What is Neurosurgical Operative Atlas: Vascular Neurosurgery, 3rd Edition?
Neurosurgical Operative Atlas: Vascular Neurosurgery, Third Edition is a practical operative reference focused on cerebrovascular and vascular neurosurgery. Edited by R. Loch Macdonald, it covers aneurysm surgery, vascular malformations, cerebral ischemia, bypass procedures, operative approaches, preoperative planning, postoperative management, and complications, with accompanying surgical videos.
Introduction
For neurosurgeons dealing with cerebrovascular disease, operative knowledge depends on more than recognizing a lesion or understanding its anatomy.
Surgical planning requires familiarity with approaches, positioning, microsurgical techniques, patient selection, preoperative assessment, and postoperative management. Neurosurgical Operative Atlas: Vascular Neurosurgery, 3rd Edition is designed around this operative perspective.
The book is edited by R. Loch Macdonald, MD, FRCSC, FACS, PhD, and was published by Thieme in 2019. The title contains 291 illustrations and is specifically devoted to vascular neurosurgery. The cataloging information classifies it under vascular disease surgery, neurosurgical procedures, vascular surgical procedures, and atlases.
Rather than presenting vascular neurosurgery as a purely theoretical subject, the book organizes its material around operative procedures and the practical considerations surrounding them.
Macdonald explains in the preface that the chapters address key operative aspects, including patient selection, indications, preoperative tests and information needed for planning, patient positioning, step-by-step surgery, and important postoperative complications.
The intended readership is particularly clear: residents, fellows, neurosurgical trainees, and practicing neurosurgeons. The preface describes the atlas as a resource that can be used by beginning residents reviewing an operation in which they will participate and by more experienced surgeons reviewing techniques used by other surgeons.
Book overview
|
Detail |
Information |
|
Full
title |
Neurosurgical Operative Atlas:
Vascular Neurosurgery |
|
Edition |
Third Edition |
|
Editor |
R. Loch Macdonald, MD, FRCSC, FACS,
PhD |
|
Publisher |
Thieme |
|
Publication
year |
2019 |
|
Specialty |
Vascular/cerebrovascular
neurosurgery |
|
Format |
Operative atlas with illustrations
and accompanying videos |
|
Illustrations |
291 |
|
ISBN |
978-1-62623-110-8 |
|
eISBN |
978-1-60406-930-3 |
|
Primary
audience |
Neurosurgical residents, fellows,
trainees, and practicing neurosurgeons |
The bibliographic information identifies R. Loch Macdonald as the editor and Thieme as the publisher, with publication in New York in 2019. The catalog also records bibliographical references and an index.
The book is divided into three principal sections: aneurysms and subarachnoid hemorrhage; vascular malformations; and ischemic and other cerebrovascular diseases.
WHAT THIS BOOK COVERS
Part I: Aneurysms and Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
The first major section addresses intracranial aneurysm surgery and related operative problems. It begins with vascular and microsurgical instrumentation and equipment, followed by decision-making regarding clipping or coiling, aneurysm surgery techniques, and the pterional approach.
The subsequent chapters provide increasingly site-specific coverage. Topics include:
- Ophthalmic segment aneurysms
- Supraclinoid internal carotid artery aneurysms
- Anterior communicating artery aneurysms
- Middle cerebral artery aneurysms
- Distal anterior cerebral artery aneurysms
- Upper basilar artery aneurysms
- Vertebral and posterior inferior cerebellar artery aneurysms
- Vertebral confluence and midbasilar aneurysms
- Fusiform, dolichoectatic, and dissecting aneurysms
- Endoscopic approaches to intracranial aneurysms
- Microsurgical treatment of previously endovascularly treated aneurysms
- Contralateral aneurysm exposure
- Infectious intracranial aneurysms.
The breadth of operative approaches is a notable feature. The contents include pterional, anterior interhemispheric, transsylvian, transclinoidal, transcavernous, subtemporal, pretemporal, transpetrosal, retrolabyrinthine transsigmoid, extreme lateral, and endoscopic approaches.
Part II: Vascular Malformations
The second section focuses on vascular malformations of the brain and spinal cord.
It includes chapters on:
- Cerebral convexity arteriovenous malformations
- Basal ganglia and thalamic AVMs
- Intraventricular and deep AVMs
- Vein of Galen malformations
- Posterior fossa AVMs
- Superficial cavernous malformations
- Brainstem cavernous malformations
- Spinal vascular malformations
- Carotid cavernous fistulas
- Transverse and sigmoid dural arteriovenous fistulas
- Tentorial and posterior fossa dural arteriovenous fistulas
- Anterior fossa, superior sagittal sinus, and convexity dural arteriovenous malformations.
The index demonstrates that these chapters address more than operative steps alone. For example, AVM-related material includes patient selection, preoperative preparation, imaging, anesthesia, monitoring, operative procedures, postoperative management, complications, and, where applicable, embolization and radiosurgery.
Part III: Ischemic and Other Cerebrovascular Diseases
The final section turns to cerebral ischemia and other cerebrovascular conditions. Its chapters cover carotid endarterectomy, superficial temporal artery–middle cerebral artery bypass, indirect bypasses for moyamoya disease, positional compression of the vertebral arteries, and minimally invasive approaches for spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage.
This section therefore complements the aneurysm and vascular-malformation material with revascularization and other cerebrovascular surgical procedures.
Key Features
- Three-section organization covering aneurysms, vascular malformations, and ischemic/other cerebrovascular diseases.
- Operative focus, with chapters structured around practical surgical considerations rather than disease description alone.
- Detailed operative approaches for anterior and posterior circulation pathology.
- 291 illustrations, providing substantial visual support for the operative material.
- Accompanying surgical videos, including positioning, arachnoid dissection, vascular anastomosis, aneurysm clipping, AVM surgery, bypass procedures, and other operative techniques.
- Coverage of preoperative and postoperative considerations, including patient selection, preparation, postoperative management, and complications.
- Contributions from numerous specialists in vascular and neurological surgery and related fields.
- Concise chapters, which the editor specifically describes as being intended for practical use by trainees and practicing neurosurgeons.
Who Should Read This Book
Medical students
Medical students interested in neurosurgery may use the atlas to gain an introduction to the terminology, operative anatomy, and broad range of procedures used in vascular neurosurgery.
However, the book is not primarily presented as an introductory medical-student textbook; its stated emphasis is on neurosurgical trainees and practicing surgeons.
Residents and fellows
This is the group most directly targeted by the book. The editor specifically describes its use by beginning residents reviewing an operation in which they will participate and by trainees progressing through neurosurgical education.
Specialists and practicing neurosurgeons
Experienced neurosurgeons may use the atlas to review operative techniques and approaches, particularly when encountering procedures that have become less frequent in an era in which some open vascular procedures have been replaced or supplemented by endovascular treatment.
Exam candidates
The book may be useful for trainees reviewing operative principles and cerebrovascular procedures, but the book does not identify itself specifically as a board-examination review book. T
Why This Book is Useful
Clinical relevance
The strongest feature of the atlas is its direct connection to operative practice. The editor states that each chapter is intended to address the key operative aspects of the procedure or disease being discussed.
These include patient selection, indications, preoperative information, positioning, the surgical procedure, and postoperative complications.
This structure makes the book particularly relevant when a reader needs to review the practical sequence and considerations surrounding a cerebrovascular operation.
Practical operative learning
The combination of concise chapters, extensive illustrations, and videos creates a multimodal approach to surgical education. The video contents include positioning, arachnoid dissection, vascular anastomosis, aneurysm clipping, AVM resection, brainstem cavernous malformation surgery, spinal vascular malformation cases, dural arteriovenous fistula procedures, STA-MCA bypass, and pial synangiosis.
Understanding different operative strategies
The book does not restrict itself to a single operative philosophy. Its contents present multiple approaches for difficult vascular lesions, including several approaches to basilar and posterior cerebral artery aneurysms.
This breadth allows readers to encounter different operative strategies and techniques used for complex cerebrovascular pathology.
Learning efficiency
The editor explicitly states that the chapters are mostly short and succinct. The intended purpose is to make them useful for residents, fellows, trainees, and practicing neurosurgeons, including review before participating in an operation.
Table of Contents Overview
The 39 chapters are organized into three parts:
Part I — Aneurysms/Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Chapters 1–22 cover microsurgical instrumentation, clipping versus coiling decision-making, aneurysm techniques, cranial approaches, anterior and posterior circulation aneurysms, complex aneurysms, endoscopic approaches, previously endovascularly treated aneurysms, and infectious aneurysms.
Part II — Vascular Malformations
Chapters 23–34 address cerebral and spinal AVMs, cavernous malformations, vein of Galen malformations, carotid cavernous fistulas, and multiple categories of dural arteriovenous fistulas and malformations.
Part III — Ischemic and Other Cerebrovascular Diseases
Chapters 35–39 cover carotid endarterectomy, STA-MCA bypass, indirect bypass for moyamoya disease, positional vertebral artery compression, and minimally invasive approaches for spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage.
Strengths of The Book
The principal strength of Neurosurgical Operative Atlas: Vascular Neurosurgery, 3rd Edition is its operative orientation. Instead of separating surgical anatomy, patient selection, operative technique, and postoperative care into unrelated discussions, the book brings these elements together within individual procedural chapters.
Its breadth is another major strength. The 39 chapters encompass aneurysms across multiple vascular territories, complex posterior circulation approaches, AVMs in different anatomical locations, cavernous malformations, dural fistulas, spinal vascular disease, revascularization procedures, and intracerebral hemorrhage.
The visual component is also important. The book contains 291 illustrations, while its video section provides operative demonstrations covering a range of microsurgical and cerebrovascular procedures.
The third edition also reflects an attempt to update the operative content. Macdonald notes that some chapters were added, outdated operations were removed, and almost all chapters were revised and updated.
Limitations
The book is deliberately specialized. Its stated audience consists primarily of neurosurgical residents, fellows, trainees, and practicing neurosurgeons. Consequently, readers seeking a broad introductory textbook of neurology, general medicine, or general neurosurgery may find its highly operative focus less suitable.
The publication date is another consideration. The third edition was published in 2019, and the book itself acknowledges that medicine is continually changing. The publisher's notice emphasizes that clinical knowledge and treatment practices continue to develop.
For current clinical decision-making, readers therefore should not assume that every operative recommendation or management detail necessarily represents contemporary practice.
The book's material also reflects the technical nature of vascular neurosurgery. Readers without an appropriate foundation in neuroanatomy, cerebrovascular pathology, and neurosurgical principles may find some procedures difficult to interpret.
Comparison With Similar Books
The book distinguishes itself through its combination of concise operative chapters, 291 illustrations, and accompanying procedural videos.
FAQs
It is a specialized operative atlas covering vascular neurosurgery, including intracranial aneurysms, vascular malformations, cerebral ischemia, bypass procedures, and other cerebrovascular operations. The third edition was published by Thieme in 2019.
The book is primarily intended for neurosurgical residents, fellows, trainees, and practicing neurosurgeons. The editor specifically describes its use for reviewing operations before participation and for continuing surgical education.
The three major sections cover aneurysms and subarachnoid hemorrhage, vascular malformations, and ischemic and other cerebrovascular diseases.
Yes. It includes chapters on cerebral convexity AVMs, basal ganglia and thalamic AVMs, intraventricular and deep AVMs, vein of Galen malformations, and posterior fossa AVMs.
Yes. Aneurysm surgery and clipping are major components of the first section, which includes general aneurysm techniques as well as procedures for aneurysms in specific vascular territories.
Yes. The book includes accompanying video content. Examples include positioning, arachnoid dissection, vascular anastomosis, aneurysm clipping, AVM surgery, brainstem cavernous malformation surgery, STA-MCA bypass, and pial synangiosis.
Yes. This is one of the groups explicitly identified by the editor as a target audience. The chapters are described as concise and suitable for reviewing an operation and its key components and principles.
The title page identifies 291 illustrations in the third edition.
Conclusion
Neurosurgical Operative Atlas: Vascular Neurosurgery, 3rd Edition is a focused reference for readers who want to study the practical side of cerebrovascular surgery. Its organization around aneurysms, vascular malformations, and ischemic or other cerebrovascular diseases provides broad coverage within the specialized field of vascular neurosurgery.
Its particular value lies in the way operative topics are presented. The chapters address patient selection, indications, preoperative planning, positioning, surgical technique, and postoperative complications, while illustrations and accompanying videos add visual support to the written material.
For neurosurgical residents, fellows, trainees, and practicing neurosurgeons, the book can serve as a practical review resource for cerebrovascular procedures and operative approaches. Its concise chapter structure is specifically intended to facilitate review before surgery and continued learning throughout neurosurgical training and practice.
At the same time, the third edition dates from 2019, so contemporary clinical practice should be checked against current guidelines, institutional protocols, and newer literature where appropriate. The book remains most appropriately viewed as an operative educational reference rather than a substitute for current clinical decision-making.
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