Sai Sriram

@sriramachandra.edu

Associate Professor of Neurosurgery
Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research

Sai Sriram


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https://researchid.co/saisriramswamiyappan

EDUCATION

MBBS., DNB., DrNB., MCh

RESEARCH, TEACHING, or OTHER INTERESTS

Neuroscience, Cancer Research, Neurology (clinical), Education
5

Scopus Publications

19

Scholar Citations

3

Scholar h-index

Scopus Publications

  • Virtual reality—an innovative tool in medical education
    Marianne Priyanka Kapoor, Sai Sriram Swamiyappan, Nisha Dubey, Vivek Visveswaran
    BMC Medical Education, 2026
    BACKGROUND: Virtual reality (VR) is increasingly recognized as a promising tool in medical education, offering immersive, interactive, and risk-free learning experiences. Its ability to provide three-dimensional visualization of complex anatomical structures may overcome limitations of traditional didactic lectures and cadaver-based learning. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the effectiveness of VR-based neuroanatomy training compared to conventional teaching methods among undergraduate medical students. METHODS: A total of 117 final-year MBBS students at SRIHER were enrolled between December 2024 and April 2025. Students were stratified into three groups with comparable baseline scores. Group 1 received lectures and notes, Group 2 received lectures plus VR sessions on skull base and Circle of Willis models, and Group 3 initially received lectures and notes followed by delayed VR exposure. Knowledge acquisition was assessed using pre-tests, immediate post-tests, and a three-month delayed post-test. Statistical analysis employed a mixed-effects linear model to account for repeated measures and attrition. RESULTS: Group 2 demonstrated significantly higher mean scores in the first post-test (14.1 vs. 10.3 in traditional groups; p = 0.03). At the three-month follow-up, Group 2 maintained superior performance, while Group 3 (delayed VR) showed intermediate improvement compared to controls. Attrition was markedly lower among students exposed to VR (98.4% vs. 58.9%), suggesting higher engagement and sustained interest. Qualitative feedback revealed increased motivation and a notable rise in interest in neurosurgery careers (from 3 to 27 students). CONCLUSION: VR-based training significantly enhances neuroanatomy learning outcomes compared to conventional teaching, particularly when introduced early. Its immersive and interactive features promote deeper engagement, retention, and motivation. While cost remains a barrier, VR holds substantial potential as a sustainable adjunct to medical curricula and a means to inspire interest in surgical specialities.
  • Radiological and Biochemical Characteristics of Chronic Subdural Hematoma
    Iranian Journal of Neurosurgery, 2025
  • Long-term outcome of pediatric head injuries – A five-year follow-up
    Pinnaka Subba Rao, Sai Sriram Swamiyappan, Sree Apoorva Puttagunta, Ramachandran Padmanabhan, Vivek Visveswaran
    Journal of Neurosciences in Rural Practice, 2024
    Objectives: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) disrupts the developing brain in the pediatric population. This study aims to look at the outcomes of moderate and severe TBI over a five-year follow-up to look for the long-term sequelae of head injury in the pediatric population. Materials and Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted after obtaining the permission of the Institutional Ethics Committee with the primary study participants admitted between 2015 and 2017 with follow-up extending up to 2022 in 118 pediatric patients, aged between 1 and 15 years who required admission in the pediatric intensive care unit with moderate and severe TBI. Results: Language impairment was noted in 33.63% (n = 37) patients during early follow-up, and 12 of them continued to have impaired language skills and communication at the end of five years. With regard to school functioning, children had more difficulty in the arithmetic domain (n = 33) compared to language domains (n = 17). While the parents noted improvements in scholastic performances, some degree of difficulty in learning was noted in most of the children, who sustained TBI. Despite these difficulties, 27 out of 41 participants, who gave their higher secondary examinations have gone on to pursue undergraduate courses in colleges. Conclusion: Our study indicates that over the passage of time, children tend to have a reasonable chance at recovery, and with the potential for plasticity, early and aggressive rehabilitative services may enable the child to have a decent quality of life and in selected cases, even an independent life.
  • Traumatic Cranial Nerve Injuries – An Institutional Experience
    Sai Sriram Swamiyappan, Krishnaswamy Visvanathan, S. Kishore Kumar, Mohamed Naleer, Visweswaran Vivek, Krishnamurthy Ganesh
    Interdisciplinary Neurosurgery Advanced Techniques and Case Management, 2024
    Road Traffic accidents (RTA) in India are the sixth among the leading cause of death. The cranial nerves serve several essential functions. Loss of these functions can adversely affect the quality of life. This study was conducted to assess the incidence of Cranial Nerve Injury (CNI), radiological and clinical patterns and to ascertain the significant and often debilitating effect of CNI in otherwise non-life threatening Traumatic Brain Injuries. This prospective study was conducted in the Department of Neurosurgery, SRIHER between April 2019 and September 2021. A total of 62 patients among the 402 patients with TBI had CNI. Patients with GCS <9 were excluded from the study. Three fourth of the patients belonged to the 21–50 age group (n = 301) and 78 % of the study population were men (n = 313). Patients with cranial nerve injuries, ear bleed and nasal bleed occurred in a higher proportion compared to patients without CNI −58 %(n = 36) vs 15 %(n = 60). Forty Two of the 62 patients with CNI had an associated skull base fracture, the incidence of which was considerably high compared to those without CNI (68 % vs 23 %). The average GOS for patients with TBI and CNI was worse than for those with TBI without CNI in our study group (2.64 vs 1.43). Patients with TBI with CNI often tend to be younger and have a poor outcome. Early identification with aggressive neuro-rehabilitation may improve the outcome.
  • Surgical management of spinal dural arteriovenous fistula – A single centre experience
    Kurella Naga Shravan Kumar, Krishnaswamy Visvanathan, Sai Sriram Swamiyappan, Jagadeesan Dhanasekaran, Santosh Joseph, Ganesh Krishnamurthy
    Interdisciplinary Neurosurgery Advanced Techniques and Case Management, 2022
    Spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas (sdAVF) are vascular malformations occurring in the spine which are commonly seen in elderly men in the sixth and seventh decade of life [1]. Patients initially present with non-specific symptoms, eventually progressing to motor, sensory, and autonomic disturbances. Due to delayed presentation and non- specific symptoms, sdAVF are often undiagnosed, leading to delay in treatment. We report 4 cases of sdAVF who underwent microsurgical treatment. All the patients presented with insidious onset, gradually progressive bilateral lower limb weakness, paraesthesia, and urinary incontinence. MRI revealed subarachnoid flow voids and spinal cord T2 signal hyper-intensities in all 4 patients. Spinal angiogram showed fistula at T10,11 level in one patient, L1 level in two patients and at L5 in one patient. In these patients the artery supplying the AV fistula share a common pedicle with either artery of Adamkiewicz, Anterior spinal artery (ASA) or posterior spinal artery(PSA). Hence, the use of embolic agent in these patients to occlude the fistula carries a high risk of cord ischemia. In all these patients microsurgical procedure was carried out with successful outcomes. All the 4 patients improved neurologically after surgery. Lower limb weakness and sensations improved early, but improvement of bladder function was delayed. Functional outcome was reassessed 6 months after the procedure using Modified Aminoff and Logue’s scale, which was compared to pre-operative functional status of the individual. Timely intervention of sdAVF is challenging because of its nonspecific presentation. MRI offers a clue to the diagnosis while spinal angiography confirms the diagnosis and angio-architecture will decide the suitable mode of treatment. Though endovascular treatment is a viable option surgery is the gold standard [14].

RECENT SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS

  • Virtual reality—an innovative tool in medical education
    MP Kapoor, SS Swamiyappan, N Dubey, V Visveswaran
    BMC Medical Education 26 (1), 49 , 2026
    2026
    Citations: 3
  • Decompressive craniectomy following snakebite envenomation: An uncommon manifestation of a common emergency
    H Karnati, K Chendilkumar, SS Swamiyappan, H Sivaji, V Visveswaran
    Journal of Neurosciences in Rural Practice , 2026
    2026
  • Radiological and Biochemical Characteristics of Chronic Subdural Hematoma
    S Adhikesavan, V Krishnaswamy, SS Swamiyappan, V Visvesvaran, ...
    Iranian Journal of Neurosurgery 11, 0-0 , 2025
    2025
  • Long-term outcome of pediatric head injuries–A five-year follow-up
    PS Rao, SS Swamiyappan, SA Puttagunta, R Padmanabhan, ...
    Journal of Neurosciences in Rural Practice 15 (3), 431-435 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 1
  • Traumatic Cranial Nerve Injuries–An Institutional Experience
    SS Swamiyappan, K Visvanathan, SK Kumar, M Naleer, V Vivek, ...
    Interdisciplinary Neurosurgery 36, 101973 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 1
  • Recurrent subdural hematoma: an institutional experience
    SS Swamiyappan, V Krishnaswamy, V Visweswaran, RT Bathala, ...
    Cureus 15 (7) , 2023
    2023
    Citations: 4
  • Biochemical and radiological factors for prognostication of traumatic brain injury: an institutional experience
    SS Swamiyappan, V Visweswaran, RT Bathala, V Krishnaswamy, ...
    Cureus 15 (6) , 2023
    2023
    Citations: 9
  • Labrune Syndrome: A Rare Leukodystrophy
    J Nair, SS Swamiyappan, RT Bathala, J Gupta, KD Nayar, KD Nayar
    Cureus 15 (5) , 2023
    2023
  • Recurrent Subdural Hematoma: An Institutional Experience
    SS Sriram, K Visvanathan, V Vivek, A Sangeetha, BR Tej, K Harsh, ...
    Cureus 15 (7) , 2023
    2023
  • Surgical management of spinal dural arteriovenous fistula–A single centre experience
    KNS Kumar, K Visvanathan, SS Swamiyappan, J Dhanasekaran, ...
    Interdisciplinary Neurosurgery 28, 101500 , 2022
    2022
    Citations: 1

MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS

  • Biochemical and radiological factors for prognostication of traumatic brain injury: an institutional experience
    SS Swamiyappan, V Visweswaran, RT Bathala, V Krishnaswamy, ...
    Cureus 15 (6) , 2023
    2023
    Citations: 9
  • Recurrent subdural hematoma: an institutional experience
    SS Swamiyappan, V Krishnaswamy, V Visweswaran, RT Bathala, ...
    Cureus 15 (7) , 2023
    2023
    Citations: 4
  • Virtual reality—an innovative tool in medical education
    MP Kapoor, SS Swamiyappan, N Dubey, V Visveswaran
    BMC Medical Education 26 (1), 49 , 2026
    2026
    Citations: 3
  • Long-term outcome of pediatric head injuries–A five-year follow-up
    PS Rao, SS Swamiyappan, SA Puttagunta, R Padmanabhan, ...
    Journal of Neurosciences in Rural Practice 15 (3), 431-435 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 1
  • Traumatic Cranial Nerve Injuries–An Institutional Experience
    SS Swamiyappan, K Visvanathan, SK Kumar, M Naleer, V Vivek, ...
    Interdisciplinary Neurosurgery 36, 101973 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 1
  • Surgical management of spinal dural arteriovenous fistula–A single centre experience
    KNS Kumar, K Visvanathan, SS Swamiyappan, J Dhanasekaran, ...
    Interdisciplinary Neurosurgery 28, 101500 , 2022
    2022
    Citations: 1
  • Decompressive craniectomy following snakebite envenomation: An uncommon manifestation of a common emergency
    H Karnati, K Chendilkumar, SS Swamiyappan, H Sivaji, V Visveswaran
    Journal of Neurosciences in Rural Practice , 2026
    2026
  • Radiological and Biochemical Characteristics of Chronic Subdural Hematoma
    S Adhikesavan, V Krishnaswamy, SS Swamiyappan, V Visvesvaran, ...
    Iranian Journal of Neurosurgery 11, 0-0 , 2025
    2025
  • Labrune Syndrome: A Rare Leukodystrophy
    J Nair, SS Swamiyappan, RT Bathala, J Gupta, KD Nayar, KD Nayar
    Cureus 15 (5) , 2023
    2023
  • Recurrent Subdural Hematoma: An Institutional Experience
    SS Sriram, K Visvanathan, V Vivek, A Sangeetha, BR Tej, K Harsh, ...
    Cureus 15 (7) , 2023
    2023