The first World Congress of Endoscopic Surgery of the Brain, Skull and Spine was held in Pittsburgh at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, September 30 through October 2, 2005 with 350 participants attending from over 30 countries.

The three-day event, co-sponsored by the Department of Neurological Surgery’s Minimally Invasive endoNeurosurgery Center, featured an international faculty of experts in neurosurgery, otolaryngology, plastic surgery and ophthalmology covering a wide variety of intracranial and spinal topics, as well as endoneurosurgery principles.

Vascular injury and hemostasis as well as the issue of CSF leaks occupied most of the discussion during the complications session. The cranial panels included sellar and parasellar lesions, anterior skull base and the clivus and posterior fossa. Additional cranial panels discussed the role of endoscopic surgery for craniosynostosis, intraventricular tumors and the use of the endoport. The spinal panel included presentations by Patrick Johnson, MD, and Kevin Foley, MD, on minimally invasive and endoscopic spinal surgery.

Honored guests for the congress included Edward Laws, MD, from the University of Virgina and Eugene Myers, MD, from the University of Pittsburgh. William Hitselberger, MD, was presented with the Pain of Pioneering Award for his work in acoustic neuroma surgery.

Th congress also featured numerous booths provided by industry partners allowing participants to obtain a hands-on look at some of the cutting-edge technologies emerging today. The event also included a reception at the Senator John Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center.

Course co-directors for the congress were Carl Snyderman, MD, Amin Kassam, MD, Joseph Maroon, MD, Ricardo Carrau, MD, and Richard M. Spiro, MD.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to aggressively pursue the principles and practice of endoneurosurgery. The need for outcome studies and the constant push for new technology will be the focus for the near future.

The 2007 World Congress of Endoscopy Surgery was held in Paris on May 9-12, 2007 as part of the Neuroendoscopy 2007 Congress.

Download congress flyer (pdf)