Neurosurgical Focus covers a different topic in-depth each month. Enhanced by color images and video clips, each peer-reviewed issue constitutes a state-of-the-art “textbook chapter” in the field of neurosurgery.

While Neurosurgical Focus is open-access and has been free to the public since 1996, claiming CME credit is free only for AANS members. 

Walter C. Jean, MD, FAANS

Upon completion of this CME activity, participants should be able to:

• Develop a better understanding of the various natures of neurosurgical complications and that each type has its unique cause, as well as offer specific chances for improvement and innovation
• Develop a greater knowledge of causes of complications in complex intracranial surgery, and that they can be related to preoperative planning/preparation, intraoperative maneuvers/decisions, and postoperative management
• Explain how experienced neurosurgeons analyze their complications and capture the opportunities to improve their decision-making and technique  
• Recognize the importance of the life-long learning process that neurosurgeons must have to avoid their own missteps and continuously improve throughout a career 

The AANS controls the content and production of this CME activity and attempt to ensure the presentation of balanced, objective information. In accordance with the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) Standards for Integrity and Independence, planners, speakers, paper presenters/authors and staff are asked to disclosed any relationship they or their co-authors have with ineligibly entities.

Financial relationships of any dollar amount are defined as relevant if the educational content is related to the business lines or products of the ineligible company. Relationship refers to employee, researcher, consultant, advisor, speaker, independent contractor (including contracted research), royalties or patent beneficiary, executive role, and ownership interest, or any other financial relationship to an ineligible entity.

It is the policy of the AANS that all individuals in a position to affect the content of a CME activity disclose relationships that they have with ineligible entities. Further, should any such relationship be determined to be in possible conflict of interest as it relates to the individual’s proposed role in the CME activity, such conflicts of interest will be resolved prior to confirmation of the individual’s participation.

All potential conflicts of interest have been reviewed by an effective peer review committee to ensure the content is valid and aligned with the interest of the activity audience.

Speakers, paper presenters/authors and staff (and the significant others of those mentioned) who have disclosed a relationship with commercial interests whose products may have relevance to their presentation are listed below.


The following have disclosed relevant financial relationships with ineligible company(ies). All disclosures have been mitigated.

William T. Couldwell, MD, PhD, FAANS
Bioplate, Inc. - Royalties, Consultant

Aaron Cohen-Gadol, MD, MSc, MBA, FAANS
Kirwan Surgical - Royalties

Jason P. Sheehan, MD, PhD, FAANS, FACS has disclosed no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

All other planners, staff, and faculty not included have disclosed no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.