From August 28 – September 1, FIENS Board Member, Dr. Brandon Rocque and surgeons Dr. Hassan Akbari, Dr. Jonathan Pindrik visited the pediatric neurosurgery programs at the Children’s Hospital #2 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The purpose of the trip was to build on previous experience performing intraoperative electrocorticography for the localization of epileptogenic brain regions during surgery to treat epilepsy. The surgical team worked with the Vietnamese neurosurgery team led by Dr. Dang Do Thanh Can. The team also visited City Children’s Hospital and the team of Dr. Nguyen Khai.
During the week of September 4 – 8, Dr. Brandon Rocque and the team of Dr. Pong Kankirawatana and Trei King made their first post-pandemic visit to long-established partner sites in Hanoi. Joined by neurosurgeon Casey Madura and neurologist Steve Deroos, the team performed epilepsy surgeries at the National Children’s Hospital, including the first-ever implantation of subdural electrodes in Vietnam.
The team also visited the National Cancer Hospital where an established program for treatment of cerebral palsy with selective dorsal rhizotomy has been developed. The group evaluated patients, assisted with surgery, and participated in a symposium on selective dorsal rhizotomy attended by over 50 physicians from around Vietnam.
Back left to right: Dr. Brandon Rocque, Dr. Cao Vu Hung (head or neurology and neurosurgery),
Front left to right: Dr. Trei King, Dr. Le Nam Thang (head of neurosurgery), Dr. Hien (hospital vice director for surgery)
