Teleproctoring in therapeutic neurointervention: Experience from Iraq-Saudi Arabia collaboration

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Endovascular Procedures
• Medical Education

Background:

• Neuroendovascular surgery faces personnel and experience shortages, especially in resource-limited regions like Iraq.
• Teleproctoring presents a potential solution to bridge these gaps.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of teleproctoring for neuroendovascular procedures in Iraq.
• To assess the impact of teleproctoring on patient outcomes and local team training.

Main Methods:

• The study utilized sequential online Zoom-based meetings for teleproctoring at the Baghdad Neurovascular Center (BNC).
• Seven neuroendovascular procedures were conducted between July 2021 and March 2022, with each case involving four teleproctoring sessions (planning, device selection, intraoperative, and postoperative).

Main Results:

• A total of 28 teleproctoring sessions were completed across seven diverse neuroendovascular cases.
• Teleproctoring facilitated procedures including coiling for dural arteriovenous fistulas, tumor embolization, arteriovenous malformation embolization, and aneurysm coiling.
• No major complications occurred, and all patients achieved good outcomes, highlighting the safety and efficacy of the approach.

Conclusions:

• Teleproctoring is a practical and effective method for enhancing neuroendovascular surgery in resource-limited settings.
• This technology significantly improves patient care and provides crucial training opportunities for local medical teams.