Sunnybrook Hospital Objectives PGY3

Rotation-Specific Objectives for Neurosurgical Residents on Neurosurgical Services:
PGY3 Rotation at Sunnybrook

Sunnybrook Health Science Centre
The Sunnybrook neurosurgery service is the busiest level 1 adult neurotrauma service in Canada. Accordingly, residents receive outstanding training here in the management of the patient with head/spinal injuries and neurocritical care. In addition, the Sunnybrook neurosurgery service features multidisciplinary programs in spinal disorders, acoustic neuroma surgery, peripheral nerve surgery, and stereotactic radiosurgery for AVMs and cerebral tumors.

Residents typically rotate as junior (PGY1-3) and then as Intermediate (PGY5) residents at SHSC for periods up to 6 months. Throughout their rotations at SHSC, residents learn a wide variety of procedures to care for patients with various neurosurgical conditions.  

MEDICAL EXPERT

KNOWLEDGE: At the completion of their rotation, the PGY3 resident will be able to:

• Demonstrate understanding of the main acquired adult neurosurgical disorders requiring neurosurgical attention including infectious diseases, head and spinal cord injury, brain tumours, stroke, vascular malformations, and degenerative diseases of the brain and spinal cord.
• Demonstrate detailed knowledge of the anatomy of the central and peripheral nervous systems, including the spine and skull, relevant to neurosurgical interventions
• Demonstrate familiarity with and understanding of diagnostic imaging studies used to investigate the patient with a neurosurgical disorders including EEG, EMG, CT, MRI, MEG, and ultrasound.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the indications and contra-indications for common neurosurgical procedures.

CLINICAL SKILLS: At the completion of their rotation, the PGY3 resident will be able to:

• Obtain a detailed history and perform a neurological examination of the patient in order to provide a differential diagnosis and localization of diseases affecting the central nervous system.
• Recognize critically ill neurosurgical patients and independently provide basic and advanced care, seeking help when appropriate.
• Provide post-operative care to the neurosurgical patient in the settings of ward and intensive care units.
• Recognize and manage common post-operative complications.
• Identify pathology and important anatomy on CT and MRI and be able to provide a detailed differential diagnosis.

TECHNICAL SKILLS: At the completion of their rotation, the PGY3 resident will be able to will have demonstrated a basic understanding of neurosurgical anatomy, and the technical ability to satisfactorily and safely perform the following procedures without supervision:

• Burr holes for drainage of subdural hematomas
• External ventricular drain
• Insertion of ICP monitor
• Application of Halo ring and the use of cervical spinal traction
• Application of stereotactic frame and use of frameless stereotaxy/neuronavigation
• Lumbar puncture
• Lumbar drain
• Supratentorial craniotomy (with minimal supervision)
• Posterior fossa craniotomy (with minimal supervision)
• Posterior cervical, thoracic and lumbar spinal exposures for trauma and degenerative diseases (with minimal supervision)
• Cervical dissection for carotid endarterectomy and anterior cervical fusion (with minimal supervision)
• Placement and revision of VP shunts (with minimal supervision)
• Manage common complications of the above procedures.

At the completion of their rotation, the PGY3 resident will be able to will have demonstrated an understanding of neurosurgical anatomy, and the technical ability to satisfactorily and safely perform the following procedures, under supervision, including appropriate patient positioning and incision marking:

• Endoscopic third ventriculostomy
• Craniotomy for traumatic head injuries including extradural hematoma, subdural hematoma, intracerebral hematoma, depressed skull fractures and basal skull fractures, and lobectomy
• Craniotomy for tumour including intradural removal of primary and metastatic tumours, and tumours in the posterior fossa
• Posterior fossa decompression for Chiari malformation
• Carotid endarterectomy
• Performance of stereotactic brain biopsy
• Cranioplasty
• Laminectomy, decompression and fusion of spinal fracture with instrumentation as required
• Laminectomy for cervical, thoracic, and lumbar degenerative disc disease
• Laminectomy for epidural metastatic disease and other spinal tumours

COMMUNICATOR: At the completion of their rotation, the resident will be able to:

• Prepare written documentation regarding patient interactions in a timely and accurate fashion, including, consultations, progress notes, discharge notes, and operative notes.
• Obtain informed consent for most neurosurgical procedures, including full disclosure of relevant indications, risks, benefits, and alternatives.
• Establish communication with the patient and family that supports a trusting and open relationship.
• Respond appropriately to patients, families, and colleagues, who express anger, hostility, or a complaint.
• Communicate in a clear, concise and collegial manner with other health care professionals.
• Communicate to a group of peers or allied health personnel in a clear and understandable way at weekly conferences.
• Communicate effectively with nursing managers and administrators, when necessary.

COLLABORATOR: At the completion of their rotation, the resident will be able to:

• Effectively and respectfully collaborate with other physicians, health care professionals, and community agencies to contribute effectively to interdisciplinary team activities.
• Listen to concerns expressed by others providing care and assist in resolving these concerns if appropriate.

LEADER: At the completion of their rotation, the resident will be able to:

• Demonstrate time management for clinical activity, learning needs and personal activities.
• Prioritize clinical activities in a manner to optimize patient care and the functioning of the clinical service.
• Triage patients and identify neurosurgical emergencies that require prompt and immediate management including evaluating appropriate diagnostic and imaging modalities and plan for operative treatment.
• Delegate responsibilities where and when appropriate.
• Manage the complete care of a group of patients on the service under the direction of the Chief resident and/or staff member(s).

HEALTH ADVOCATE: At the completion of their rotation, the resident will be able to:

• Identify the important determinants of health that affect their patients.
• Support the health of patients/families by providing appropriate referrals, support and information on health maintenance, as well as community/home resources.
• Intervene on behalf of patients or the community with respect to the social, economic and biologic factors that may impact on the patients’ health.
• Effectively advocates for practices that enhance health and well-being.
• Demonstrate sensitivity to the needs of patients and their families as they are affected by age, gender, cultural and ethnic perspectives.

SCHOLAR: At the completion of their rotation, the resident will be able to:

• Maintain and enhance professional activities through ongoing learning.
• Critically evaluate medical information and its sources, apply this appropriately to practice and communicate this at weekly rounds.
• Engage in academic projects with a view to presentation at national/international meetings and publication.
• Effectively teach other members of the medical team.

PROFESSIONAL: At the completion of their rotation, the resident will be able to:

• Deliver the high quality care with integrity, honesty and compassion.
• Fulfill medical, legal, ethical and professional obligations of the specialist.
• Meet deadlines, be punctual, monitor patients, and provide follow-up.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the principles of ethics and apply these in clinical situations.
• Demonstrate self-assessment, seek and accept advice when necessary.