
At the Cavernomas Session, experts in vascular neurosurgery discussed fascinating new insights on treating brain malformations, sparking deep conversations among attendees and covering a wide spectrum from radiosurgery to approaches to brainstem cavernomas. During the session on Epilepsy Surgery and Low-Grade Glial Tumours, surgeons and researchers explored groundbreaking techniques in functional neurosurgery from resection to neurostimulation, evoking hope for better outcomes in epilepsy treatment.
At the Skull Base Session on Tentorial and Petrous Meningiomas, renowned masters like Prof. Meling, Prof. Tatagiba and Prof. Roche addressed the technical complexities of these challenging tumours.
Captivating sessions on Hydrocephalus and CSF Disturbance and Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring stirred the audience, focusing on new treatments for cerebrospinal fluid disorders, offering glimpses of hope for those suffering from hydrocephalus.
The cutting-edge innovations of the morning presented during the two masterclasses on full Endoscopic Spine Surgery and Technological Frontiers in Surgical Neuro-Oncology and the Joint Session on Endovascular Neurosurgery stirred excitement as surgeons discussed the future of surgical interventions in brain tumours. The buzz of enthusiasm could be felt throughout the halls as professionals exchanged ideas and explored new avenues of treatment. The stimulating discussions continued around the e-poster presentations, where researchers unveiled their latest findings. The atmosphere was energised, with attendees mingling, sharing insights, and building connections.
The mid-morning was punctuated by a thought-provoking keynote speech by Sebastien Fuki, addressing important topics like Market Dynamics and various forms of leadership, including stock market leadership, corporate leadership, and management leadership. The talk highlighted the role of leadership in driving success and innovation, citing leaders like Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg. Notable quotes included “Organisations rise and fall on leadership”, “Success breeds complacency. Complacency breeds failure” and “Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.” The speaker emphasised a changing mentality in leadership, using a John C. Maxwell quote “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” Finally, the presentation reinforced that leadership requires effective decision-making, empathy, engagement, and the nurturing of a strong organisational culture to ensure lasting success.
The big highlight of the morning was Brain & Spine Plenary developments and the Awards Ceremony. In a heartwarming celebration of excellence, Prof. Marisa Gandia, an empowered and inspiring female neurosurgeon, was honored with the prestigious award for Best Reviewer of the Year 2024 by Brain & Spine Journal. Her unwavering dedication and the high-quality work she has contributed over the years have left an indelible mark, serving as a role model for many.
Alongside this, Prof. Corrado Iaccarino was recognised with the Best Paper of the Year award. The paper was a consensus document by the Trauma Section that has not only pushed the boundaries of knowledge but also resonated deeply within the neurosurgical community. Together, these awards celebrate the passion and commitment that continue to shape the future of neurosurgery.
A profoundly moving session on Trauma Care showcased the unrelenting drive to continuously improve patient outcomes in neurosurgical trauma. During this session, Prof. Jiri Bartek presented the highly expected results of a consensus meeting that he attended on behalf of EANS together with Andreas Raabe and Marco Cenzato on the use of Meningea Media Embolisation (MMAE) in Chronic Subdural Hematoma (CSDH). 9 international societies took part in the consensus meeting, the result of which is now been submitted to Brain & Spine. The session closed with Prof. Alfonso Lagares, who presented the results of a Delphi consensus project on TBI in elderly patients, run by the Trauma and Critical Care Section of the EANS. The study conveys the consensus of a large panel of experts on a variety of topics related to TBI in this growing population. Main messages were that frailty and comorbidities should be taken into account while defining older adult age, the decision of stopping antithrombotic treatment should be carefully based on the pathology and risks, biomarkers are still not ready with current thesholds to manage mild tbi in the elderly and that there is still no evidence that ICP and CPP levels are different from the young. The consensus suggests new areas for research such as age limits for surgical therapies, ICU monitoring or biomarker research in this age group.
While enjoying a lunch break, participants attended stimulating industry-sponsored symposia and workshops, diving into emerging technologies and innovative surgical techniques. The atmosphere was one of curiosity and collaboration, with professionals from different fields exchanging ideas over lunch, eager to implement these new techniques into their practice.
The Peripheral Nerve Plenary session in the afternoon, titled “The Ugly Duckling,” challenged traditional perceptions of peripheral nerve cases, shining a spotlight on their underrated significance in neurosurgery. This session struck a chord with many, encouraging a fresh perspective on these vital cases.
Following the plenary was the Awards Ceremony, where the sense of pride and camaraderie was palpable, as the audience cheered for their peers.
As the day went on, participants still had much to absorb during the final sessions. These parallel sessions included the Revascularization Session, with captivating discussion on the latest techniques to restore blood flow in critical neurosurgical cases, Intraoperative and Extraoperative Imaging in Surgical Neuro-Oncology, a session filled with fascinating insights into how advanced imaging is changing the landscape of brain Tumour surgeries and Benign Tumours, the session on radiosurgery offered hopeful solutions, addressing non-invasive treatment options for benign tumours.
During the Spinal Degenerative Disease Session, chaired by Prof. Marisa Gandía and Prof. Andreas Demetriades, Professor Thome delivered an insightful and high-caliber presentation on the analysis of risk factors for secondary instability following lumbar decompression. Known for his expertise and eloquence, Professor Thome’s talk highlighted the critical importance of understanding the underlying factors that contribute to instability after this common spinal procedure. His thorough analysis and clarity offered valuable perspectives that not only enhance our understanding of post-operative outcomes but also serve as a guide for improving patient care and long-term recovery.
EANS Congress Awards Ceremony: Meet our Research Fund & Research Prize Award Winners
The congress delegates had the chance to watch all scientific research award winners presenting their work. We all wonder where the neurosurgical field is heading in the years to come and to get a glimpse of the future, the neurosurgical awards are the right session to attend.
Moreover, neurosurgeons struggle with finding money for their research. The EANS has created the Research Fund aimed at providing 10,000 Euro seed grants for young and aspiring neurosurgeons, conducting neurosurgical projects.
We were delighted to experience outstanding presentations of original research, and we couldn’t be prouder of our young researchers’ achievements. During the Ceremony, the following awards were presented:
Best EANS 2024 Clinical Research Prize: Onco-functional outcome after resection for eloquent glioblastoma (GLIOFO): a propensity-score matched analysis of an international, multicentre, cohort study
Jasper Gerritsen, awarded by Katrin Rabie, Chair of the Research Committee.
Best EANS 2024 Laboratory Research Prize: Human acute microelectrode array recordings with broad cortical access, single-unit resolution, and parallel behavioral monitoring
Viktor Maria Eisenkolb, awarded by Katrin Rabie, the Chair of the Research Committee.
2024 EANS Research Fund: Real time diagnosis of pediatric brain tumors and epilepsy lesions using stimulated Raman histology–advancing intraoperative efficacy and expanded research horizons
Sandra Fernandes Dias, awarded by Niklas Marklund, Research Fund Director
2024 EANS Research Fund: RETRACE-ASDH: individual participant data metaanalysis of RESCUE-ASDH, TRACK-TBI and CENTER-TBI–improving surgery in Acute SubDural Hematoma
Thomas van Essen, awarded by Niklas Marklund, Research Fund Director
2024 EANS Research Fund: Virtual Reality in Skull Base Surgery Training: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Amine Mellal, awarded by Niklas Marklund, Research Fund Director
2024 EANS Research Fund: Electrophysiological characterization of the microlesion effect after deep brain stimulation in patients with Parkinson’s disease
Manuel Ferreira-Pinto, awarded by Niklas Marklund, Research Fund Director
2024 EANS Research Fund: Exploring Tumor-Reactive T-Cells in the Cranial Bone of Glioblastoma Patients through Positron Emission To-mography Guided Biopsies
Laurèl Rauschenbach, awarded by Niklas Marklund, Research Fund Director
2024 EANS Research Fund: Deciphering hemodynamic alterations following
microsurgical AVM resection in patients with brain AVM – associated epilepsy
Martina Sebök, awarded by Niklas Marklund, Research Fund Director
Insights from the 3rd ACNS-EANS World Young Neurosurgeons Congress in Sofia
The 3rd ACNS-EANS World Congress of Young Neurosurgeons, held in Sofia from 12 to 14 October, was a remarkable success, bringing together young neurosurgeons from all 5 continents, counting 53 countries. This year’s congress, which was hosted in Europe for the first time, provided a unique opportunity for young neurosurgeons to connect, share knowledge, and foster collaboration. The event’s diverse participants enriched discussions and encouraged the exchange of innovative ideas and practices in the field of neurosurgery.
The participants presented their oral and video presentations, showcasing exceptional talent, and the best submissions were recognised with awards, motivating young neurosurgeons to pursue excellence in their research and clinical practices. Congratulations to all!
Best Oral Presentation
Gold Prize: Tomasz Dziedzic– Ischemic changes in insular glioma surgery: incidence, localization, and clinical implications
Silver Prize: Martin Trandzhiev– Patient-specific computed tomography-based three-dimensional spine trauma models applied in the context of preoperative planning in virtual reality
Bronze Prizes:
Mary Solou– A UK single-centre study of radiological-only cauda equina compression without clinical red flags: incidence and long-term outcome
Shervin Espahbodinea– Personalized surgery of brain tumours in language areas: the role of preoperative brain mapping in patients not eligible for awake surgery
Best Video Presentation
Ben NG– Endoscopic trans-sphenoidal pituitary transposition for pituitary stalk biopsy
Best E-Poster Oral Presentation
Yoshiaki Goto– Efficacy of a Novel Augmented Reality Navigation System Using 3D Computer Graphic Modeling in Endoscopic Transsphenoidal Surgery for Sellar and Parasellar Tumours
Travel Grant Award: Ikechukwu Aniaku
Throughout the congress, attendees engaged in 6 hands-on workshops, 12 keynote oral sessions, other expert-led sessions, and a dynamic research series highlighting the latest advancements in neurosurgery.
Advancing Neurovascular Surgery: EANS Vascular Section Unveils 2024 Webinar Series and Collaborative Initiatives
In 2024, the EANS Vascular Section planned four webinars on key neurovascular surgery topics. In June, the topic was “Neurophysiological Monitoring in Vascular Neurosurgery,” featuring Sala and Fernández. This will be followed in October by “Being Hybrid: Practical Experience in Different Countries,” with Velinov, Boogaards, Gruber, and Rodriguez. In November, the focus will shift to “New Trends in the Management of Aneurysms,” with Raabe, Valvassori, and Behme. Finally, in December, the webinar will cover “Spinal Vascular Malformations,” with Cenzato, Boccardi, and Rohde.
Our key priority has been integrating neurosurgeons into the endovascular field, emphasizing the importance of neurosurgeons performing these procedures, also in stroke management. Collaboration with neuroradiologists has been strengthened, and we successfully advocated for holding the EANS Vascular Section meeting within the ESMINT Congress to foster this partnership. This topic was raised with the Italian Neurosurgery and Interventional Neuroradiology societies, leading to a roundtable to overcome the current impasse.
On the educational front, 30 vascular videos have been added to the EANS Academy platform.
Last year, we organized an endovascular and neurosurgical bootcamp along with a microsurgical course, and we plan to repeat these programs next year.
In collaboration with the Trauma section and various surgical and endovascular societies, we have settled shared criteria for endovascular treatment of chronic subdural hematomas, aiming to standardize practices across specialties.
Furthermore, we are working with Amazon Web Services (AWS) on a federated learning database focused on arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). This project allows institutions to share insights while preserving data privacy, promoting collaborative research. If successful, this pilot could be expanded to other EANS sections.
Future objectives include completing the AVM database, developing treatment guidelines, and organizing a European Consensus Conference on Cavernomas in response to the CARE pilot study, which risks repeating the issues seen with the ARUBA study, as highlighted in The Lancet Neurology.
Activities and achievements of the EANS Neuro-Oncology Section
The last years have seen many activities of the EANS Tumour Section and we will carry on with this momentum through 2024 and into 2025. We have established a joint EANS/EANO working group tasked to develop a first joint guideline addressing the optimal extent of resection in glioma surgery.
We will start working on a second guideline tackling issues related to the use of adjunct technologies in brain tumor surgery in early 2025.
Research plays a prominent role in the EANS Neuro-Oncology Section’s agenda. Section achievements include a recent paper which surveyed opinions throughout the EANS community concerning what constitutes expertise in surgical neuro-oncology. In a second paper we have systematically reviewed the pertinent literature on insula glioma surgery and provided a meta-analysis of published insular surgery results. The Tumour Section is currently guest-editing a special issue for our EANS journal Brain & Spine (Brain tumour surgery: Defining the onco-functional balance).
Important ongoing projects include the RECMET study. To study the role of repeat surgery for locally recurrent brain metastases we have collected >500 cases, which constitutes by far the largest study of this topic so far. Another multicenter research effort is the DISTANT GBM study which will address surgery for distant glioblastoma recurrences.
We have established a successful webinar series and we publish a Section newsletter. The Tumour Section has helped with the organisation of the EANS Annual Congresses, and we organised neuro-oncology pre-congress events. We have joined our US counterpart – the AANS/CNS Tumor Section – in 2024 for a first joint session at the 2024 AANS Congress in Chicago. EANS/EANO sessions have become a regular feature of the annual EANO conferences and EANO has also joined us in Sofia!
The EANS Neuro-Oncology Section has been at the center of many activities in the field of surgical neuro-oncology and you can expect more to come!
Make EANS Pride Again! Greetings from the EANS Diversity Committee
The DC’s different working groups on “Women in neurosurgery”, “Parenthood and neurosurgery”, and “People of colour or minority in European neurosurgery” have so far published four manuscripts in the official scientific journal of the EANS Brain & Spine. Surveys on “Challenges for people of colour/minorities in neurosurgery” and “Mental health & professional burnout in neurosurgery” in collaboration with the Young Neurosurgeons Committee are currently in the process of data analysis and manuscript preparation. A survey on the “Gender publication gap” is under review for distribution.
In cooperation with the European School of Management and Technology (ESMT) Berlin and industry partners, the EANS DC was able to grant a “Young Physician Leader” Award to a diverse neurosurgeon to attend the Young Physician Leadership program and the World Health Summit held in Berlin.
Our future goals are
- to encourage more young female and diverse neurosurgeons to get involved and committed as valuable members within the EANS community
- to increase the number of female and diverse chairs and speakers and establish a scientific topic and scientific session on gender & diversity during future annual EANS congresses and to increase the number of female and diverse faculty in EANS courses
- to establish a mentoring program and fellowship grants for female & diverse neurosurgeons
Presenting our new EANS Member: the Malta Association of Neurologists & Neurosurgeons
We are more than happy to welcome the Malta Association of Neurologists & Neurosurgeons to the EANS family!
The Malta Association for Neurologists and Neurosurgeons was formed in 2023 to promote the highest standards and professional ethics in the practice of neurology and neurosurgery in Malta and safeguard the interests of all neurologists and neurosurgeons in the country. The Association aims to raise public and political awareness on matters related to neurological disease and brain health by organising outreach and educational activities for the general public and other healthcare providers. It also aims to seek and promote the highest standards of postgraduate training and continuing medical education in neurology and neurosurgery, as well as promote collaboration with local and international colleagues in the neurosciences or other clinical fields. MANNS currently consists of 15 full members and five executive board members. It is affiliated with the European Association of Neurology and has just become a member of the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies. MANNS is planning a Neuro-Oncology Symposium in November 2024.
More info
Viennese delights with classical musical sounds inviting everyone at next year’s EANS Vienna Congress!
The Reception at the Vienna Booth at EANS 2024 was a true taste of Vienna, buzzing with flavors, sights, and sounds. Next year’s Congress President, Claudius Thomé, kicked things off by inviting everyone to save the date for the EANS 2025 Congress in Vienna.
Guests enjoyed delicious traditional Austrian treats and a glass of wine while soaking in the charm of Viennese Waltzes. It was a fantastic opportunity for neurosurgeons and industry partners to connect, catch up, and build new relationships.
We can’t wait to see what Vienna has in store for us at the EANS Annual Congress in 2025!
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!
Join EANS today.
