Mission: Brain 2018

Last June 20-22, 2018, the UP-PGH Department of Neurosciences spearheaded this year's "Mission: Brain", a three-day affair consisting of live surgical demonstrations, lectures, and workshops featuring experts in neurosurgery and neurocritical care from around the world.

Kicking off the event was the whole-day neurocritical care workshop which tackled various issues and trends in the management of common neurological conditions such as malignant middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarct, aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, Guillain-Barre syndrome, and status epilepticus. The said workshop was led by Dr. Romergryko G. Geocadin, professor of neurology and critical care medicine from Johns Hopkins University.

(Above: Dr. Geocadin giving an in-depth discussion on mechanical ventilation and sedation procedures in the neurologic intensive care unit)

The second day featured live demonstrations of bypass surgery for giant intracranial aneurysm, as well as microvascular decompression for hemifacial spasm. Simultaneous with this activity was a continuation of the neurocritical care workshop for neurologists and general practitioners, which tackled novel management approaches such as therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest. This was followed by a quick rounds at the Neurology ICU led by vascular fellow, Dr. Diestro, and Dr. Geocadin.

The third day was packed with back-to-back lectures for neurologists and neurosurgeons. Dr. Michael T. Lawton, president and chair of Neurosurgery at Barrow Neurological Institute, discussed novel strategies and future trends in the surgical management of cerebrovascular diseases. Dr. Phillip R. Aldana, associate professor of Neurosurgery at University of Florida College of Medicine - Jacksonville and a UPCM alumnus, discussed contemporary management approaches for posterior fossa tumors. This was followed by a lecture on present and future trends on the management of neurodegenerative diseases of the cervical spine led by Dr. H. Gordon Deen, Jr., professor of neurosurgery at Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida. Simultaneous with the said lectures was a workshop on the recognition and treatment approach for "brain code", again spearheaded by Dr. Geocadin.

(Above: Dr. Gerardo Legaspi and Dr. Michael Lawton engaging in a discussion on bypass surgery for intracranial aneurysms)

Capping the activity was the Fellowship Night held at the PGH Nurses' Home, where neurosurgeons and neurologists alike celebrated the success of the three-day event over sumptuous food and great music.

(Above: Drs. Lawton and Deen competing in a gastronomic "balut"-eating contest)

(Left to right: Dr. Michael Lawton from Barrow Neurological Institute with Neurosurgery section head, Dr. Annabell Chua; Department of Neurosciences Chair, Dr. Leonor Cabral-Lim; and UP-PGH Director, Dr. Gerardo Legaspi during the awarding of certificates)