EACTS Annual Review 2022

ANNUAL REVIEW 20 22

As your Secretary General I feel incredibly proud to introduce our annual review for 2022. EACTS has long held an important position in the cardiothoracic community, and I am thrilled that, despite facing some challenging times, we continue to thrive as a member-led association. This report captures some of our Association’s many highlights in 2022. It serves as a snapshot – a record showing that last year we emerged from the global pandemic as a stronger, more agile association. We have extended our reach worldwide by responding to the changing needs of our members and providing new, flexible ways of advancing education and science in the field of cardiac, thoracic and vascular interventions.

Our virtual Academy courses have been welcomed by many members of our community, delivering crucial educational opportunities to all corners of the world regardless of circumstance.

The 36th EACTS Annual Meeting also reinforced the value of meeting in-person and sharing experiences with colleagues face-to-face. Our Task Forces and Domains delivered a first-class scientific programme that brought together global leaders in their field and truly embraced the importance of multi-disciplinary approaches. The two Late Breaking Clinical Trials sessions featuring high-quality submissions encouraged us all to assess and critically appraise the available evidence that could lead to improvements in patient care.

A more diverse EACTS

We have taken a leading role in helping to deliver positive cultural change across the cardiothoracic community. New initiatives to empower more women in cardiothoracic surgery include the well-received webinar series, led by the Women in Cardiothoracic Surgery Committee. I am delighted that not only do we continue to welcome more women members to EACTS but the number of women surgeons attending the EACTS Annual Meeting also increased in 2022.

Our achievements reflect a huge collective effort by EACTS staff and members, including those who volunteer their time to support our Domains and Committees. It is thanks to their hard work that we are able to deliver value to our members whilst continuing to equip the cardiothoracic community with everything we need to achieve better outcomes for our patients.

Special thanks go to Can Gollmann-Tepeköylü for his work chairing the Residents Committee over the past few years. With the support of Resident Representative, Alicja Zientara, Can has been instrumental in raising the profile and influence of our Resident members. His achievements include the launch of the very popular Residents Case Corner, which is now a key online course in our Academy programme.

Finally, I would like to thank our past Secretary General, Rafa Sádaba, who stood down from the role in October 2022. His dedication and commitment to EACTS have been a huge factor in the success of the organisation. His strong leadership guided EACTS through challenging times and ensured we continued to support and deliver value to our members.

I look forward to building on these achievements.

Patrick Myers, Secretary General

OUR COMMUNITY

We are a diverse association made up of over 3,900 active members representing surgical communities in more than 100 countries.

Our global presence has grown, extending well beyond our traditional European roots and we are delighted to welcome more new members from across South America and the Middle East.

We have responded to the changing needs of the cardiothoracic community, introducing a more flexible approach that enables us to reach members anywhere in the world. We acted quickly to support our colleagues in Ukraine, providing vital financial assistance and training opportunities as well as waived membership fees. The impact of this support is clear, with the number of Ukrainian members growing by almost 50%.

A DIVERSE COMMUNITY

Promoting diversity is important to EACTS and we are committed to driving positive cultural change that supports an inclusive membership. Year on year we are pleased to welcome more women members, with a 15% increase in 2022.

LEADERSHIP

2022 saw some exciting and groundbreaking changes to EACTS’ leadership team, as we welcomed new Officers and Councillors to EACTS’ Council.

In October, Patrick Myers became our new Secretary General taking over from Rafa Sádaba. Patrick brings significant experience and knowledge to the position, having previously held several leadership roles within EACTS including Chair of the Acquired Cardiac Disease Domain.

We also welcomed our new President, Patrick Perier, and Vice-President, Franca Melfi. Widely respected amongst the cardiothoracic community, their expertise and experience are invaluable to guide the strategic direction of the Association. Amongst his goals during his tenure as President, Patrick is committed to promoting greater collaboration with developing parts of the world that are underserved in terms of cardiac surgery.

As our first female Vice-President, Franca Melfi represents a paradigm shift for the organisation. Her leadership qualities and pioneering work in robotic surgery are an inspiration to women surgeons around the world. Franca is driven to increase EACTS membership across thoracic surgeons.

New EACTS Council members

Franca Melfi – Vice President

Nabil Hussein – Resident Committee Chair

Rafa Sádaba – Education Committee Chair

Filip Casselman – Acquired Cardiac Disease Domain Chair

OVER 3,900 ACTIVE MEMBERS IN MORE THAN 100 COUNTRIES

WE ARE COMMITTED TO DRIVING POSITIVE CULTURAL CHANGE increase in women members

15%

Robust governance

Our domains, task forces and committees work hard to ensure we are addressing the most prevalent and important topics in cardiothoracic surgery across all strands of our activities. For example, we established two task forces in 2022 - the Robotic Surgery Task Force and Aviation Medicine and Cardiac Surgery Task Force – to ensure we stay up to date and fully engaged in all new and emerging evidence and techniques in robotic surgery and aviation medicine and identify specific training requirements that will benefit our members and their patients.

We introduced new governance processes, including a formal nomination procedure and enhanced structure, to enable more members to take an active role in our domains and task forces, increasing the diversity of these memberled groups and encouraging greater inclusivity.

New terms of references have also been implemented to give domain and task force members a better understanding of their roles and responsibilities. Importantly, these changes mean that members who volunteer their time to support EACTS can focus on making the strategic decisions that are critical to driving the organisation forward.

A stronger executive team

Over the past 12 months EACTS has undergone a period of reorganisation which includes growing and strengthening our executive team. In addition to welcoming new team members, we have devolved more of the day-to-day running of the organisation to the Windsor-based team, with clear responsibilities and areas of work to ensure we are well placed to meet the needs of members and provide critical support to our leadership, committees, domains and task forces.

Growing + Strengthening

Our domains, task forces and committees work hard to ensure we are addressing the most prevalent and important topics in cardiothoracic surgery

EXECUTIVE TEAM

Valued industry partners

Our industry partners are a valued part of our community. Thanks to their ongoing support in 2022 we were able to provide EACTS members with new and exciting opportunities through the Academy programme, Francis Fontan Fellowship Fund and the EACTS Annual Meeting

Collaboration

In the interests of our members and the patients they serve, EACTS is always proactively seeking new and supporting existing opportunities to collaborate with sister societies and associations. Recent collaborations have included our crucial partnership with the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) on the joint ESC/EACTS review of the 2018 guideline recommendations on the revascularisation of left main coronary artery disease.

We have also recently strengthened our longstanding relationship with the European Society of Thoracic Surgery (ESTS), liaising on shared goals and working towards joint ventures. In the year ahead this will see the establishment of a joint, EACTS/ESTS thoracic guidelines task force, further shared educational output including joint webinars and excitingly, the prospect of a combined European, thoracic examination structure. Our appetite for partnership extends beyond our European borders of course, and our longstanding associations with the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) and the American Association of Thoracic Surgeons (AATS) continue to blossom.

Over the past year we have worked with the Biomedical Alliance, an organisation which represents 36 European medical societies, to influence policy across Europe for the improvement of patient outcomes. This includes supporting calls for further action to prevent a shortage of essential medical devices following the implementation of the new EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR).

THE SOCIETY OF THORACIC SURGEONS

THE EUROPEAN SOCIETY OF THORACIC SURGEONS

EUROPEAN SOCIETY OF CARDIOLOGY

EACTS is always proactively seeking new and supporting existing opportunities to collaborate with sister societies and associations

OUR INDUSTRY PARTNERS ARE A VALUED PART OF OUR COMMUNITY

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THORACIC SURGERY

EDUCATION

In 2022 we provided surgical communities around the world with unrivalled opportunities to develop skills and knowledge, and gain valuable hands-on experience to support the delivery of high-quality care and improve patient outcomes.

Through our Domains and Committees, we addressed the most prevalent and important topics in cardiothoracic surgery to meet the training needs of our members. Over the past 12 months we added a number of successful courses to our Academy calendar, introduced more Fellowships and delivered a high-quality scientific programme at the 36th EACTS Annual Meeting in Milan.

THE 36TH EACTS ANNUAL MEETING

Colleagues from 66 countries submitted over 1,000 abstracts, a 60% increase on the previous year

Showcasing the latest science, innovation and research

Almost 5,000 participants from 99 countries came together in October to attend the 36th EACTS Annual Meeting in Milan. Widely recognised as the leading event for the cardiothoracic community, the Annual Meeting did not disappoint.

The four-day meeting provided many opportunities for participants to engage in rigorous debate and analysis alongside global experts in their field. The high-quality scientific programme included 150 focus and abstract sessions showcasing the latest research, innovations and technologies in cardiothoracic surgery.

The Annual Meeting’s reputation for cutting edge science was reinforced in 2022. Colleagues from 66 countries submitted over 1,000 abstracts, a 60% increase on the previous year. In addition, due to the high number of outstanding late breaking clinical trial abstract submissions, the 36th EACTS Annual Meeting featured

two Late Breaking Clinical Trials sessions reporting the results and data from studies designed to make further improvements in outcomes for patients.

Our innovative Techno-College programme highlighting technological breakthroughs in cardiovascular and thoracic surgery proved extremely popular. Over 850 participants attended the full day programme to learn the appropriate use of new cardiovascular and cardiothoracic techniques through stimulating presentations, live surgeries and live in a box cases.

Over 850 participants attended the full day programme to learn the appropriate use of new cardiovascular and cardiothoracic techniques through stimulating presentations, live surgeries and live in a box cases.

TECHNOCOLLEGE

THE 36TH EACTS ANNUAL MEETING IN

NUMBERS

4764

ANNUAL MEETING PARTICIPANTS

893

PARTICIPANTS AT TECHNO-COLLEGE

26% WOMEN

“

I am so pleased to travel all the way from Columbia - it was a seventeen hour flight - because this is one of the largest meetings in the world. It’s my first time and I am very very excited to be here. I have been meeting incredible people here; all the Masters and the people that are admired in cardiovascular surgery are here.”

Lorena Montes, Colombia

99 COUNTRIES

150 SESSIONS

“The EACTS Annual Meeting is one of the biggest events for the cardiothoracic community in the world. Milan is not far from Egypt and is a lot closer than going to the United States meetings. It covers all aspects of cardiac surgery so it’s a good way to keep on top of the subject.”

Mohammed Elfiky, Egypt

WHAT DELEGATES SAY ABOUT THE 36TH EACTS ANNUAL MEETING

EACTS ACADEMY

Developing skills and knowledge with a flexible programme

2022 marked a successful year for the EACTS Academy as we continue to grow our education programme, offering more courses and opportunities to learn from renowned experts. Over 1,000 members of the surgical community attended an Academy course over the past 12 months, with some courses selling out due to high demand. We made a welcome return to in-person learning in response to growing interest from our members. For the first time since the COVID pandemic, course attendees were able to gain valuable hands-on experiences and benefit from face-toface interaction.

THE

OVER

However, it is crucial that our courses remain available to everyone regardless of location and circumstance and that’s why we continue to offer remote learning. The flexibility of online learning enables EACTS to extend our global reach to parts of the world with limited educational opportunities. Over the past 12 months our virtual Academy courses have attracted delegates from 46 different countries, including Africa and the Middle East. Feedback from delegates was overwhelmingly positive, with courses consistently receiving high rates of satisfaction and unanimous agreement that the Academy programme offers good value for money.

PROGRAMME IN NUMBERS*

75 COUNTRIES REGISTERED DELEGATES

1000

67% NON-MEMBER

EXPANDING THE ACADEMY PROGRAMME

Across all four domains we regularly review the Academy programme to ensure we are addressing the latest research, techniques and innovations that have the potential to improve patient outcomes. The Vascular Disease Domain held its first four-part webinar series and the Thoracic Disease Domain added a number of new interactive webinars.

Recognising the benefits of a case-based education, the Residents Committee introduced regular online Case Corner sessions which provide a fantastic opportunity for residents and young surgeons to discuss and debate complex cases with fellow residents and a panel of renown specialists. The format is designed to improve the clinical experience; supporting clinical skills in diagnosis and decision making in cases, backed by clear scientific evidence. Feedback to date has been exceptional.

33% EACTS MEMBERS

DID THIS CASE CORNER SESSION MEET YOUR EXPECTATIONS?

WOULD YOU ATTEND ANOTHER CASE CORNER SESSION THIS YEAR?

WILL YOU RECOMMEND THE CASE CORNER SESSIONS TO A FRIEND OR COLLEAGUE?

3 SOLD-OUT COURSES

said yes

100% said yes said yes EACTS / ANNUAL REVIEW 2022 11

Feedback from participants who completed the evaluation

“Great idea!!! Perfect for young residents, open space to discuss cases without having the feeling of asking ‘stupid’ questions”

ACADEMY

WHAT DELEGATES SAY Feedback on the Case Corner sessions

virtual and in-person delegates

MAKING AN IMPACT

ABOUT EACTS ACADEMY

Education is at the heart of EACTS’ work. Our education programmes offer meaningful learning opportunities for surgeons around the globe to enhance skills and expertise in order to improve clinical practice and outcomes for patients. Through the EACTS Academy our members benefit from access to world leading surgeons and education. Whether a trainee or established surgeon, our high-quality education offers the right course at the right time to support career development.

Find out more

www.eacts.org/educational-events/academy

Christian Heim, Managing Senior Physician

and Deputy Clinic

Director,

Cardiac Surgery Clinic at the

Friedrich Alexander University ErlangenNuremberg describes how drylab training through the EACTS Academy gave him the specialist skills and confidence to introduce an endoscopic mitral valve programme to his department.

In order to start a new MICS programme in my department it was necessary to advance my surgical education. To develop the specialist skills and knowledge required for this complex procedure I registered for the EACTS Academy Endoscopic PortAccess Mitral Valve Repair Drylab Training. The course was an extremely valuable learning experience, teaching all the defined stages of minimally invasive mitral valve surgery.

Courses offered by EACTS Academy, such as the drylab training, are incredibly useful for enhancing our clinical practice and critical for our ongoing professional development. As a result of this training and through the support of the mentor-mentee relationship we were able to facilitate the safe and effective startup of a MICS programme in a busy university heart centre.

EACTS CASE STUDY

Raising Standards through Education and Training

EUROPEAN BOARD OF CARDIOTHORACIC SURGERY (EBCTS)

Driving high standards in cardiothoracic surgery

After pioneering the use of a remotely proctored system for the membership examination over the past couple of years, EBCTS moved away from online examinations in 2022 to deliver Level 1 Membership of the European Board of Cardiothoracic Surgery (MEBCTS) examinations in recognised test centres for the first time, including centres in Istanbul, Berlin, Riyadh, London, Zurich and Madrid. Forty-seven candidates sat the exam with a pass rate of 21%. These examinations are set at a high standard to ensure the highest quality of care for patients. The pass mark for the MEBCTS and FEBCTS examinations is calculated by running a standard setting exercise, using the Angoff Scoring method, in the days or weeks ahead of the examination.

THE FRANCIS FONTAN FUND

A unique learning opportunity

The prestigious Francis Fontan Fund (FFF) offers young surgeons the chance to learn and gain experience from experts who deliver the highest standards of cardiothoracic care across the world, providing access to outstanding courses, clinical proctorship with surgical leaders and residential training.

CREATING A GLOBAL CARDIOTHORACIC COMMUNITY

Demand for the FFF Fellowships has never been greater. The 2022-23 scheme received an unprecedented number of high-quality applications - an increase of 80% in applications received compared to 2021. This is testament to the programme’s prestigious reputation across the cardiothoracic community. Thirty cardiothoracic surgeons were selected for the 2022-23 programme.

We increased our investment in the Fund which enabled us to expand the programme to include six new fellowships which support the development of skills in areas such as clinical trials and statistics and robotic surgery. The 2022-23 FFF included 14 fellowship programmes.

NEW FELLOWSHIPS INTRODUCED IN 2022

• OPCAB Extended

• Robotic Surgery - Cardiac

• TSF/FFF/LACES Travelling

• VATS

• Clinical Trials & Statistics

• Ukrainian Support

THE GLOBAL IMPACT OF THE FRANCIS FONTAN FELLOWSHIPS

Valeria Iturriaga

Cardiac surgeon, Hospital de Especialidades Pediatrico

León, Mexico

Fellowship: Aortic Root and Valve Repair

“I work in a small hospital where I am the only cardiac surgeon. The Aortic Root and Valve Repair Fellowship provided an invaluable opportunity to visit different hospitals and learn more about the different techniques that are used by fantastic surgeons who are experts in aortic valve repair. The experience not only reinforced my existing knowledge but has given me confidence to apply these techniques in my own department.”

ABOUT THE FRANCIS FONTAN FUND

Polina Danchenko

Amosov Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery

AMS of Ukraine, Kiev

Fellowship: Ukrainian Support

“The Department of Cardiovascular Surgery at Hospital Clínic de Barcelona does all kinds of surgical procedures and interventions, including minimally invasive and robotic surgery. This allows me to see the full spectrum of cardiac surgery interventions.

“For a trainee resident like me, it’s a perfect setting to see the whole of cardiac surgery whilst being mentored and trained by specialists. I will take this knowledge back to my clinic in Ukraine to help other residents who are in need of education and training. The war has limited the chances for young fellows so the techniques and learnings that I am bringing back home will be very valuable.”

The prestigious Francis Fontan Fund offers young surgeons an exciting opportunity to advance their surgical education and learn from the highest standards of cardiothoracic care across the world at some of the most prestigious institutions around the world.

MMCTS

A valuable online reference

MMCTS continues to grow as a valuable online resource for residents and experienced surgeons alike. Over the last 12 months we have published 44 video-based tutorials and 25 case reports across the field of cardiovascular and thoracic surgery.

“MMCTS is an important resource and a stimulus for Residents because it allows us to directly update ourselves on surgical skills and interventions.”

Veronica Lorenz, winner of the MMCTS Resident’s Tutorial Competition 2022

IN 2022 WE PROVIDED SURGICAL COMMUNITIES AROUND THE WORLD WITH UNRIVALLED OPPORTUNITIES TO DEVELOP SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

INFORMING PRACTICE

Through the development of new practice guidelines and supporting research excellence, EACTS has played an active and influential role over the past year to inform clinical practice and improve patient outcomes.

DRIVING QUALITY IMPROVEMENT

Over 70 centres have contributed scientific data to the European Registry for Patients with Mechanical Circulatory Support (EUROMACS) relating to almost 4,500 individual patients receiving mechanical circulatory support. As outlined in the EUROMACS 3rd report, published in July 2022, ‘in its 10 years of existence, EUROMACS has become a point of reference enabling benchmarking and outcome monitoring’.

In the past 12 months EUROMACS datasets have contributed to over 40 published research studies, including ‘The impact of preoperative mitral regurgitation on LVAD patients’. This study, which was also presented at the Late Breaking Clinical Trials session at the 36th EACTS Annual Meeting, could have an impact on the surgical approach to mitral valve repair in LVAD patients and trigger further studies.

IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS EUROMACS DATASETS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO OVER 40 PUBLISHED RESEARCH STUDIES

In October 2022, Dr Edgar Daeter was appointed Chair of the QUIP committee to drive the programme forward. The role includes updating the QUIP strategy and bringing together database experts from across Europe.

We reinstated the Adult Cardiac Database (ACD) Task Force to support the delivery of a new and improved database. The Adult Cardiac Database is an important platform and benchmarking tool and we are working hard to find a new host and software solution that will provide participating centres with a seamless transition to an advanced application. New members of the Task Force include representatives from leading European National Society databases, bringing their collective experiences and expertise of running well-established registries for the purpose of quality improvement in cardiac surgery.

“The volume of MCS procedures carried out across Europe is the largest in the world. As a result, EUROMACS is an extremely significant registry. What makes EUROMACS data so unique is not just the number of cases but also the variety of devices adopted.

“Policlinico Sant’Orsola-Malpighi has been part of the EUROMACS registry for several years and it is both a privilege and opportunity to be involved. It’s important for our reputation and also for our visibility within the cardiothoracic community.”

Dr. Antonio Loforte, S’Orsola University Hospital, IRCCS Bologna, Italy

QUIP IN NUMBERS

250,000 70 SURGICAL PROCEDURES CONTRIBUTING CENTRES

COUNTRIES CONTRIBUTING TO THE ADULT CARDIAC DATABASE

PROMOTING RESEARCH AND INNOVATION

The impact of our journals - the European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EJCTS) and Interdisciplinary Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery (ICVTS) – has increased year on year in recognition of the high-quality peer reviewed content published by both publications.

EJCTS

The quality and influence of articles published in EJCTS throughout 2021 resulted in an impact factor score of 4.534, a 0.9 increase from the previous year. EJCTS attracts over one million article views each year. Highly cited articles included EACTS/ESC guidelines on myocardial revascularisation.

Over 2,290 submissions were received by EJCTS last year from over 60 countries worldwide. Geographic diversity is also reflected in the journal’s editorial board, with members from Europe as well as China, Japan and the USA. The editors in chiefs, supported by the EACTS publications team, strive for a diverse editorial team with a strong focus on improving the gender balance of our editorial boards.

ICVTS

Improving outcomes for patients requires a multidisciplinary team effort which is why, in 2022, we took the decision to change the focus of ICVTS and publish highly innovative, interdisciplinary research in order to encourage greater collaboration across multidisciplinary teams in cardiac, thoracic and vascular surgery. The journal relaunched as Interdisciplinary CardioVascular and Thoracic Surgery in early 2023.

The journal’s impact factor also rose last year, reaching 1.978, with highly cited articles such as ‘Aortic dissection reconsidered: type, entry site, malperfusion classification adding clarity and enabling outcome prediction’.

CRITICALLY APPRAISING CLINICAL TRIALS

The outstanding quality of submissions in 2022 meant we ran two Late Breaking Clinical Trials sessions, reinforcing the EACTS Annual Meeting as a key event in the calendar for the cardiothoracic community.

Delegates had the opportunity to assess and critically appraise the latest data from over 12 studies designed to further improve outcomes for patients. This included:

• the results of CAST-HF, a potentially practice changing prospective randomised controlled trial exploring shockwave therapy in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy.

• and the preliminary first in human trials results of the Excimer Laser Assisted Non-Occlusive Anastomosis, a robotic device which aims to improve coronary artery bypass grafting.

The 36th EACTS Annual Meeting was the place to be to find out more about the latest clinical trials.

A POSITIVE IMPACT ON PATIENT CARE

Over the past 12 months the Clinical Practice Guidelines Committee has worked in collaboration with organisations around the world to develop expert documents and rigorously review and appraise the latest guidelines on areas such as Coronary Artery Revascularisation, providing recommendations to support the delivery of high-quality patient care.

Working jointly with LACES, ASCVTS, AATS, and STS, we issued a position statement regarding the VARC-3 Definitions for Aortic Valve Clinical Research. Our statement identified areas of concern in the VARC-3 document and proposed a way forward to further improve the proposed definitions, including the development of a new set of definitions. This represented the first joint position statement bringing together the five major international surgical associations.

We also responded to the 2021 American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology/Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions Coronary Artery Revascularisation guidelines, calling for greater involvement of the whole heart team in the development of the guidelines.

EACTS Statement regarding 2021 AHA/ACC/SCAI Coronary Artery Revascularization Guidelines

Joint Surgical Associations Position Statement regarding VARC-3 Definitions

Consensus Statement on Optimal Management of Patients with CAT

OUR STATEMENT IDENTIFIED AREAS OF CONCERN IN THE VARC-3 DOCUMENT WHICH REQUIRE CLARITY AND IMPROVEMENT

04 INNOVATION

Some of the most pioneering innovations and new concepts in cardiothoracic surgery were showcased at Techno-College at the 36th EACTS Annual Meeting, providing a valuable opportunity to demonstrate technological breakthroughs and the latest techniques that have the potential to improve patient outcomes.

Innovation featured strongly in the scientific programme at the 36th EACTS Annual Meeting and was the main theme of the Presidential Address. In his widely anticipated Presidential Address, Friedhelm Beyersdorf, highlighted the importance of innovation in cardiothoracic surgery and urged today’s surgeons to take a bolder approach in the development of new technologies and techniques in order to improve outcomes for patients, and use our expertise to develop entirely new and disruptive fields.

GETTING INNOVATION INTO PRACTICE

The 2022 recipient of the Techno-College Innovation Award was recognised for taking an innovative approach to improving treatment for patients in need of mechanical circulatory support (MCS). Francesco Pollari developed the MIC Cannula, an intravascular cannula for arterial perfusion of the human body which allows a more natural and physiological arterial perfusion of patients needing MCS, whilst reducing invasiveness at the same time.

The exposure and endorsement provided by the TechnoCollege Innovation Award has been invaluable to past winners. In 2021, Hazem Fallouh, a thoracic surgeon at University Hospitals Birmingham, was recognised for his innovative pericardial device to monitor cardiac output and diagnose tamponade in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Over the past 12 months he has been working with the University Hospitals Birmingham and Professor Tom Clutton-Brock, MBE, a retired cardiac anaesthetist and a medical device expert from his work with the National Institute for Clinical Excellence, to build the prototype and he is also collaborating with the University of Sheffield to perform the necessary trials.

“ I am delighted to win the Techno-College Innovation Award. There is no better platform to showcase this device and seek opportunities to collaborate and partner with medical professionals and industry representatives. I am confident that the MIC Cannula has the potential to improve treatment for patients and I look forward to progressing this innovation further.”

Francesco Pollari, Italy

With two exciting Techno-College programmes featuring innovations in cardiovascular and thoracic surgery, delegates were able to learn more about new endovascular and interventional techniques and robotic segmentectomy and RATS segmentectomy.

FRIEDHELM BEYERSDORF

LEVERAGING INNOVATION

In 2022 we introduced two task forces – the Robotic Surgery Task Force and the Aviation Medicine and Cardiac Surgery Task Force.

The Robotic Surgery Task Force, chaired by Wouter Oosterlinck, supports the integration of robotics more widely for the benefit of patients around the world by advancing education in this area and providing more training opportunities in robotic procedures. As part of the 2022-23 Francis Fontan Fellowship Programme, we launched the first Robotics Surgery – Cardiac Fellowship, providing a young cardiothoracic surgeon with the opportunity to acquire both theoretical and practical skills in robotic surgery.

The Aviation Medicine and Cardiac Surgery Task Force, chaired by Thomas Syburra, was created to lead, advise and support EACTS activities in all matters concerned with aviation medicine and cardiac surgery including educational output, research and training and Guidelines

MANFRED MUELLER

Of special note, in July 2022 at a specially convened strategy meeting of the EACTS Council, the Association embarked upon a unique ‘drive for innovation’ that will culminate, in the inaugural ‘EACTS Innovation Summit’ in April 2023. Led by Past Presidents, Friedhelm Beyersdorf and Mark Hazekamp, the Summit brings together engineers, scientists and surgeons, as well as

and ensures EACTS stays up to date and fully engaged in all new and emerging evidence and technologies in aviation medicine as it pertains to cardiac surgery. The task force brings the cardiothoracic community and the aviation industry together to help pilots fly safely after cardiac surgery, leveraging the knowledge and expertise of other disciplines to improve patient outcomes.

The importance of this approach was reinforced by Manfred Mueller, keynote speaker at the 36th EACTS Annual Meeting. His address explored how knowledge and insights about flight safety from the aviation world can be shared and implemented into the medical world for the benefit of patients.

industry leaders, politicians and EU MDR officials in a facilitated interactive working symposium to discuss new developments and the latest thinking on all forms of scientific progress that may help to improve the care for cardiothoracic surgical patients.

SOME OF THE MOST PIONEERING INNOVATIONS AND NEW CONCEPTS IN CARDIOTHORACIC SURGERY WERE SHOWCASED AT THE 36TH EACTS ANNUAL MEETING

05 DIVERSITY

Supporting positive cultural change has always been important to EACTS and over the past 12 months we have stepped up our work to promote diversity and inclusion in the cardiothoracic community. This includes launching new initiatives to empower women surgeons.

We carried out new research exploring the impact of gender bias in cardiothoracic surgery in Europe. The joint survey with ESTS (European Society of Thoracic Surgeons), representing a snapshot of the members of the two societies, revealed that over a third of women cardiothoracic surgeons have considered leaving surgery

because of gender discrimination. In addition, more women surgeons reported feeling less valued in their current work environment compared to men and have lower career satisfaction.

THE

IMPACT OF GENDER BIAS ON A CARDIOTHORACIC SURGERY CAREER. A JOINT SURVEY BY EACTS AND ESTS (EUROPEAN SOCIETY OF THORACIC SURGEONS)

36% female 64% male

CHANGING THE FACE OF LEADERSHIP

The Women in Cardiothoracic Surgery Committee (WiCTS) enhanced education and development opportunities for women surgeons with the launch of a thought-provoking webinar series, focused on leadership and inclusion. The series ‘the changing face of leadership: moving from diversity to inclusion’ blends theory with practical information from experts and guest speakers with discussions on the changing face of leadership and women’s challenges and roles in the current landscape.

The webinar series has been well received by attendees, who report a positive influence in their workspace.

A third of women cardiothoracic surgeons have considered leaving surgery because of gender discrimination

44% of women surgeons report postponing having children compared to 14% of men

A POSITIVE RESPONSE TO THE WICTS WEBINAR SERIES

94% EACTS / ANNUAL REVIEW 2022 25

OF PARTICIPANTS FOUND THE WEBINAR INFORMATIVE

OF PARTICIPANTS AGREED THAT THE WEBINAR CONTRIBUTED TO THEIR LEARNING ABOUT DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

1,118 cardiothoracic surgeons participated in the survey

WHAT PARTICIPANTS SAY ABOUT THE WICTS WEBINAR SERIES

“The WiCTS webinar about leadership at work is a wonderful opportunity to go beyond our surgical profession and at the same time learn fundamental skills that are an absolute must to progress in our job. The focus lays on daily communication, perception of your team and individual career planning moderated and delivered by speakers who are experts in their field. The 90-minute sessions were an opportunity to get in touch with the very interesting panel and moderators and also discuss, for instance, different styles of negotiation in smaller groups. After a few sessions we already created a WiCTS webinar community, and noone wants to miss the next session.”

Alicja Zientara, Germany

“The webinar series offered a yet unheard-of opportunity to broaden our skillset as the future of cardiothoracic surgeons. The topics discussed were relevant for every aspect of our daily work. They were based upon experiences others have gained in the past and the great scientific background that has arisen from it.”

The Committee also held an empowering workshop at the 36th EACTS Annual Meeting, inclusive to both men and women surgeons, which discussed various ways of practicing personal power and learnt how to consciously use body and spoken language to present themselves in a more powerful way.

At the Annual Meeting we demonstrated our commitment to delivering an inclusive scientific programme that provided more opportunities for women surgeons to take on key roles such as chairs, panelists, and moderators. We were delighted to welcome more women to the 36th EACTS Annual Meeting, accounting for over 25% of overall attendance figures.

+25% WOMEN

at the 36th EACTS Annual Meeting

Fatma Ashkanani, Kuwait

SUPPORTING POSITIVE CULTURAL CHANGE HAS ALWAYS BEEN IMPORTANT TO EACTS AND OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS WE HAVE STEPPED UP OUR WORK TO PROMOTE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN THE CARDIOTHORACIC COMMUNITY

06 LOOKING AHEAD

After a significant period of restructuring and strengthening EACTS, 2023 is set to be one of the most significant periods in our 37-year history. With strong governance systems now in place alongside an enhanced domain and task force structure and an excellent executive team in Windsor, we can move forward with our mission to achieve better outcomes for patients.

DELIVERING VALUE

It is important that we deliver relevant, high-quality services for both the surgical and non-surgical community and engage with the widest geographical need. We will explore new and improved ways of communicating, building on existing channels and recent initiatives such as the launch of the EACTS’ podcast and the WiCTS webinar series. We are also developing a new website that will house the very best in cardiothoracic content.

World-leading education

The EACTS’ Academy programme has a strong reputation for delivering high quality education. In 2023 we are providing more opportunities to gain valuable hands-on training and critical skills and knowledge.

We have invested in new technology which enables us to run many courses in a hybrid format, offering greater flexibility and accessibility to participants so our courses remain available to everyone regardless of location and circumstance.

We are focused on delivering a compelling educational curriculum, ensuring we continue to address the right topics and meet the learning and development needs of our members.

An association of surgery

Early in 2023 we relaunched ICVTS to become Interdisciplinary CardioVascular and Thoracic Surgery. This important change will see the journal focus on highly innovative, interdisciplinary research that directly impacts surgical practice and will encourage collaboration across multidisciplinary teams in cardiac, thoracic and vascular surgery.

Patients who have undergone heart surgery are increasingly supported by a multidisciplinary team from surgeons and nurses to anaesthetists and perfusionists. We must therefore demonstrate the importance and relevance of EACTS to the whole heart team, giving an appropriately strong voice to Allied Health Professionals at the Annual Meeting and providing the right educational courses as part of the Academy programme. We want to be recognised as an association for surgery not just surgeons.

Quality Improvement

Clinical practice guidelines have a huge impact on patient care, and we have taken the strategic decision to enhance our work in this area. To demonstrate our commitment, we have appointed Milan Milojevic, former Chair of the Guidelines Task Force, as Clinical Practice Guidelines Director and a new Programme Manager.

Driving new innovation

Cardiothoracic care will undoubtedly look different in 20 years and we need to consider our role in supporting new ways to improve patient outcomes.

We are exploring how we can provide meaningful help to innovators across cardiothoracic surgery and help drive new technologies. In April we will bring together world leaders from the surgical, research and associated academic specialities convene to explore, shape and plan the new future of cardiothoracic surgical intervention for the first EACTS Innovation Summit. This ‘invitationonly’ two-day event is a fantastic opportunity to scan and plan the horizon of future cardiothoracic technologies and treatments and explore our own role in harnessing innovation to improve patient outcomes in the future.

A bright future

EACTS is changing for the better. The recent election of our first woman Vice-President signals the direction in which we are heading, becoming a more diverse, modern association that is well-placed to meet the changing needs of our members. Over the coming months we will launch our new brand and updated mission that will mark a new dawn for EACTS. I am excited for our future.

Brendan Eley, Chief Executive

We are driven by the needs of our members and our commitment to deliver excellent value for money. We want to serve our members in the best way possible, which is why we are undertaking a comprehensive review of our membership offer.