Physician researchers from Miami Neuroscience Institute presented their research abstracts at the 75th Annual Meeting of the Southern Neurosurgical Society in Marco Island.
Michael McDermott, M.D., chief medical executive of the Institute and the Irma & Kalman Bass Endowed Chair in Clinical Neuroscience, presented from the podium at the meeting his research abstract "Connectomic Change in the Sensory Motor Network Predicts Improvements in Clinical Function for Patients With Idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (INPH)." The research, which used advanced AI and imaging software, aimed to reveal functional change in the neural networks of patients with iNPH and investigate if these changes could predict clinical behavioral improvement. Dr. McDermott and the research team from Miami Neuroscience Institute revealed that understanding the functional connectomic characteristics for iNPH may help identify new non-invasive diagnostic techniques that could limit the need for an uncomfortable large volume spinal tap.
Additionally, neurosurgeon Jobyna Whiting, M.D., director of degenerative spine surgery at the Institute, presented a poster highlighting the benefits of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols for spine surgery patients. Dr. Whiting's research revealed that ERAS protocols in the inpatient setting improve patient recovery, as shown by decreased length of stay and reduced preoperative delay.
Vitaly Siomin, M.D., director of cerebrovascular surgery, director of epilepsy surgery and co-director of skull base surgery at the Institute, also presented a poster about the long-term clinical outcomes of patients with complex brain aneurysms who were treated with the tandem clipping approach rather than endovascular interventions. The research's preliminary findings show that tandem clipping can effectively prevent aneurysm recurrence, especially in those patients who are not candidates for endovascular treatment.
Finally, Matthew Schaffer, a fourth-year medical student at Florida International University, received an award for his e-poster "Upfront Resection or Radiosurgery Versus Delayed Rection or Radiosurgery for Incidental Meningioma: An Economic Decision Analysis," a study he worked on with Dr. McDermott. The e-poster was one of 10 selected from 176 abstracts to be voted on by the Society, with Mr. Schaffer's being selected as the best e-poster.
Starlie Belnap, Ph.D., manager of research outcomes for the Institute, also contributed to each of these abstracts.
