SNI Digital Podcast

Dr. James Ausman
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SNI™ has stood for the Truth and independent thought. Since its inception in 2010, SNI™ has no characteristics by which we make judgments, only fact-based information. All personal and background information is unknown to our reviewers. This policy will extend to SNI Digital® in regard to all submissions. We are open to all people and ideas everywhere. We are an online medical fact-based information service interested in the Truth, with global participation and discussion of all viewpoints. That is the reputation we have, uphold, and will continue in this new service, which is for everyone, everywhere. In SNI’s and SNI Digital’s world, “The Patient comes First!” We are interested in Helping People Throughout the World. This is what we do with our services.

  1. Jun 7

    Exposure to Neurosurgery Among Undergraduate Medical Students in Europe: A Scoping Review; Tejas A. Sawant;

    SUMMARY: Methods: The PRISMA extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) was used as a reference to guide the search strategy. PubMed was the primary database used to search for articles about “Neurosurgery AND Europe AND (medical students OR undergraduate medical education)”.Results: 101 articles were returned in the PubMed search. 10 articles were identified as suitable to the scope of the review. Limited exposure to neurosurgery in the undergraduate medical curriculum was a common theme across articles. Conclusions: Exposure to neurosurgery through the undergraduate medical curriculum in Europe remains limited. Adopting a basic framework of didactic neurosurgery teaching as well as involvement in the operating theatre can boost interest and understanding. Conferences play a vital role in bridging the gap in the curriculum by improving access to neurosurgery and fostering better understanding of the field. Some Audience Reactions - The Irish data on clinical rotations was interesting and quite low. Would be good to see what the Scottish picture looks like alongside it. - Conferences like this one really do make a difference. I picked neurosurgery after going to one as a third-year medical student. - My university in the UK only has 2 weeks of neurology and neurosurgery combined

  2. Jun 7

    CP Angle: Extracranial Approaches; Dr. Dennis Malkasian; Part 1

    SUMMARY: Dr. Dennis Malkasian, Neurosurgeon, Anatomist and Molecular biologist reviews the Surgical Anatomy of the CP ANGLE for Neurosurgeons approaching this area for the treatment of tumors there. Approximately 10% of all brain tumors arise in that location in addition to vascular lesions, lipomas, cysts, etc. The addition of medullary and posterior fossa lesions makes this area important surgically. We have divided his total presentation, which is ~150 minutes, into three parts for easier viewing. He uses his own outstanding anatomical diagrams which you have not seen before to illustrate his total presentation. Part 1 covers the Anatomy of the Extra-cranial approaches. (85 Minutes) Part 2 is a detailed Discussion of the anatomy the CP Angle (56 minutes) Part 3 is a discussion among Drs. Malkasian, Ausman, and Himstead on the Future of Neurosurgery by 2100 for the young neurosurgeon who wants to plan his future and “how to figure out how to provide value to the world and seek meaning and purpose in ones life” as Dr. Himstead says. (22 minutes ). (JIA)

  3. Jun 7

    Exposure to Neurosurgery Among Undergraduate Medical Students in Europe: A Scoping Review; Tejas A. Sawant;

    SUMMARY: Methods: The PRISMA extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) was used as a reference to guide the search strategy. PubMed was the primary database used to search for articles about “Neurosurgery AND Europe AND (medical students OR undergraduate medical education)”.Results: 101 articles were returned in the PubMed search. 10 articles were identified as suitable to the scope of the review. Limited exposure to neurosurgery in the undergraduate medical curriculum was a common theme across articles. Conclusions: Exposure to neurosurgery through the undergraduate medical curriculum in Europe remains limited. Adopting a basic framework of didactic neurosurgery teaching as well as involvement in the operating theatre can boost interest and understanding. Conferences play a vital role in bridging the gap in the curriculum by improving access to neurosurgery and fostering better understanding of the field. Some Audience Reactions - The Irish data on clinical rotations was interesting and quite low. Would be good to see what the Scottish picture looks like alongside it. - Conferences like this one really do make a difference. I picked neurosurgery after going to one as a third-year medical student. - My university in the UK only has 2 weeks of neurology and neurosurgery combined

  4. Jun 7

    Cauda Equina Neuroendocrine Tumour of the Filum Terminale: A Case Report and Summary of the Literature; Glasgow Neuro Meeting Video Abstracts; Theoklis Kouyialis; Christophoros Christophorou, Christina Oxinou, Demetris Fkiaras.

    SUMMARY: Cauda Equina Neuroendocrine tumours (CENETs), previously known as Cauda Equina Paragangliomas (PGLs), are extremely rare vascular tumours of the spine which are mostly benign, slow-growing and well-demarcated from the surrounding structures...We present the case of a man in his 50s with a clinical history of low back pain exacerbated at night and right-sided sciatica with an L4 radicular distribution. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the lumbar spine revealed an intradural mass at the upper level of L4 with strong homogeneous enhancement following gadolinium contrast administration. Conclusions: Though the rarity of these tumours prevents the establishment of strict guidelines for their diagnosis and treatment, reviewing the existing data can provide safe and effective ways of diagnosing and selecting the best treatment options for such patients. Continued reporting of new cases, given the scarcity of information, is of extreme importance to guide evidence-based medicine in the future. Some Audience Reactions - Genuinely interesting write-up of a rare case. Really liked the discussions generated by Professor Walters - Important reminder that these tumours don’t always look like what you expect on imaging. - The point about the 2022 reclassification is well made. A lot of clinicians still call these paragangliomas out of habit.

  5. Jun 7

    Natural History of Pineal Cysts: A Retrospective Cohort Study; Yihui Cheng; Glasgow Neuro Meeting Video Abstracts; 2025-2026; Xin Y. Yap, Zahraa Dashti, Steven Tominey, Kevin Owusu-Agyemang, Edward J. St George.

    SUMMARY: " Pineal cysts (PCs) are frequently identified incidentally on neuroimaging, yet their clinical significance was thought to be benign. While most remain stable, concerns persist regarding their potential to cause obstructive hydrocephalus or other mass effects. This study aimed to describe the natural history of PCs in adults in the West of Scotland...A total of 598 patients with PCs were identified from 1,851 MRI scans (mean age: 37 years, ranged 29–49 years; 68.3% female). Follow-up imaging was available in 256 cases (42.9%, median follow-up: 38 months [8–134 months]). Most cysts remained stable; only 11.7% (30/256) showed size changes, with 56.7% decreasing...Conclusion: Pineal cysts are generally stable incidental findings. Larger cysts (>15 mm) may cause clinically significant effects, including hydrocephalus, migraines, and headache diagnoses. As there are no significant differences in maximal diameter across cyst sizes, this supports a benign natural cause. Some Audience Reactions - 598 patients is quite a large dataset. Probably one of the largest UK series I’ve seen on pineal cysts. - We need to be aware that for a lot of these cysts, clinicians won’t refer or follow up - The female predominance is interesting and matches what’s been hinted at in smaller series. Worth a follow-up paper on its own. - Worth seeing the numbers on the correlation with headaches

  6. Jun 7

    The Impact of a Webinar Series on Student Perspectives to Neuroscience Research Barriers; Emilia Parsi, Alsadeg Bilal, Selnan Wuyep, Chandru Kaliaperumal; Glasgow Neuro Meeting Video Abstracts;

    SUMMARY: "Background: Research engagement amongst medical students tends to be minimal until it becomes a curricular requirement, and the specific barriers to early involvement remain unclear. The General Medical Council (GMC) highlights that new graduates should know how to contribute to research to deliver high-quality patient care. In line with this, our study aimed to identify barriers to neuroscience research engagement and evaluate the impact of a targeted webinar series on influencing student perspectives." "Methods: From September to December 2023, we delivered a four-part online webinar series to students across 20 universities worldwide" Conclusions: Following the four-part webinar series, students developed a stronger understanding of neuroscience research. These findings highlight the value of early, structured research exposure to enhance student research engagement. Some Audience Reactions - I’d love to bring this format to my own university. Happy to chat offline about how the structure worked. - Good example of student-led intervention with measurable impact. Should be published as a short report in a medical education focused. - The fact that you reached students across 20 universities is quite impressive on its own.

  7. May 25

    Young Neurosurgeons Discussions with the Experts; EC-IC Bypass Surgery 1980-2025

    SUMMARY: Drs. Nussbaum and Ausman discuss with Dr. Rennert the  years of experience with EC -IC Bypass surgery. For Ischemia the major issue was the 1985 EC-IC Bypass Study, a RCT that was scientifically corrupted and for which no valid data exists. Other studies either had major deficiencies such as too short a follow up, and too high a bypass mortality surgery. The high early mortality of these studies made it too much to overcome in the long-term followup of the patients with ischemia. With an expected 1% morbidity, recent studies show a signifiant value in EC-IC bypass surgery over medical therapy. The elimination of that mortality and morbidity is addressed by all surgeons. Dr. Rennert discusses three recent cases he has done in his center with different compromised anterior circulation patterns. One case with cerebral ischemia presenting with Memory loss and interrupted Speech was cured with successful EC-IC bypass surgery. Cerebral ischemia as a cause of memory loss was discussed.  The importance of the understanding of the collateral circulation and the vascular supply to the cranial circulation was emphasized as was 4 -vessel angiography. The deficiency in CT Angiography in evaluation of CV circulation is discussed as was CBF flow studies.   The discussion develops an Interesting interactive exchange of experience  covering 55 years of literature and clinical experience with many tips for surgical successes. This experience is not available in journals or most meetings. This is Interesting learning experience not available in journals or most meetings but on SNI Digital®.   Opportunities for other young neurosurgeons to participate in this new SNI Digital® series are proposed.  (60 minutes Discussion).  JIA .

  8. May 25

    How we built a Stroke Center program in a LMIC for 160 million people? Qasim Bashir; Asif Bashir

    SUMMARY: Dr. Qasim Bashir, a Board certified Neurologist, Intensivist, Interventionist returned to Pakistan, a LMIC, after studying outside his country for 16 years to help develop healthcare in Punjab Province with 160 million people. As a neurologist he started with a Stroke Center and expanded it to multiple locations throughout the province developing emergency care transport; Treatment on site, Hospital ER teams, all to treat stroke under the paradigm of "Time is Brain". An incredibly challenging task showing how he and his neurosurgeon brother and family worked with private care and the government to develop services for all. An outstanding story to be duplicated by others worldwide.  60 minutes with discussion.  Recommend you see both videos. (JIA)

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About

SNI™ has stood for the Truth and independent thought. Since its inception in 2010, SNI™ has no characteristics by which we make judgments, only fact-based information. All personal and background information is unknown to our reviewers. This policy will extend to SNI Digital® in regard to all submissions. We are open to all people and ideas everywhere. We are an online medical fact-based information service interested in the Truth, with global participation and discussion of all viewpoints. That is the reputation we have, uphold, and will continue in this new service, which is for everyone, everywhere. In SNI’s and SNI Digital’s world, “The Patient comes First!” We are interested in Helping People Throughout the World. This is what we do with our services.

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. James Ausman
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    150
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © James I. and Carolyn R. Ausman Educational Foundation
  • Show Website
    SNI Digital Podcast