The Call for Neuroendoscopy Cadaveric Workshops in Lower-Middle Income Countries

Abstract

This study aims to assess the impact of the workshops organized during Neuroendocon 23 on the perspective and confidence of neurosurgeons toward endoscopy in a lower-middle income country. Neuroendocon 23 had cranial and spinal endoscopy cadaveric workshops with 30 delegates each. A pre and postworkshop survey was disseminated among the delegates, and statistical analysis was performed with SPSS (version 26) using P < 0.05. A total of 24 delegates (40%) consented to participate in the study, with only 1 female respondent (4.17%). After the cranial endoscopy workshop, there was an increase in the level of confidence of delegates in cranial endoscopic approaches (P<0.001). Similarly, after the spine endoscopy workshop, the respondents had increased confidence in managing spine conditions with the endoscopic approach (P=0.040), to the extent that they preferred the endoscopic over the microsurgical technique (P<0.001). All respondents (n=24, 100%) believed that endoscopy should be promoted in lower-middle income countries and integrated into residency curricula. Cranial and spinal endoscopy cadaveric workshops could be the first step in stimulating the interest of neurosurgeons in endoscopy.