Barcelona welcomes the 7th Bellvitge Mapping Course, a global meeting point for neurosurgeons

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Published on Tuesday, 03 December 2024 12:20

From November 26th to 29th, Bellvitge Hospital became a key meeting point for neurosurgery with the 7th Mapping Course Bellvitge. This prestigious event brought together internationally renowned specialists to explore the latest innovations in brain mapping and advanced neurosurgical techniques. Under the direction of Dr. Andreu Gabarrós (Neurosurgeon, Barcelona) and the co-direction of Dr. Alejandro Fernández-Coello (Neurosurgeon, Barcelona) and Dr. Isabel Fernández-Conejero (Neurophysiologist, Barcelona), the course offered a comprehensive approach that integrated theoretical sessions, practical workshops and live surgeries.

Intensive and multidisciplinary program
The course started with practical sessions of white matter fiber dissection and motor tract tractography in cadaveric specimens. Under the guidance of a team of experts, such as Drs. Juan Martino (Neurosurgeon, Cantabria), Emmanuel Mandonnet (Neurosurgeon, France), Àngels Camins (Neuroradiologist, Barcelona) and Pere Cifre (Neurosurgeon, Barcelona), participants delved into the mapping of critical pathways.

Wednesday, November 27th was highlighted by the incorporation of the Neuropsychological Assistance Workshop, led by Dr. Anna Gasa-Roqué (Neuropsychologist, Barcelona) and Dr. Joanna Sierpowska (Neuropsychologist, Barcelona). This workshop included sessions on pre- and postoperative neuropsychological assessment, design of personalized intraoperative tasks and cognitive monitoring during surgery in awake patients. In addition, panel discussions explored the collaboration between neurosurgeons and neuropsychologists to optimize surgical outcomes in brain tumors.

On Thursday, November 28, it was moved to the Bellvitge Auditorium, where key topics such as the evolution of neurosurgery in eloquent areas, preoperative functional mapping by magnetic resonance imaging and intraoperative cortical and subcortical mapping techniques were discussed. The conference was attended by renowned experts such as Dr. Hugues Duffau (Neurosurgeon, France) and Dr. Francesco Sala (Neurosurgeon, Italy), who shared their strategies in highly complex surgeries.

Live surgeries: the crowning touch
On Friday, November 29, attendees witnessed two live surgeries performed by Dr. Alejandro Fernández-Coello (Neurosurgeon, Barcelona) and Dr. Gerard Plans (Neurosurgeon, Barcelona).

Impact and recognition
With more than 30 hours of intensive training and the participation of leading figures, the 7th Mapping Course Bellvitge reaffirms itself as a world reference in the field of neurosurgery training. In conclusion, the combination of advanced practical workshops, specialized lectures and a collaborative multidisciplinary approach was essential to the success of the course, with numerous attendees highlighting the excellent quality of the program, as well as the opportunity to interact with world-renowned experts.