Standards of practice and training.

During the past decades we all have spend a lot of time to construct the future of the speciality we had grown together. We progressed in the understanding and classification of various diseases allowing for a better selection of therapeutic indications and goals. That occurred first within the frame of the WIN, then in more official structures that we created together, in particular the World Federation of Interventional and Therapeutic Neuroradiology, WFITN.

Coming from different specialities, from different countries and continents, and practicing in various types of hospital structures, we tried together to propose standards of training and practice.

These recommendations helped us advance yet new challenges have appeared to day. INR is practiced today by an ever increasing number of practitioners not always optimally trained, and various specialists try to highjack NRI resulting in its fragmentation.

Luc Picard, Pierre Lasjaunias

1998 World Federation of Interventional and Therapeutic Neuroradiology: Guidelines for Fellowship Training Programmes in Interventional Neuroradiology.

Interventional neuroradiology (intravascular neurosugery) is a clinical specialty that uses percutaneous and catheter technology, radiological imaging and clinical expertise to diagnose and treat diseases of head and neck, spine and the central nervous system. The unique clinical and invasive nature of this specialty requires special training and skills.

Purpose /Target:

• To evaluate the optimal management structure for the anti-coagulation and anti-aggregation therapy in various interventional procedures.
• To develop guidelines which could be followed by all neuro-interventional departments for application in endovascular therapy

Methods:

1. Review of the current neuroradiological, radiological, cardiological literature on
   1. peri-interventional anticoagulation protocols
   2. complications of this therapy
   3. adverse events
2. Draw conclusions based on the results of the literature review from point 1
3. Develop a questionnaire which will be disseminated to neuro-interventional departments worldwide seeking an overview and detailed information about the individual management structures
4. Summarize and analyze accrued data from point 3 to determine the most common therapies, as well as details pertaining to experiences and complications
5. Send the questionnaire to selected cardiologic centers
6. Interview haemostasiologic experts about the various pharmacologic effects of the anticoagulation and antiaggregation drugs, and summarize data
7. Analyze the results from points 1-6 to determine recommended protocol and guidelines for anticoagulation and antiaggregation management in neurointerventional procedures
8. Publish study in the Neurointerventional Journal
9. Present results on the WFITN Website
10. Present results and guidelines in Valdisere (2007)
11. Present results in Beijing (2007)

Duration: 6 – 8 months

Budget: 10.000 Euro
Scientific Researcher under supervision of Neurointerventionalist for 6-8 months; (7000 Euro)

Overhead (2000 Euro)

Traveling expenses (1000 Euro)

Start Date: Immediately

Endovascular procedures:
Aneurysm coiling
AVM embolization (cerebral and spinal)
DAVF embolization (cerebral and spinal)
Extracranial stenting (carotid artery, vertebral artery, subclavian artery)
Intracranial stenting

Thank you for your interest.

Unfortunately the WFITN does not yet have a scholarship program that allows funding of trainees. We recommend to attend our courses like the Anatomy course or our congresses. You have there the chance to meet our faculties in person and personal exchange for further options and who might help support your further training. Please consider.

We wish you well with your studies and we hope to be of assistance in the future.

WFITN Executive Committee