Levy, Siddiqui Create Neurosurgery Video Textbook

“Video Atlas of Neuroendovascular Procedures” was published earlier this year by Thieme, a medical publisher.

“We’re really in a digital age. If a picture is worth a thousand words, a video is probably worth a hundred thousand words,” says Levy, the L. Nelson Hopkins III, MD, Professor and Chair of the Department of Neurosurgery. 

Levy explains that they created more than 100 videos of one to three minutes in length and embedded QR codes in the book chapters so readers can scan the videos, put them on their smartphones and use them as references.

“We wanted to do something that hadn’t been done before as far as we know in the neurosurgery space. We heard how much students and other physicians found value in our videos,” Levy says. “Obviously we have books on the shelves, and a quick reference is always important. The question was could we combine rapid video learning and also provide in-depth learning when you have time to sit down and do a deep dive with reading. We wanted to give you the best of both worlds.”

The book’s authors are renowned neurosurgeons. The videos show procedures done at the University at Buffalo and Gates Vascular Institute, where Levy is director of endovascular stroke treatment and research and medical director of neuroendovascular services.

Some of the videos show Levy and Siddiqui conducting similar procedures.

“Dr. Siddiqui does techniques that are somewhat different than mine. Having a book that shows different techniques for similar procedures is very valuable. What works in my hands with some patients may not work for other surgeons,” Levy says. “So by showing multiple techniques and multiple perspectives both in writing and in video, I think that’s an important value to the people who purchase this book.”

The video textbook has already proven to be a success.

“This has been a great seller for the publisher Thieme. We’ve gotten only positive feedback. People who have purchased the book have contacted us and are hoping for a sequel for techniques that have emerged since we published the book,” Levy says. “Dr. Siddiqui and I are in discussions to do an update.”

The book follows another textbook Levy and Siddiqui authored in 2018 — titled “Decision Making in Neurovascular Disease” — and adds to the recognition the school and the department continue to receive from the books’ success.

“For the Department of Neurosurgery here at UB to have this series written by the chair and vice chair, it creates a global presence in academics,” Levy says.

Contributors from the Department of Neurosurgery are:

• Jason M. Davies, MD, PhD, assistant professor
• L. Nelson Hopkins, MD, SUNY Distinguished Professor

Leonardo Rangel-Castilla, MD, assistant professor of neurosurgery at the Mayo Clinic, is a co-author. Giuseppe Lanzino, MD, professor of neurosurgery at the Mayo Clinic, is a contributor. Both completed a neuroendovascular fellowship at UB.