Postgraduate School of Neurosurgery

Common training objectives (or common core)

Students must acquire adequate theoretical knowledge and professional skill in the clinical and instrumental diagnosis and the treatment, also in emergency-urgent situations, of the most common pathologies requiring surgery. Students must acquire core competencies in the physiopathology of the different organs and apparatus, theoretical and practical knowledge required to identify diseases affecting the body's different systems; theoretical and practical knowledge of the main sectors of instrumental and laboratory diagnostics pertaining to said diseases, acquire the ability to assess links with, and the impact of, internal and specialist medicine. They must therefore be able to recognize the symptoms and clinical-functional signs of disease in the various organs and systems, having acquired core competencies in diagnostics, therapy, psychology and ethics for a comprehensive patient workup and for assessing inter-system links. To this end they must: develop the ability to clinically assess patients based on the anamnesis and objective examination; develop critical and analytical diagnostic skills; gain familiarity with the main diagnostic procedures and laboratory-instrumental analyses; recognize and be able to address the main medical emergencies; acquaint themselves with therapeutic resources to programme their best use and understand their indications and contraindications, as well as possible interactions and iatrogenic effects; acquire core competencies relating to clinical research methodologies and drug testing; understand the basic issues in prevention, pubic healthcare and social medicine. The student must acquire sufficient theoretical knowledge and professional skill in recognizing and treating the most common pathologies in emergency-urgent situations. Lastly, the student must have knowledge of the clinical presentation and treatment of the most common pathologies pertaining to the other class types.

Core training objectives
In-depth knowledge of macroscopic and microscopic anatomy, physiology, biochemistry; adequate knowledge of genetics, statistics and computer science; basic knowledge of medical-surgical semiotics, of laboratory and instrumental diagnostics, of medical-legal aspects regulating specialist healthcare, and of management and organization principles in assistance.
School-specific training objectives: in-depth knowledge of topographic anatomy relevant to surgical strategy, of the principles of asepsis, of organization and environmental hygiene in the operating room, of general and specialist surgical instruments and suture materials, of traditional and alternative surgical methods and techniques; basic knowledge and related practical experience for personally assessing the overall condition of patients, for identifying the most suitable medical and surgical treatment, weighing risks and benefits, defining and managing postoperative care and aftercare, and addressing problems linked to urgent surgery.

Related or additional objectives
Acquisition of the core knowledge and experience for collaborating with other specialists in the diagnosis and definition of the treatment method and strategy for the most common pathologies, in particular those with multiple sites, and to recognize urgent needs and be able to assign priority in treatment.