Evaluation of epilepsy surgery scope and training in Latin America

Epilepsy Care in Latin America and the Caribbean: Overcoming Challenges and Embracing Opportunities

“…Fellows' evaluation of proficiency in surgical epilepsy management primarily involved faculty and oral assessments. 57 The study highlighted substantial variability in educational resources and performance assessment of trainees across different centers in LAC countries. Although infrastructure and availability for surgical epilepsy in LAC countries are expanding, they remain inadequate to meet the demand.…”

“…51 52 53 54 55 56 In a 2023 survey highlighting epilepsy surgery scope and training in Central America and South America, epilepsy surgery was reported in all 15 participating countries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela, Bolivia, and Paraguay). 57 Most surgical centers reported performing 1 to 10 procedures yearly, with several reporting 11 to 30 procedures yearly. Most programs performed resections, 55% performed depth electrode and/or subdural electrode implantation, none of them offered laser interstitial thermal therapy.…”

“…Most programs performed resections, 55% performed depth electrode and/or subdural electrode implantation, none of them offered laser interstitial thermal therapy. 57 The most common surgical procedures were cortical resections, temporal lobectomies, vagal nerve stimulation placement, callosotomies, and hemispherectomies. 56 The study highlighted substantial variability in surgical procedures performed and surgical exposure across different centers.…”

“…A more recent survey examining surgical exposure and education among trainees in epilepsy centers in Latin America revealed that one-third of the respondents reported training surgical epilepsy fellows at their institutions, with the majority reporting one to two fellows enrolled per year. 57 Among these, 36% reported fellows participating in 1 to 10 procedures annually, 31% in 11 to 30 procedures, and 33% in >30 procedures. 57 Fellows primarily utilized surgical epilepsy journals as their most common didactic resource, followed by lectures, textbooks, and online modules.…”

“…57 Among these, 36% reported fellows participating in 1 to 10 procedures annually, 31% in 11 to 30 procedures, and 33% in >30 procedures. 57 Fellows primarily utilized surgical epilepsy journals as their most common didactic resource, followed by lectures, textbooks, and online modules. Fellows' evaluation of proficiency in surgical epilepsy management primarily involved faculty and oral assessments.…”