The International Continuing Medical Education Programme and the 18th Annual Conference of Indian Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery were inaugurated at PGIMER, Chandigarh by Prof. K.K. Talwar, Director, PGI  on 2nd November 2007.

Several international speakers namely Dr. R.P. Sengupta, Dr. Anil Gholkar, Dr.Alistair Jenkins, Dr. Rahul Bajekal, Dr.William Harkness from UK and Dr.Rick Abbott from USA participated in brain storming CME session. Some of the main topics discussed were

1. Hydrocephalus: Dr. Gholkar discussed various causes of hydrocephalus and the radiological methods of diagnosing the causes. Besides the causes of hydrocephalus, the various methods of treating hydrocephalus were discussed in detail by Dr. Harkness and Dr.Chidambaram. New methods of treatment like endoscopic treatment and its advantages were discussed in detail.
2. Tumours of brain and spinal cord: Various kinds of tumours of the brain and spinal cord were discussed. Alistair Jenkins, Rick Abbott and William Harkness discussed various methods of diagnosing brain tumours early in children and treating them efficiently. Dr. Anil Gholkar discussed in detail about spinal tumours.

1. Epilepsy: Towards the end of 2nd November, there was a full discussion on epilepsy. Dr. Parampreet Singh from PGI, Chandigarh discussed in detail the various investigations like EEG and video EEG. The need for MRI and CT Scan etc was discussed in detail by Dr. Paramjeet Singh of Radiology Department, PGI, Chandigarh. Dr. Alistair Jenkins, Consultant Neurosurgeon, Newcastle, Upon-Tyne, UK, discussed in detail the various types of surgical operations carried out to cure epilepsy. Dr. William Harkness, Consultant Neurosurgeon, UK discussed other surgical  operations for treating epilepsy.
2. Brain strokes: The issue of brain stroke was discussed in detail by                     Dr. R.P. Sengupta. Consultant Neurosurgeon, Newcastle -upon-Tyne, UK.         Dr. Anil Gholkar consultant radiologist from the same centre, dealt in great detail about the endovascular treatment of various kinds of brain strokes including brain haemorrhage. Brain haemorrhage in childhood is commonly caused by certain AVM. Aneurysms were also the responsible for brain haemorrhage amongst children. Dr. Anil Gholkar a leading expert in endovascular treatment discussed these method of treatment for various diseases of the blood vessels of the brain in children. He opined that if carried out in time and executed properly the endovascular methods of treatment is excellent and gave high rate of cure.

 In a nutshell  all the experts agreed that diseases of the blood vessels will be detected more frequently in children and good quality treatment options are now available producing very good results.
Prof. Rick Abbott discussed the issue of treatment of "Stiffness / Hypertonia" of different parts of the body.

The highlight of the day was Dr. Bhagwati oration which was delivered by Prof. Rick Abbott, Consultant Neurosurgeon, Bronx, New York. He discussed in detail about tumours of the spinal cord effecting children. Early detection and total removal of the tumors was possible with good results.

CONFERENCE

This year 2008 the annul meeting as you are aware by now is in Coimbatore. We have a great meeting lined up for all. Drs Paul Steinbok form Canada and Dr Dachling Pang from US will be here and will deliver some fascinating talks.
The programme is being worked up and will be up shortly.

NEWSLETTER

As decided in the annual meting held at Chandigarh the constitution of the Society has been looked at again and the committee authorized to do the job as completed it and hard copies have been circulated. Proposed amendments are to be sent to the Secretary
Dr Chidambaram by post.The proposed constitution will be discussed at length in the general body meeting of the society to be held in Coimbatore.
Preparations are underway for the ISPN meeting to be held in Goa in 2011. A team will visit Goa and look into the arrangements.
The members database in still incomplete and an appeal is made in every meeting to the members to update the information. The response has been poor. The society cannot function is the members database in incomplete.

IndSPN PROGRAMME:COIMBATORE

NOVEMBER 07

 8:30 AM
 Registration commences

9:00 AM
Welcome meeting and introduction of sessions

From 9:15 AM (MORNING & POST LUNCH SESSIONS)

LIVE SURGERY
(The surgeries to be performed/ demonstrated will depend on the kind of cases in the hospital on that day)

4:00PM - POST TEA SESSION
Inauguration of the meeting
Introduction of faculty National/ International
Dr Bhagwati Oration: Dr Paul Steinbok
Cultural Programme
Cocktails/ Dinner

NOVEMBER 08

8:30 AM
Registration commences

9:00 – 9:30:AM
Inauguration

9:30 AM – 11:00 AM
Scientific Session 1

11:00 – 11:30 AM
Break

11:30 – 1:00PM
Scientific Session 2

1:00 – 2:00 PM
Lunch

2:00 – 4:00 PM
Scientific Session 3

4:00 – 5:00 PM
Scientific Session 4

5:00 - 5:30 PM
Special Guest Lecture: Dr Dachling Pang

5:30 ONWARDS
General Body Meeting

7:30 PM ONWARDS
Cocktails and Dinner

NOVEMBER 09
8:30 – 10:15 AM
Scientific Session 5
How I  Do It
(Spinal Lipoma; Galenic Malformations; Hypo & Hypertelorism

10:45 – 11:00AM
Break

11:00 – 1:00PM
Scientific Session 6
Symposium: Allied Specialities
(Pathology; Genetics/Molecular Biology; Anaesthesia; Endocrinology)

1:00PM
Valedictory Function
Announcement of prize winners prize distribution

1:30PM
Lunch