Should Neurontologists have same experince as Neurosurgeon?

[nycnewbie]

Hey Everyone,
I need your responses and thoughts. Do you believe the Neurontologist should have has many AN surgeries under their belts as neursurgeons.
This is my dilemna. I really like Johns Hopkins. Dr Carey, Neurontologist, is awesome but only does 4-9 a year. The Neurosurgeon, Tamargo, on the other hand has done hundreds and does about 1-2 a week. Should both have equal experience or is it most important for Neurosurgeon?
Serena

[Pooter]

Serena,

I can speak only for myself, but I would want significant experience for both disciplines.  Neurosurgery is just as delicate as radiosurgery and should be treated as such.  Granted the computer does the mapping and firing of the radiation for the most part in radiosurgery, but there's a reason those doctors get paid so much.  They actually do something in the process, so it would be important to me that they are experienced doing what they do with AN's specifically.

Btw, hello again. 

Brian

[CHD63]

Serena ......

I really do not know anything about neurontologists in general but I do know that I personally would want to have the physician/surgeon with the most extensive successful AN surgeries as possible.  IMO bedside manners are important but to me not as important as skill when entering my brain.  I'm not sure neurontologists vs. neurosurgeons is the issue here.

Clarice

[nycnewbie]

I tend to agree with you on skill vs. being a super nice doctor. I believe JH is top notch, but Neurosurgeon and Neurontologist at Cornell seem to both have a lot more experience with ANs but not super nice dudes.

Serena ......

I really do not know anything about neurontologists in general but I do know that I personally would want to have the physician/surgeon with the most extensive successful AN surgeries as possible.  IMO bedside manners are important but to me not as important as skill when entering my brain.  I'm not sure neurontologists vs. neurosurgeons is the issue here.

Clarice

[Pooter]

I stand somewhat corrected.  I thought you mistyped the question, so I answered what I thought it was.  But, you didn't mistype.

If it helps, I found this:

"Otology is a branch of medicine which studies normal and pathological anatomy and physiology of the ear (hearing and vestibular sensory systems and related structures and functions) as well its diseases, diagnosis and treatment.  Oto- is the greek root word for ear and -ology refers to the study of something.  The Otologist is primarily a surgeon, but many disorders of the ear are helped with only medical treatment.  The Otologist sees patients who have infections, deafness, dizziness or people who need ear reconstruction.

Neurotology is closely related to Otology but adds the training and skill to operate within the skull on the parts of the brain and neurvous system related to hearing and balance.  Neurotologists operate on acoustic neuromas, glomus tumors and other conditions found deep in the skull. Neurotologists also perform cochlear implantation surgery."

(Souce:  http://www8.utsouthwestern.edu/utsw/cda/dept28171/files/268663.html)

To me, it would seem that both disciplines could handle doing an AN surgery given that they have extensive experience dealing specifically with AN surgeries.  1-2 surgeries a week sounds much better than 4-9 a year.  At least it does to me. 

Regards,
Brian

[nycnewbie]

Brian,
What I am saying is that they both work together in surgery as a team. What I meant is that what if the neurosurgeon on the team is well experienced, but the ent is not??!!

I stand somewhat corrected.  I thought you mistyped the question, so I answered what I thought it was.  But, you didn't mistype.

If it helps, I found this:

"Otology is a branch of medicine which studies normal and pathological anatomy and physiology of the ear (hearing and vestibular sensory systems and related structures and functions) as well its diseases, diagnosis and treatment.  Oto- is the greek root word for ear and -ology refers to the study of something.  The Otologist is primarily a surgeon, but many disorders of the ear are helped with only medical treatment.  The Otologist sees patients who have infections, deafness, dizziness or people who need ear reconstruction.

Neurotology is closely related to Otology but adds the training and skill to operate within the skull on the parts of the brain and neurvous system related to hearing and balance.  Neurotologists operate on acoustic neuromas, glomus tumors and other conditions found deep in the skull. Neurotologists also perform cochlear implantation surgery."

(Souce:  http://www8.utsouthwestern.edu/utsw/cda/dept28171/files/268663.html)

To me, it would seem that both disciplines could handle doing an AN surgery given that they have extensive experience dealing specifically with AN surgeries.  1-2 surgeries a week sounds much better than 4-9 a year.  At least it does to me. 

Regards,
Brian

[Sue]

You just ask them who does the actual delicate work of taking out your tumor! 

Sue in VAncouver USA

[nycnewbie]

Thanks Sue,
Anyone else?

You just ask them who does the actual delicate work of taking out your tumor! 

Sue in VAncouver USA

[leapyrtwins]

Serena -

just want to clarify.  Are you talking about a neurotologist?  I'm thinking "neurontologist" is just a typo?

Obviously you want someone with experience, but I'm not sure if it's necessary that the neurotologist and neurosurgeon have done the same number of procedures.  I think I'd make sure they both have a "decent" number of procedures, but IMO it's equally important that they have worked together as a team on a regular basis.  I know my neurotologist (as well as the other doctor in his practice) only work with one neurosurgeon; same goes for the radiation oncologist they do GK with.   From my understanding, they want the best neurosurgeon or radiation oncologist they can have - just as much as their patients want this.

Jan

[moe]

Serena,
IMO it is important that the neurotologist has a lot of surgeries under his belt.
The neurosurgeon is responsible for opening the skull (ughh that sounds horrible) and the neurotologist does the bulk of the AN surgery with the neurosurgeon's assist.
That was the case in my surgery anyway.The neurosurgeon was there to "help"
Hope this helps.
Maureen

[Jim Scott]

Serena ~

My AN surgery was performed by 2 neurosurgeons, working as a team.  A neurotologist was not involved.  However, both surgeons had extensive experience performing AN resections.  One had over 30 years experience, the other, his 'protege', was a board-certified neurosurgeon working under the senior neurosurgeon's close supervision.  Both did an excellent job.  Three months later, the senior neurosurgeon worked closely with a very talented radiation oncologist to 'map' my FSR treatments, which were also successful.  This just amplifies the previous comments that any doctor involved in AN removal surgery should definitely have extensive experience with the procedure.

Jim