Welcome! Willkommen!
Skull base surgery has a long history and has evolved remarkably in the last decades. As technology and anatomical knowledge grows, so does the understanding of a 360° degree surgical spectrum.
Interdisciplinary rhino-neurosurgical, transorbital and neuro-otological approaches and "out of the box" thinking are necessary to provide optimal treatment and outcome for patients that suffer from pathologies which arise from the entire anterior to posterior base of the skull.
For young and mid-level otorhinolaryngologists and neurosurgeons in their general daily practice, and especially when being interested to deepen their knowledge for an intermodal collaboration, it might be difficult to get a starting point for their journey within this field. Many courses around the world provide excellent and high-level advanced programs teaching complex approaches, and potentially skip the basic surgical, ergonomical and intermodal aspects within the clinical contexts.
Kumar Abhinav, MD (Neurosurgeon) and Warren Bennett, MD (Otorhinolaryngologist) have developed a highly reputed and strong interdisciplinary skull base practice including expanded and advanced skull base surgeries at the University of Bristol, United Kingdom and do provide an advanced skull base dissection course on a yearly basis.
Michel Roethlisberger, MD (Neurosurgeon) and Yves Brand, MD (Otorhinolaryngologist) from Switzerland have built a strong clinical and academic interdisciplinary practice for approachng the complete spectrum of skull base lesions along with the local ENT team at the University of Basel, Switzerland.
With the goal of an international collaboration, these four surgeons do now provide a two-stage course program where interdisciplinary skull base surgery is taught in a systematic way offering an
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"Rhino-Neuro-Otological Introductory Skull Base Course"
in Basel (CH)
building the foundation for the
"Comprehensive Advanced Skull Base Dissection Course"
in Bristol (UK)​​
From BASEL to BRISTOL
Intermodal
Skull Base Courses
NEWS AND UPDATES
Day 1 (Outline)
Morning-Session
08.00 AM: Principles of endonasal endoscopic surgeries
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Intermodal neuro-rhinological collaboration
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Ergonomical aspects in rhino-neurosurgical case management
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Hemostasis in endonasal endoscopic skull base surgery
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When does the otorhinolaryngologist need the neurosurgeon?
09.30 AM: Pause
10.00 AM: Hands-On Dissection
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Anterior ethmoidectomy
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Posterior ethmoidectomy
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Maxillary antrostomy / Full-House FESS
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Frontal sinus drill-out
12:15 PM: Lunch Break
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Afternoon-Session
01.00 PM: Extended / expanded endonasal endoscopic concepts and indications
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Nasal / skull base pathologies needing endoscopic expansions
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Endoscopic expansions and tailored approach concepts
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Principles of graded skull base defect reconstruction
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Considerations in pediatric skullbase pathologies
2.30 PM: Pause
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3:00 PM: Hands-On Dissection​
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Harvesting a naso-septal flap
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Trans-sphenoidal approach
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Trans-sellar osteo-dural / intradural
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Trans-tuberculum / chiasmatic sulcus osteo-dural / intradural
06:00 PM: Wrap Up of the Day
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07:30 PM: Social Activity and Course Dinner
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Day 2 (Outline)
Morning-Session
08.00 AM: Principles of anterior skull base, sphenoid and frontal sinus surgery
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Frontal sinus diseases and loco-regional complications
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Paranasal / sphenoid sinus diseases and loco-regional complications
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When does the neurosurgeon need the otorhinolaryngologist?
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When does the otorhinolaryngologist need the neurosurgeon?
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09.30 AM: Pause
10.00 AM: Hands-On Dissection
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Trans-cribriform osteo-dural / intradural (endoscopic)
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Frontal sinus cranialization (transcranial)
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Low basal (subfrontal) approach (transcranial)
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Frontal sinus plugging techniques (transcranial)
12:15 PM: Lunch Break
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Afternoon-Session
01.00 PM: Principles of lateral skull base approaches and indications
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Intermodal surgical approaches for lateral skull base lesions
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Mastoid / middle ear diseases and loco-regional complications
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Lateral skull base pathologies and CSF-leaks
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How much surgery is needed in modern skull base neurosurgery?
2.30 PM: Pause
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3:00 PM: Hands-On Dissection​
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Retrosigmoid approach (osteo-dural / intradural)
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Suprameatal extension (reverse Kawase)
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Meckel's cave exploration (endoscopy-assisted)
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Trans-meatal extension
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Infra-meatal / trans-tubercular (jugular) extension
2. Extended retrosigmoid approach
3. Mastoidectomy
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06:00 PM: Wrap Up of the Day and End of Course​
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Day 1 (Outline)
Morning-Session
Lectures &: Complex pituitary adenomas and parasellar region
Hands-On
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Sellar, clinoidal, paraclinoidal region, upper clivus and cavernous sinus: endoscopic perspective and anatomy
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Middle clinoidectomy
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Skeletonization of paraclinoidal ICA
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Retrogenu/ superior cavernous sinus
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Afternoon-Session
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Lectures &: Craniopharyngioma, rathkes' cyst and tuberculum sellae meningioma
Hands-On
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Suprasellar transtuberculum transchiasmatic sulcus approach
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Intra- and extradural pituitary transposition
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​Invited talks from international faculty
Day 2 (Outline)
Morning-Session
Lectures &: Petrous apex pathologies, chordoma, chondrosarcoma and petroclival
Hands-On meningiomas: foramen lacerum and supralacerum region
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Mid clivus, foramen lacerum and Meckel’s cave, petrous apex and middle fossa
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Maxillary sinus, pterygopalatine fossa, vidian nerve (landmarks)
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Skeletonization of paraclival ICA and petrous apex
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Afternoon-Session
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Lectures &: Chordoma, chondrosarcoma and petroclival meningiomas: sublacerum
Hands-On region (petroclival fissure, jugular tubercle and condylar region)
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Reviewing the landmarks at the foramen lacerum
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Inferior clivus, jugular tubercle, petroclival fissure, foramen magnum
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Sublacerum transpterygoid approach
​Invited talks from international faculty
Day 3 (Outline)
Morning-Session
Lectures &: Continuation of dissection from Day 2
Hands-On
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​​Afternoon-Session
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Lectures &: Complementary key transorbital approaches (schwannomas,
Hands-On meningiomas, pituitary adenomas, arteriovenous malformations)
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Supraorbital craniotomy / eyebrow incision
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Lateral orbitotomy / lid incision with or without lateral canthotomy
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Hakuba-Dolenc and access to cavernous sinus
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Medial transcaruncular incision and medial orbit and orbital apex
Day 4 (Outline)
Morning-Session
Lectures &: Complementary open skull base approaches (schwannomas,
Hands-On meningiomas, skull base sarcomas, vascular pathologies)
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Orbitozygomatic craniotomy, anterior clinoidectomy
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Extended middle fossa approach and apical petrosectomy
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Extended retromastoid approach
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Far lateral: basic and transcondylar approach
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Afternoon-Session
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Lectures &: Complementary open skull base approaches (schwannomas,
Hands-On meningiomas, skull base sarcomas, vascular pathologies)
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Orbitozygomatic craniotomy, anterior clinoidectomy, optic canal decompression and parasellar region / cavernous sinus
Extended middle fossa approach and apical petrosectomy, ventral brainstem and posterior fossa -
Far lateral: basic and transcondylar variants and access to lower brainstem and cranial nerves
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​Invited talks from international faculty
From Basel to Bristol
Intermodal
Rhino-Neuro-Otological
Skull Base Courses
By registering and successfully attending the
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"Rhino-Neuro-Otological Introductory Skull Base Course"
in Basel (Switzerland)
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you will automatically be listed in advance as an
interested participant for the next scheduled​​​
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"Comprehensive Advanced Skull Base Dissection Course"
in Bristol (UK)
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with the opportunity to receive a discount when registering accordingly.
From BASEL to BRISTOL
Intermodal
Skull Base Courses
COURSE DIRECTORS
Interdisciplinary Skull Base Surgery
With a great support from our industry partners along with local faculties associated with the University Hospital of Basel and Bristol Area, we are able to provide an international faculty for our two-step course programm in Basel (Switzerland) and Bristol (UK).
From BASEL to BRISTOL
Intermodal
Skull Base Courses
COLLABORATING PARTNERS
We are deeply greatful for the support from our university hospitals and industry partners
CONTACT
Do not hesitate to contact us with questions concerning the courses.
Secure your spot on the waiting lists for the years 2026 / 2027 by sending an Email to
Get in Touch with us
or by filling out the form above. Listing for a future course does not guarantee a spot upon registration and payment has been confirmed!
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