pittsburgh

Course Directors

Carl Snyderman, MD, MBA
Paul Gardner, MD
Juan Fernandez-Miranda, MD
Eric W. Wang, MD
(Guest Faculty: Drs. James Chandler and David Conley)

This comprehensive 4-day course is a presentation of minimally invasive techniques for endoscopic endonasal surgery of the pituitary fossa and cranial base. Experts on the subject will present the anatomical and technical aspects of this procedure along with risks, benefits and outcomes.
The course features interactive live surgery, fresh anatomical specimen dissection (including skills stations, anatomical models, and state-of-the-art endoscopic equipment with image guidance), lectures and videos, 3D anatomy lectures, and case presentations.  Participants will have an opportunity to enhance their knowledge regarding endoscopic surgery of the cranial base and pituitary fossa using minimally invasive techniques.
This course is sponsored by the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine’s Center for Continuing Education in the Health Sciences, the Department of Neurological Surgery, the Department of Otolaryngology, and the UPMC Center for Cranial Base Surgery.

Course Schedule

Day 1: Lectures: Principles, Anatomy, Levels I & II (Sinuses, Pituitary, CSF Leaks); Cadaver Dissection, Prosection, 3D Anatomy
Day 2: Live Surgery; Lectures: Endonasal Modules, Level III (Extradural Cranial Base, Sagittal Plane); Cadaver Dissection, Prosection, 3D Anatomy
Day 3: Lectures: Levels IV & V (Intradural Cranial Base, Coronal Plane); Cadaver Dissection, Prosection, 3D Anatomy
Day 4: Lectures: Complications & Outcomes; Case Discussions, Cadaver Dissection, Prosection, 3D Anatomy

Course Objectives

Following completion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Review 3D anatomic relationships of the sphenoid sinus and ventral skull base.
• Describe minimally invasive approaches for endoscopic surgery of the cranial base and pituitary fossa.
• Identify methods to avoid and manage major complications of endoscopic surgery of the cranial base and pituitary fossa.