EACTS News | Spring 2026

NEWS

THE QUARTERLY PUBLICATION FOR EACTS MEMBERS

HONOURING OUR HISTORY, INSPIRING OUR FUTURE ISSUE

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SPRING 2026

IN THIS ISSUE 2: Member survey results 4: EUROMACS V2 now available 5: European cardiac societies come together for the National Cardiac Surgery Societies Summit

6: Preparations for the 40th EACTS Annual Meeting 15: A new Academy course focused on cardiac intensive care 17: Fellowship recipients announced

EACTS NEWS

MEMBERSHIP

EACTS SURVEY REVEALS HIGH MEMBER SATISFACTION Nine out of ten members believe their EACTS membership delivers good value, according to the findings of the latest EACTS member survey. In a resounding endorsement for the association, almost all current members (98%) plan to renew their membership this year, and 95% are likely to recommend EACTS to a colleague.

The results are testament to the high-quality benefits available to members including exclusive rates for the EACTS Academy programme, free access to scientific resources and networking opportunities. Over three-quarters of members take advantage of member discounts for the EACTS Annual Meeting and Academy courses and over half regularly access EJCTS.

More people are recognising the value of EACTS membership and joining our community of over 4,000 members. Over half of non-members who responded to the survey stated their intention to join EACTS in the next 12 months.

We encourage you to spread the word to colleagues that EACTS is for everyone within the global cardiothoracic community.

Thank you to everyone who took part in the survey!

Are your details correct?

Take a moment to check your personal information is up to date in the EACTS user area. Accurate information helps us ensure you receive all registration emails, display your name correctly on certificates and inform you about upcoming activities aligned with your interests and membership.

*respondents could select multiple responses

If you need to update your name or email address, please email membership@eacts.co.uk with the new details.

Membership renewal Annual membership expires on 31 March 2026. To continue benefiting from your EACTS membership, look out for the renewal request which arrived in your inbox in early March.

Become a member of EACTS today

INNOVATION

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IDEAS AND INNOVATION IN PARIS THE 4TH EACTS INNOVATION SUMMIT Next month, leading innovators, surgeons, researchers, scientists and entrepreneurs will convene in Paris for the 4th EACTS Innovation Summit. Friedhelm Beyersdorf looks ahead to the meeting.

Innovation is fundamental to the development of cardiothoracic surgery and patient care. EACTS has long championed innovative thinking through important initiatives such as the Innovation Summit, which brings together leaders from different specialties to discuss new developments and emerging concepts across cardiothoracic surgery.

The programme for the 4th EACTS Innovation Summit has been carefully designed to balance visionary thinking with practical application. Experts in their fields will chart progress across the six priority areas identified by the Innovation Committee followed by abstract presentations showcasing the latest disruptive ideas that have the potential to transform patient outcomes.

AI features prominently across the programme, reflecting its accelerating role in clinical practice and research. Two dedicated sessions address the growing power of AI in cardiothoracic surgery and AI-driven robotic cardiac surgery.

We will discuss the power of startups, gaining insights from a patent attorney on the importance of intellectual property protection in disruptive innovation, and learn more about the challenges and pitfalls of founding a medical startup.

A keynote from the European Space Agency (ESA), "Future of Medicine: From Space Health to Earth Innovation", delivered by Aditi Sathe, System Engineer – Post Launch Support, ATG Europe will highlight how innovation in one domain drives transformation in another.

A milestone year This year marks a record milestone since the Summit launched in 2022, with nearly 90 abstract submissions received - an 18% increase compared to last year - of which 19 have been selected for presentation following rigorous review. This year's programme gives significant space for abstract presentations, showcasing the fantastic work of emerging innovators.

INNOVATION SUMMIT

A major new addition this year are the Innovation Demo Rooms, dedicated spaces where innovative products and concepts will be showcased. Three simulation projects will be demonstrated, allowing attendees to engage directly with emerging technologies in a hands-on setting.

The EACTS Innovation Summit provides a forum for discussion and exchange. Over two days, attendees remain in constant dialogue — sharing ideas, challenging assumptions and forming collaborations that extend well beyond the meeting itself.

Although currently an invite-only event, the structure of the meeting is expected to evolve in 2027, reflecting the interest and innovative thinking across the cardiothoracic community.

With record abstract submissions, new interactive features and a programme that spans space medicine to startup strategy, the 4th EACTS Innovation Summit promises to be a fascinating exploration of innovation and ideas.

Priority areas • Artificial Intelligence for CT surgery • Cardiopulmonary bypass, ECLS and MCS • Perioperative cellular protection and single- and multi-organ repair • Heart valve of the future • Lymphatics and glymphatics in CT surgery • The future of robotic surgery • A "wild card" category ensured that high-quality disruptive ideas outside predefined themes were not excluded.

An overview of the abstract presentations featured at the 4th Innovation Summit will be available in the Summer issue of EACTS News.

EACTS NEWS

QUIP

EUROMACS V2 ENHANCING DATA QUALITY Important upgrades have been made to the European Registry for Patients with Mechanical Circulatory Support (EUROMACS) to ensure the database continues to serve the scientific community effectively and support improvements to clinical outcomes.

The revisions introduce an updated EUROMACS data dictionary that incorporates the Updated Definitions of Adverse Events for Trials and Registries of Mechanical Circulatory Support1 and expands data granularity across the registry for temporary mechanical circulatory support.

Redundant variables have been removed to improve overall data quality and ensure users receive more complete and reliable data sets. These updates help keep the registry aligned with international standards and fully fit for purpose.

The user experience has also been strengthened, with data uploads now far simpler thanks to streamlined, direct data‑entry forms.

of heart failure who have undergone durable mechanical circulatory support procedures.

Currently, over 60 centres contribute procedural updates and scientific data for patients receiving durable MCS. The anonymous data is available for research purposes, focusing on outcomes in patients receiving mechanical circulatory support including survival rates, complications and factors that predict patient outcomes. The data are also used to compare different devices and treatment strategies and to study how hospital practices or patient characteristics influence results in advanced heart failure care. To date, data from EUROMACS have been used in over 90 research studies of which 60 have been published.

Felix Schoenrath, EUROMACS Task Force Chair, said, "EUROMACS is a valuable point of reference enabling research and outcome monitoring with over 10,200 baseline records and 93,356 follow-up records. The more centres that join EUROMACS and the Adult Cardiac Database, the richer the data that can inform clinical practice and improve patient care."

EUROMACS offers the tools to collect clinical procedural updates and scientific data for patients in advanced stages

All existing data have been mapped to the new data dictionary format and users are able to upload new records according to the upgraded data dictionary. The full specifications of the new version of the data dictionary are outlined here.

EACTS MEMBERS GIVE THE ACD A THUMBS UP

SUBMIT YOUR DATA

A fantastic benefit for EACTS members is free access to the Adult Cardiac Database. The database analyses and benchmarks cardiac surgical data on an international scale, giving surgical teams the advanced data tools and insights to continually improve outcomes for patients.

In the recent member survey 81% of ACD users rated the database good on sign-up, visually appealing & easy to use.

1. Established by a consensus statement of the mechanical circulatory support academic research consortium.

Hospitals, EACTS members and researchers interested in advancing cardiac care through data-driven improvement are encouraged to register their interest in the ACD and EUROMACS via the EACTS website.

CORPORATE

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NATIONAL CARDIAC SURGERY SOCIETIES SUMMIT Working together to tackle common challenges Representatives from national cardiac societies across Europe joined a special meeting in November to learn more about EACTS’s work and discuss the issues facing their associations.

Commenting on the success of the meeting, past EACTS President, Volkmar Falk, said, "It's clear from the lively discussions that took place that we will hold this event again.

I encourage every national society to engage with EACTS because I think it is important to keep this dialogue going.”

Organised by EACTS to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and expertise, the National Cardiac Surgery Societies Summit spanned two days of presentations showcasing how EACTS supports the cardiothoracic community through education, the Annual Meeting, guideline development and quality improvement databases.

An interactive workshop on the second day gave representatives the opportunity to talk through current challenges and explore how societies can work together to find solutions.

Dina De Bock from the Belgian Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery said, "Currently, as a national society, our biggest challenge is education. So, all the information I can get from other countries and from EACTS is useful to build our national training for future cardiac surgeons."

National Societies at the Summit • Austrian Society of Cardiac and Thoracic Vascular Surgery

• Norwegian Association for Cardiothoracic Surgery

• Belgian Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery

• Polish Society of Cardiothoracic Surgery

• Czech Society for Cardiovascular Surgery

• Portuguese Society of Cardiac Thoracic and Vascular Surgery

• Danish Society of Cardio thoracic Surgery • French Thoracic and Cardio Vascular Society • Georgian Association for Cardiac Surgery • German Society of Cardiac and Thoracic Vascular Surgery • Italian Society of Cardiac Surgery • Netherlands Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery • North Macedonian Society of Cardiac Surgery

• Scandinavian Association for Thoracic Surgery • Serbian Society for Cardiovascular Surgery • Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery of Great Britain & Ireland • Spanish Society of Cardiovascular and Endovascular Surgery • Turkish Society of Cardiovascular Surgery

EACTS NEWS

CORPORATE

This year, we proudly celebrate our 40th anniversary. Established in 1986 by a visionary group of eleven cardiac and thoracic surgeons, EACTS has grown into a community of over 4,000 members worldwide, including surgeons, perfusionists and allied health professionals.

For four decades, EACTS has improved outcomes for patients with heart and lung conditions by supporting the cardiothoracic community and informing best practice with first-class education, cutting-edge learning opportunities, world-renowned journals and publications, and pioneering research.

Success over the past 40 years The EACTS Annual Meeting has become a must-attend event in the cardiothoracic calendar. The high-quality programme of world-class science and education now attracts over 5,400 delegates from over 100 countries.

With an expanding calendar of in-person and online courses, the EACTS Academy is increasing global access to education and providing unrivalled opportunities to develop skills and knowledge.

The Francis Fontan Fund Fellowship Programme has supported hundreds of recipients, providing unique opportunities to advance surgical education and professional development at some of the most prestigious institutions around the world.

Our world-renowned journals and publications are trusted within the community for advancing knowledge, disseminating best practice, and promoting research excellence.

The EACTS Quality Improvement Programme (QUIP) provides the tools and insights necessary to continuously improve clinical outcomes.

SHARE YOUR STORY

EACTS MEMORIES EACTS Past Presidents share what EACTS means to them

Friedhelm Beyersdorf Editor-in-Chief 2010 to 2020 EACTS President 2021-22 "The founding fathers’ idea to establish EACTS in 1986 was fantastic. I joined EACTS in the early 90s and membership and affiliation with the Association have changed both my personal life and my professional life.

"Through EACTS I have contacts beyond Europe to countries all over the world, which is necessary to develop a better global understanding."

Miguel Sousa Uva EACTS President 2016-17 "My involvement with EACTS dates back more than 30 years when I became a member. Over time I became more involved in the Association’s work, becoming the Chair of the Clinical Practice Guidelines Committee.

"On a personal level, the impact of EACTS has been huge.

It was a great honour to be invited to be President, the highest position of the Association. My involvement with EACTS requires commitment but it is very, very enriching."

Whether it is attending one of our Annual Meetings, becoming a member, publishing in one of our journals, taking part in a Fellowship or leading an Academy course, we want to hear from you! Post your highlight on social media using #40YearsofEACTS and tag us – your story could be featured in our official anniversary campaign!

Share your story and help us to honour our past, embrace our present and help shape the next 40 years of excellence in cardiothoracic surgery.

Join the conversation and follow us on social media

#40YearsofEACTS

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HONOURING AND INSPIRING AT THE 40TH EACTS ANNUAL MEETING Join us this October in Barcelona as we Honour our History and Inspire our Future at the 40th EACTS Annual Meeting. Are you ready to experience four dynamic days filled with scientific advances and innovations, fresh perspectives and meaningful discussions on topical issues and challenges impacting everyday practice?

Experts from EACTS domains, task forces and committees are currently curating a comprehensive scientific programme that brings together the very latest developments and contemporary strategies to improve patient outcomes.

Leading figures from across the specialty will feature extensively across the programme, sharing their knowledge and expertise across adult cardiac, thoracic, congenital and aortic surgery.

Indu Deglurkar, Chair of the EACTS Women in Cardiothoracic Surgery Committee, said, “All the domains and task forces recently came together in Paris to devise the best possible programme to bring the latest innovation and cutting-edge practices to the Annual Meeting. We look forward to a fantastic 40th meeting.”

Look out for more details about this year’s exciting scientific programme.

EACTS NEWS

ANNUAL MEETING

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE IN CARDIOTHORACIC SURGERY The 40th EACTS Annual Meeting will be a landmark celebration — a moment to Honour our History and recognise four decades of achievement. To mark 40 years of excellence we are planning a series of special events to commemorate this milestone.

More details will be shared in the coming months.

GUARANTEE YOUR PLACE AT THE WORLD’S LARGEST CARDIOTHORACIC MEETING

The EACTS Annual Meeting’s reputation for highquality education and leading science is widely recognised around the world. Last year’s meeting achieved record numbers with over 5,400 attendees forging new connections and advancing their professional development.

Be notified when registration opens and guarantee your place at the world’s largest meeting for the cardiothoracic community. Our early-bird registration rates offer fantastic value for money but will only be available for a short time. Don’t miss out on these savings!

Your registration fee includes access to all scientific sessions and entrance to the exhibition ThursdaySaturday. Access to the EACTS TV Studio and Videoon-Demand is also included. Techno-College on Wednesday 7 October has a separate fee.

WHAT ATTENDEES SAY ABOUT THE EACTS ANNUAL MEETING First-time attendee Smriti Shakya from Nepal said, “I was truly honoured to be at the Annual Meeting for the first time: the energy, the exchange of ideas and global collaboration is so vast. It is so inspiring and amazing.”

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SUBMIT YOUR ABSTRACT As the largest gathering of the cardiothoracic community, the EACTS Annual Meeting offers the ideal platform to showcase your work to a global audience of peers and experts. If you have an original contribution that has not been submitted, published or accepted for presentation or publication elsewhere, then submit your abstract to the 40th EACTS Annual Meeting today.

Find out more about submitting an abstract General abstract submission is open until 30 April.

The President’s Choice recognises the leading abstract presentations across all four domains. Here, two past winners describe their experience of presenting their work at the EACTS Annual Meeting.

President’s Choice winner - cardiac Manuel Berger, Innsbruck Abstract title: Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis of Artificial Aortic Valves: Impact of Tilted Implantation on Hemodynamics “The EACTS Annual Meeting is a great conference to meet experienced heart surgeons. I believe it’s important to share work and seek opportunities to learn from each other. I was able to see first-hand how interested surgeons are in my work, which has been extremely positive and enabled further work with CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) simulations on heart valves. Submitting an abstract was a good experience with a very supportive review process to further increase the quality of the submission.”

President’s Choice winner - thoracic Sujata Syamal, Cambridge USA Abstract title: Using Finite Element Analysis to Evaluate the Improved Mechanical Behaviour of SilkHybridised Three-DimensionallyPrinted Long-Segment Tracheal Substitutes “The EACTS Annual Meeting is one of the most rigorous, forward-thinking platforms in cardiothoracic surgery. Our work sits at the intersection of thoracic reconstruction and computational bioengineering. The project goal is ultimately to be translational, I wanted to present it in a forum where innovation is critically evaluated by practicing surgeons.

EACTS provides an audience that values both surgical precision and translational science.

“Presenting at the Annual Meeting was an immense honour.

The discussion that followed the presentation accelerated the direction of our ongoing studies.

“The EACTS Annual Meeting is more than a conference - it’s a global laboratory where innovation in cardiothoracic surgery is presented, examined and advanced. In my experience, sharing early-stage work in front of leaders and pioneers in cardiothoracic surgery accelerates progress by inviting thoughtful dialogue.”

EACTS NEWS

ANNUAL MEETING

NOMINATE YOURSELF FOR AN EACTS AWARD

EACTS Awards celebrate outstanding individuals who embody our commitment to advancing education and research in cardiothoracic surgery. Our awards in recognition of training and research excellence will be presented this year in Barcelona, Spain.

Award applications are open now for Young Investigator, Hans G Borst, EACTS/STS and more until 30 April 2026.

INDUSTRY OPPORTUNITIES

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY 1 April Early-Bird Registration Opens 30 April Abstract & Award Submission Closes 31 May Residents’ Corner Award submission Closes 1 July Early-Bird Registration Deadline 1 July

Showcase your company to a global audience at the EACTS Annual Meeting. We offer a range of targeted industry opportunities to reach the cardiothoracic community, including advertising on the EACTS app, in our official publication Daily News and on EACTS TV, our dedicated TV channel. Our exhibition is the hub of the Annual Meeting, a lively and busy space to showcase your products and services and make connections.

Late-Breaking Clinical Trials Abstract Submission Opens 31 July EACTS/AATS Foundation on Academic Excellence Award Submission Closes 15 August Late-Breaking Abstract Submission Closes

Availability is limited.

Find out more or get in touch at industry@eacts.co.uk

SAVE THE DATES

COLLABORATION

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Mark your calendar for the 7th EACTS/STS/LACES Latin America Cardiovascular Surgery Conference Explore the latest developments and best practice in coronary artery disease, congenital heart disease, thoracic aortic disease and atrial fibrillation alongside a leading international faculty at the 2026 EACTS/STS/LACES Latin America Cardiovascular Surgery Conference.

Access high-quality education with a programme that includes: • Invited lectures and keynote presentations • Original scientific abstracts in oral and e-Poster sessions • Technical videos related to procedural expertise, trials and quality outcomes sessions • Interactive panel discussions • A programme of ‘hands-on’ skills workshops Find out more

NEW: EACTS/STS/CSIA CARDIO-THORACIC CONFERENCE - IN AFRICA FOR AFRICA

CAPE TOWN | 4-6 SEPTEMBER 2026

The European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS), the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) and the Cardiac Surgery Intersociety Alliance (CSIA), in association with the Society of Cardio-Thoracic Surgeons in South Africa (SCTSSA), will be holding the inaugural African Cardio-Thoracic Conference in Cape Town from 4-6 September 2026. The Conference will bring together leading International and regional clinicians, fellows, and registrars to explore appropriate clinical approaches in cardiothoracic techniques in Africa.

The programme will include plenary sessions with key invited speakers, surgical techniques, abstract submissions, and African database / registry opportunities; hands-on simulation models from the University of the Free State (UFS), rheumatic mitral valve repair and modified Bentall procedure.

The meeting will also provide a unique opportunity to engage with health management experts to develop a programme to address the disparity in resources for Cardio-Thoracic capabilities in Africa. Key topics will include education and training, with a focus on developing programmes to train local surgeons and other healthcare professionals, building self-sufficient capacity to meet Cardio-Thoracic surgical needs in underserved regions.

We will also address strengthening health systems, moving away from short-term mission-based models toward sustainable approaches that build long-term cardiothoracic surgical capacity within local health systems through infrastructure development and the provision of essential management and technical skills.

Find out more

EACTS NEWS

PUBLICATIONS

PUBLICATIONS

Our world-renowned, high-quality publications are trusted within the cardiothoracic surgical community for advancing knowledge, disseminating best practice and promoting research excellence.

Editor’s Choice

Latest articles/ videos

EJCTS

EJCTS

Financial Burden of Postoperative Adverse Events Following Lobectomy: Cost Analysis From 10 High-Volume Canadian Hospitals

Five-Year Quality of Life Outcome From a Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Aortic Valve Replacement Through Upper Hemisternotomy and Full Median Sternotomy

Daniel G Jones, Caitlin Anstee, Kazuhiro Yasufuku et al

Simon E van Putten, Idserd D G Klop, Pythia T Nieuwkerk et al

ICVTS

ICVTS

Yukiko Nemoto, Makoto Okawara, Natsumasa Nishizawa et al

Maroua Eid, Frédéric Pinaud, Simon Dang Van et al

MMCTS Tutorial

MMCTS Tutorial

'Thinking outside the sternum' in redo CABG: radial artery from descending aorta to obtuse marginal branch

Totally endoscopic beating-heart re-redo tricuspid valve repair using smartcanula

Francesco Cabrucci, Akshaj Darbar, Alexander N. J. White et al

Florian Hecker, Matteo Montagner, Markus Kofler et al

Robotic Versus Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Lobectomy/ Segmentectomy: Multilevel Analysis in Japan

Sex-Related Differences After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation: A Retrospective Propensity-Matched Cohort

MMCTS Case Report Left thoracotomy removal of a fenestrated stent graft and arch/ descending aortic replacement for chronic aortic dissection Takahide Yoshio, Kensuke Ozaki, Susumu Oshima et al

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Pushing the Boundaries of Thoracic Surgery with Robotics In this episode, our hosts turn their focus to robotic thoracic surgery, exploring how robotics is reshaping everyday clinical practice. Joined by Virginia Litle (host of the Thoracic Surgery Clinics Podcast) and Vasileios Kouritas, the discussion examines where robotic approaches add clear value, where other techniques still have a role, and how surgeons decide which cases truly benefit from the technology. Topics include patient outcomes, operative precision, team dynamics in the operating room, managing

intraoperative risk, and how experience influences safety and confidence. With reflections on complex resections, surgeon ergonomics, and future developments, the episode offers a clear-eyed view of why robotics has moved from novelty to necessity in modern thoracic surgery.

GUIDELINES WEBINAR

Guidelines Webinar: EACTS/EACTAIC Guidelines on patient blood management in adult cardiac surgery in collaboration with EBCP A webinar introducing the latest EACTS/EACTAIC patient blood management (PBM) guidelines for adult cardiac surgery, developed in collaboration with EBCP. Using practical case scenarios, stepby-step PBM pathways across the pre-, intra-, and postoperative phases, and expert commentary, this interactive session should translate evidence-based guidance into real-world decisions on anaemia optimisation, anticoagulant/antiplatelet management, point-of-care coagulation testing, haemostatic therapy, and transfusion thresholds, helping teams deliver safer, more consistent, and resource-conscious care.

View here

WEBINAR

LISTEN NOW

ACHIEVE YOUR 2026 LEARNING OBJECTIVES NEW: Advanced Operative Techniques in Aortic Surgery 26–28 November | Bologna, Italy Course Directors: Florian Schoenhoff & Luca Di Marco EACTS Academy is introducing a new three‑day course designed to strengthen technical expertise and operative decision‑making in the management of complex aortic disease. If you are an experienced practitioner, the Advanced Operative Techniques Course in Aortic Surgery will help you refine advanced operative skills, evaluate alternative surgical approaches, and improve your judgement in procedure selection and technical execution.

Expert‑led lectures and moderated case discussions will address intraoperative challenges and help turn advanced concepts into everyday practice that will lead to better outcomes for patients.

An international faculty, led by course directors Florian Schoenhoff and Luca Di Marco, will guide participants through intensive practical training that includes structured hands‑on surgical sessions and cadaver‑based simulation in a realistic, controlled environment. Expert‑led lectures and moderated case discussions will address intraoperative challenges and help turn advanced concepts into everyday practice that will lead to better outcomes for patients.

Be notified when registration opens

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The Fundamentals in Thoracic Surgery course takes place from 23–26 June in Windsor. Maja Boček, a thoracic surgery resident at the University Medical Centre Maribor in Slovenia, shares her experience and explains how the course has benefitted her daily practice.

"I registered for the EACTS Fundamentals in Thoracic Surgery course because I was looking for a structured and comprehensive overview of core thoracic surgical principles to strengthen both my theoretical knowledge and daily clinical decision‑making. As a trainee with a strong academic interest in thoracic oncology, I wanted to consolidate the fundamentals while also understanding how experienced European centres approach complex cases.

"The course was truly excellent. It provided a clear, systematic framework covering essential topics from lung cancer staging and surgical strategies to perioperative management and complication handling. What I particularly appreciated was the practical orientation of the sessions, case‑based discussions, and expert insights, which helped translate theory directly into clinical practice.

Since attending the course, I feel more confident in preoperative planning, multidisciplinary discussions, and understanding the rationale behind different surgical approaches."

Find out more and register

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Cardiac Intensive Care: Beyond Basics

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3 – 4 June I Windsor, UK Course Directors:

Jon Rosser & Neil Cartwright

during the perioperative period. This includes haemodynamic assessment and optimisation, epicardial pacing, cardiac tamponade and cardiac arrest after cardiac surgery.

Designed for surgeons, anaesthetists and intensivists, the course is particularly valuable if you are seeking a deeper understanding of cardiac intensive care physiology and practical management, as well as for clinicians in their first year of training.

Find out more and register

19-21 November 2026 | Amsterdam, The Netherlands Be notified when registration opens

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10TH EACTS MECHANICAL CIRCULATORY SUPPORT SUMMIT

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Cardiac Intensive Care: Beyond Basics is part of the popular BASIC Collaboration courses that are delivered across Asia, the Middle East and Australia. The two-day in-person course offers an excellent opportunity to learn or refresh knowledge of the fundamentals of patient care on the ICU

The breadth of information covered in Cardiac Intensive Care: Beyond Basics is designed to provide the valuable knowledge and hands-on experience needed to safely manage patients on a cardiac intensive care unit.

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A new addition to the EACTS Academy programme focuses on the safe management of critically ill cardiac surgical patients in the intensive care unit during the perioperative period. Course Director, Jon Rosser, a consultant in cardiothoracic anaesthesia and intensive care medicine at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, shares an overview of the course.

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Safe clinical practice in the ICU

The programme blends interactive lectures delivered by leading European experts with hands-on training, enabling participants to translate theory into practical experience. You will cover the principles of mechanical circulatory support, including intra-aortic balloon pumps, VA ECMO and temporary microaxial VADs, and then have direct experience with these devices working in small groups. You will also gain practical skills in pacemaker management and cannulation strategies for aortic dissection.

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Nurses & Allied Health Professionals Webinar 2: Building a better future in long-term mechanical support device patients: insight from the experts

9 April, Online

Fundamentals in Valvular Heart Disease Incl AFib

15 – 17 April, Windsor, UK, Hybrid

Next Generation: Great Transposition and The Great Arterial Switch

23 April, Online

Case Corner: Congenital Heart Disease

23 April, Online

Aortic Webinar 2: Heritable Thoracic Aortic Disease: From Unmet Needs To Patient-Centered Care

30 April, Online

Endoscopic Port-Access Mitral Valve Repair Drylab Training

11 – 12 May, Maastricht, The Netherlands

Allied Health Professionals Course in collaboration with AtriCure

12 May, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Next Generation: The Journey To Minimally Invasive and Robotic Cardiac Surgery (MIDCAB and Mini AVR/MV)

28 May, Online

Case Corner: Robotic and Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery

28 May, Online

Cardiac Intensive Care - Beyond Basics

3 – 4 June, Windsor, UK

Nurses & Allied Health Professionals Webinar 3: Drainology, from guideline to bedside

4 June, Online

Fundamentals in Congenital Heart Disease Webinar 3: Thoracic arteries and veins, TGA, DORV

10 June, Online

For the most up-to-date course details visit www.eacts.org Courses and dates subject to change

FELLOWSHIPS

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2026 FELLOWSHIP RECIPIENTS Congratulations to the recipients of the 2026 Francis Fontan Fund Fellowships.

Available to EACTS members, the FFF Fellowships offer recognised and respected opportunities to foster professional development and develop surgical skills with career-defining experiences at some of the most prestigious institutions around the world.

ACQUIRED CARDIAC

Atrial Fibrillation Fellowship in partnership with AtriCure

Aortic Root & Valve Repair Fellowship

Recipients:

Recipients:

Grazia Santoro

Jose Ignacio Juárez Del Río

Andras Durko

Hani Moustafa

Beatrice Bacchi

Artur Iwasieczko

Cesar Augusto Piedra Calle "I’m thrilled to join this fellowship to learn from leading experts in surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation and bring that knowledge back to improve patient care."

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) Fellowship

Maksym Rzhanyi

João Lopes Cardoso "I am thrilled to have been awarded the Aortic Root & Valve Repair Fellowship. I truly believe this will be a pivotal step in my development as a cardiac surgeon in a field I’m deeply passionate about and eager to explore further."

Mitral Valve Repair Fellowship Recipient:

Recipient: Juan Esteban De Villarreal Soto "Mastering transcatheter skills helps cardiac surgeons stay at the forefront of patient care."

Farah Sobia "I look forward to working with an exceptional team of highly skilled surgeons. My aspiration is to learn, refine my skills in this specialised field and gain maximum exposure to mitral valve repair, ultimately fostering the confidence required to practice and share my knowledge to train additional surgeons."

EACTS NEWS

FELLOWSHIPS

MiCS Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (MiCS-CABG) Fellowship

OPCAB Extended Fellowship

in partnership with Medtronic

in partnership with Medtronic

Recipients:

Recipients:

Krzysztof Sanetra

Filippo Tonelli

Luiz Cavalcanti

Max Wacker

"I am honoured and deeply grateful to be selected for the MICS CABG Francis Fontan Fund Fellowship! A new chapter in advancing minimally invasive techniques that redefine cardiac surgery. I am thrilled to learn from the pioneers shaping this revolutionary field!”

Robotic Cardiac Surgery Fellowship Advanced Intensive Postoperative Care Fellowship Recipients:

Recipient:

Fang Liang

Mathias Van Hemelrijck Kamile Özeren Topçu "I am truly honoured to be selected as a Francis Fontan Fund Fellow in Advanced Intensive Postoperative Care.

This fellowship marks a meaningful milestone in my professional journey, offering the opportunity to further strengthen my skills in managing complex cardiovascular

Extracorporeal Life Support (ECLS) Fellowship in partnership with Medtronic Recipient:

surgical patients and to deepen my commitment to improving postoperative outcomes. I look forward to learning from leading experts, gaining new clinical insight, and growing through this enriching experience."

Ahmad Khalis Bin Nazib "I am very grateful for this opportunity and I believe it will be a fantastic learning experience. I aim to learn the various modalities available for extracorporeal life support, including the technical aspects."

Pulmonary Thromboendarterectomy Fellowship Recipient:

Matheus Heluany

OPCAB Fellowship Recipients: Anton Pechenenko

Svitlana Sarapuk

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OTHER INITIATIVES

Travelling Leadership Fellowship for Women in Cardiothoracic Surgery

Ukrainian Support Fellowship

in partnership with AtriCure

Recipients: Anna Bei

Dmytro Vichev Recipients:

Agunda Chekoeva

MSc Statistics for Clinical Trials at UCL Fellowship

"I believe leadership in cardiothoracic surgery begins with sharing knowledge, inspiring others, and lifting the

Recipients:

next generation of surgeons. I am honoured to be part

Massimo Baudo

of a community that empowers women to lead with skill, vision, and heart.”

Konrad Wiśniewski "I am truly honoured and excited to receive the Francis Fontan Fund Fellowship at UCL. This is a unique opportunity to deepen my understanding of statistics and clinical research. I look forward to applying these skills to advance patient care and innovation in cardiac surgery.”

Anna Lena Emrich "I am truly honoured to receive the Travelling Leadership Fellowship for Women in Cardiothoracic Surgery offered by the Francis Fontan Fund and thank the EACTS for this

The FFF Fellowships offer recognised and respected opportunities to foster professional development and develop surgical skills

invaluable support. This fellowship provides a unique opportunity to learn from established female leaders, foster international collaboration and strengthen leadership skills.

I look forward to embracing these experiences and applying them to advance my clinical and academic career.”

DEVELOP YOUR SURGICAL SKILLS. APPLY TODAY FOR A FFF FELLOWSHIP Applications for the Acquired Cardiac Disease and Other Initiatives fellowships are now open. Find out more

now open for the EBCTS and UEBTS Level 1 EBCTS Applications membership examinations in cardiac and congenital surgery!

EBCTS branding?

Find out more

T H E 4 0 T H E AC T S A N N UA L M E E T I N G

HONOURING OUR HISTORY, INSPIRING OUR FUTURE

I N N O VA T E , D I S C O V E R , E D U C A T E

20 26

Barcelona Spain 7-10 October

YEARS