See one. do one. teach one. A perfect paradigm for education and training in neuroendoscopy

摘要

Technological developments in the medical field are advancing at a tremendous rate. With the beginning of the new century, the way to conceive neurosurgery has been completely revolutionized and the widespread diffusion of new minimally invasive techniques has constituted an additional burden on surgical training, with neuroendoscopy emerging as a growing individual field of neurosurgery. Among the various minimally invasive neurosurgical procedures, skull base and intraventricular techniques have matured as cornerstones: the endoscopic endonasal approach had already gained acceptance, making it the technique of choice in pituitary surgery and other sellar lesions, whereas the diffusion of extended approaches to the skull base has confirmed the evolving role of transsphenoidal surgery. It is difficult to define the boundaries of neuroendoscopy today because the real potential of this field is still under investigation and consequently widely debated. At the same time, the learning curve for novel endoscopists is challenging and runs through various steps in order to provide the necessary training and skills.