3: FFF Every Heartbeat Matters grant recipients discuss their outreach work
Jolanda Kluin explains why Erasmus University Medical Center is the latest centre to join the ACD
Countdown to Copenhagen
12: New guidelines for the management of valvular heart disease
16: Our exciting programme of in-person events coming this autumn
18: How the FFF Fellowships are improving patient outcomes
At EACTS, we pride ourselves on being a thriving, global community of more than 3500 people from over 100 countries, united by a shared commitment to advancing cardiothoracic care and improving patient outcomes.
If you are already a member – you will know that membership unlocks unique learning opportunities, including the chance to apply for fellowships that see EACTS members train alongside world-renowned experts at leading institutions around the globe, as well as free access to leading journals The European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EJCTS) and Interdisciplinary CardioVascular and Thoracic Surgery (ICVTS).
Members also enjoy free access to EACTS webinars and exclusive rates to attend EACTS events, including the world’s largest cardiothoracic gathering – the EACTS Annual Meeting – where EACTS members connect with and are inspired by peers from every corner of the globe. Being an EACTS member enables you to apply for leadership opportunities within EACTS to shape the profession.
Now, EACTS members are also able to explore the Adult Cardiac Database (ACD), a collaborative registry and benchmarking tool for cardiac surgical data. The database analyses and benchmarks cardiac data on an international scale, giving surgical teams the advanced data tools and insights to continually improve outcomes for patients.
Find out more about the advantages of EACTS membership and become a member today.
We have members from 109 different countries and welcomed applications from 11 new countries mainly across Asia and Africa.
Every Heartbeat Matters Grants have been awarded to the first recipients of the EACTS Outreach Programme to advance education initiatives that will improve outcomes for heart patients in underserved regions.
Programmes supported by an EACTS Outreach Grant include the development of a paediatric and adult cardiac surgery programme in Central and East Africa and states surrounding Burundi, and a project to improve outcomes for children and young adults with structural heart disease.
Here, the inaugural grant recipients outline how the funding will support their projects.
Joachim Photiadis, Deutsches Herzzentrum der Charité, Berlin
What does the FFF Every Heartbeat Matters grant mean to you?
This grant means a lot to me. It means that EACTS recognises the unmet need of the whole African continent with congenital heart defects and that valvular and coronary heart disease are not treated especially in Sub-Saharan Africa.
We need to help and transfer our knowledge and techniques in cardiothoracic surgery to colleagues in Africa.
How will the grant impact patient outcomes in the region?
This programme will help to start the paediatric and adult cardiac surgery programme in Central and East Africa and states surrounding Burundi, such as DR Congo and Rwanda, where there are currently no cardiac surgical programmes. In addition to improving the quality of care for patients with congenital/rheumatic heart disease by implementing evidence-based practices, the programme also includes ongoing teaching and training of local doctors and nurses with validation from the medical faculty of the University of Burundi. This will lead to professional development opportunities to ensure continued training of local health professionals and achieve autonomy as quickly as possible.
Manuel J Antunes, University of Coimbra, Portugal
What does the FFF Every Heartbeat Matters grant mean to you?
This grant will enable us to build on existing work to advance education and improve patient outcomes in underserved regions through sustainable and impactful initiatives.
In November, a surgical team from the Cardiothoracic Surgery Center of the Coimbra University Hospital will travel to Maputo, Mozambique for the annual humanitarian surgical mission at the Maputo Heart Institute. This will be the 23rd mission since the Institute was inaugurated in June 2001.
The team, led by myself, will include five members - two surgeons, two ICU nurses and one perfusionist - who will participate voluntarily and pro bono. Over eight days we expect to operate on about 18 patients.
In addition to surgery, team members will provide specific training to the clinical staff of the Institute. The majority of consumables and medication used in the mission will be transported to Maputo. Some will be donated and the remaining will be acquired. The grant will be used to cover these costs as well as travel and accommodation.
How will the grant impact patient outcomes and the local community?
To date, the team has performed 404 surgical interventions, of which 387 under extracorporeal circulation at the Heart Institute, the majority in children and young adults with rheumatic valve diseases, with an operative mortality rate of less than 1%. Without this surgery, the vast majority of these patients would not have survived more than a couple of years.
Despite the difficult conditions that naturally surround these missions, this work is carried out in full co-operation between the members of the mission group and the local staff of the Heart Institute. From the outset, the philosophy adopted was not only to treat patients, but also to train local professionals. This has made it possible to create a local surgical team that, since 2010, has been carrying out these type of interventions independently, for the first time in Southern Africa (with the exception of South Africa).
The EACTS Outreach Programme is supported by generous funding from the Edwards Lifesciences Foundation and the Every Heartbeat Matters (EHM) initiative. Learn more.
Jolanda Kluin, Erasmus University Medical Center
Jolanda Kluin shares her perspective on joining the EACTS
Since its relaunch in autumn 2024, hospitals across Europe have been signing up to the EACTS Adult Cardiac Database (ACD), a pioneering collaborative registry and benchmarking tool for adult cardiac surgical data.
The EACTS Adult Cardiac Database (ACD) is now open and free to access for all EACTS members. Simply set up an account in the ACD and access the interactive viewer to understand cardiac procedural trends. Those Members who are affiliated with a participant hospital will also be able to compare their hospital data with hospitals from across Europe.
Edgar Daeter, Quality Improvement Programme Committee Chair, encourages participation in the ACD.
"A significant milestone in our shared mission to advance excellence in cardiothoracic care, we empower you, as a member of EACTS, to utilise the comprehensive and high-quality data available now in the ACD."
Sign up now
The ACD collects cardiac data from different European countries and offers significant potential for participating hospitals, EACTS members and researchers to identify opportunities for improvement in clinical practice.
Jolanda Kluin is a cardiac surgeon and head of the department at Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam, one of the most recent centres to join the ACD. She shares her perspective on why her team joined, how it is working so far, and her hopes for how the database can improve patient care.
Why is the Adult Cardiac Database important to the cardiothoracic community and our patients?
‘The Europe-wide element of the ACD is very important to us at Erasmus Medical Center. We have a Netherlands-only database that hospitals here can use to upload our own results and compare to other Dutch hospitals. The Netherlands is a very small country though, so we were limited in what we could learn - even though we do more or less the same procedures, our data can be very different compared with Spain, for example, or other countries in Europe.
'So it is in the best interest of all patients in Europe that we all put our data into a European system, so that we can compare outcomes between countries and learn from each other. Now we are part of the ACD we get an interactive view of our own results, which we can use to benchmark our hospital within the whole European community and have better discussions about quality improvement within our department. Our main motivation is using the ACD to support better outcomes for patients - the more data you have, the better.’
The ACD exists to improve care and outcomes for cardiac patients by providing the tools and insights necessary for continuous improvement. It uses the wealth of information already available at each hospital, recorded at all stages of patient care, including pre-intra and post operative care. By collating this data into one, easy-to-use tool, the ACD helps surgeons to improve their clinical practice and ultimately lead to better outcomes for patients.
How are you and your team using the database?
‘Submitting our data was fast and easy - I worked with our data managers, and we did the mapping of our data ourselves. I think it will be more complex for hospitals in countries where there is no national database as you will need to collate and map data, but it really is not too much work and I know that EACTS can support with the data mapping.
'Now the data are in the system I really like using the interactive viewer. It makes it easy to choose what category of patients you want to compare and by which procedure. And now we have access to so much more data we can use it in our benchmarking to see how we are performing compared to other hospitals, and if there are things we should look into in more detail. Comparing ourselves with hospitals close by is still very important because we more or less have the same system, but also comparing ourselves to other countries is very useful.’
As a ‘registry of registries’, the ACD aggregates data from cardiac centres and national registries across Europe. The EACTS data manager works with participating hospitals to upload, standardise and integrate their data.
Using a common ACD data dictionary hospitals are able to standardise their data and the way they collect information, which makes it simple to compare data from across different hospitals.
Members and participating hospitals can then use the interactive viewer feature to filter different types of interventions and outcomes. Users can compare and benchmark hospital data from across Europe, measure the outcomes of that data using statistical tools and download bespoke reports which can be shared across teams.
What would you say to other hospitals considering joining the ACD?
‘For any hospitals already submitting data to a national database, it is a no brainer to join the ACD. It is very little extra work and the benefits to your team and your patients are substantial - you have more patients, more hospitals, more countries to compare your results with.
'I believe that all surgeons should use the ACD. It’s really important to see your quality, to control it and learn from it. It benefits not only you as a surgeon, but more importantly it benefits your patients.’
Hospitals, EACTS members and researchers interested in advancing cardiac care through data-driven improvement are encouraged to register interest in the ACD via the EACTS website
Jolanda Kluin is a member of the EACTS New Technology Task Force and Head of the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam in the Netherlands.
We are pleased to welcome the Swedish Cardiac Surgery Registry, part of SWEDEHEART, to the Adult Cardiac Database – The Swedish Cardiac Surgery Registry collects national cardiac surgical procedures from Swedish hospitals. The registry is a highly complete and accurate resource of patient characteristics and surgical procedures already widely used for quality improvement such as monitoring the quality of care, comparing hospitals at site and national level and conducting highquality registry-based research.
Welcoming the Swedish Cardiac Surgery Registry in the ACD has further strengthened the quality of the data available and contributed an additional 30,000 records to the database.
Orjan Friberg, member of the EACTS QUIP Committee, said: “We hope this will be a tool for better benchmarking across Europe, to monitor shifts in volumes and patient outcomes over time and between centres and countries.”
Interested in submitting data to the Adult Cardiac Database?
Speak to the QUIP team to find out more.
With just a few weeks to go until the 39th EACTS Annual Meeting now is the time to secure your place at the world’s largest meeting of the cardiothoracic surgical community.
Why attend the EACTS Annual Meeting?
• Advance your learning and education with a packed scientific programme incorporating the latest science, informative debates and discussions featuring the biggest names in cardiothoracic surgery.
• Enjoy over 200 sessions including 158 abstracts, focus and plenary sessions across three days.
• Connect in person with global experts and experience unparalleled networking opportunities.
• Gain new insights and perspectives from our honorary guests and keynote presentations.
• Access over 80 e-posters, including moderated posters, offering more high-quality scientific research.
• Catch a dynamic mixture of live and recorded content on EACTS TV, featuring the hottest topics and can’t-miss sessions.
• Train with some of the world’s best cardiothoracic surgeons at the EACTS learning labs.
Techno-College promises to be an unrivalled opportunity to learn from global experts and experience pioneering technologies. You can learn about new techniques through live 3D surgery and live-in-a-box presentations, and hear from this year’s winner of the Techno-College Innovation Award.
Techno-College is split into two streams – adult cardiac and thoracic – with sessions running concurrently.
Across three carefully curated sessions, delegates will experience live surgery including new epicardial ablation and left-atrial appendage closure, frozen elephant trunk, Bentall procedure, robotic endoscopic mitral valve repair and a transcatheter aortic valve explantation.
In addition, the programme will also include keynote lectures and live-in-box video cases focused on pulsed field ablation, mitral annular calcification, new coronary anastomotic devices and new devices for congenital cardiac surgery. This year we will also introduce a 'rapid fire' session focusing on new devices and techniques.
Entry to Techno-College is a stand-alone cost.
The not-to-be-missed Thoracic Techno-College programme is organised by the Robotic Surgery and the Digitalisation & AI Task Forces. Each session is very rich and up-to-date scientifically, covering both the current trends in robotic surgery and the transformation of thoracic surgery in the digitalisation and AI era.
Sessions include a live 3D transmission from the Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen, where René Petersen will be performing a single-port robotic thymectomy. The current trends in robotic surgery will be explored, from cost-saving strategies in robotic surgery to mitigation strategies of early implementation of a robotic surgery programme.
We also have a limited number of places available for our 90 minute Robotic Simulation Skills Workshops, which are running throughout the day. These workshops will provide you with an opportunity to join our experts as they lead you through da Vinci robotic assisted surgery training and share their experience. Learn more
DISCOVER, EDUCATE
October 2025 • Copenhagen, Denmark
INNOVATE, DISCOVER, EDUCATE
This year we are delighted to bring you three highly anticipated and thought-provoking keynote presentations.
Honoured Guest
Thursday 9 October | 11:15 – 12:00
Jens Krause, a biochemist with a research focus on historical infectious diseases and human evolution, will explore the collective behaviour and collective intelligence in animals and humans.
Saturday Keynote
Saturday 11 October | 12:15 – 12:45
Nicklas Brendborg
Nicklas Brendborg, Danish scientist, author and biotechnology researcher, bridges the gap between cutting-edge scientific discoveries and everyday life, offering fresh insights into health, ageing, and the biological mechanisms that shape our lives.
Join his keynote ‘Rewinding Time: Nature’s Secret to Staying Young’ on Saturday.
Presidential Address
Friday 10 October | 11:15 – 12.00
Falk
EACTS President, Volkmar Falk, will give his Presidential Address on Friday morning. Titled ‘Dare to Know’ he will consider the current opportunities and challenges for academic freedom.
The Acquired Cardiac Disease Domain includes a number of different task forces and the members of these task forces have worked hard to develop extremely appealing sessions, featuring the latest in cardiothoracic science.
The Mitral and Tricuspid Valve Task Force’s session on ‘Primary mitral valve regurgitation: from engineering to future solutions’ highlights the engineering behind mitral valve repair and provides a critical view on some current repair techniques whilst presenting a glimpse into the future.
Together with the European Hearth Rhythm Association (EHRA) the Atrial Fibrillation Task Force has established a session titled ‘The heart team atrial fibrillation ablation therapy: when one plus one equals three’. This session highlights combined decision making between electrophysiologists and heart surgeons, touching on failures and complications and summarising different ablation strategies.
In two separate sessions the Heart Failure Task Force considers evolutions in both short-term and long-term mechanical cardiac support. There is also an interesting session on conventional cardiac surgery in heart failure patients, a difficult and challenging topic.
The progression in robotic totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass surgery (various new tools enabling extensive myocardial revascularisation) and intracardiac robotic cardiac surgery progression (aortic valve replacement, combined procedures) will be discussed in two sessions developed by the Robotic Task Force. This session also includes a speech on the world’s first robotic cardiac transplantation.
The Translational Research and Surgical Science Task Force has a session on innovative techniques to overcome organ shortage (for heart transplantation) and another one on Artificial Intelligence usage in cardiac surgery, which is a current hot topic.
This year’s programme is specifically designed to encourage delegates to question surgeons directly, giving an opportunity to gain insights from their experience. Highlights include a joint EACTS/ STS session on thoracoabdominal aortic surgery, exploring strategies to treat this difficult patient population. There will also be a joint EACTS/ASCVTS session on Type A intramural hematomas, examining which patients benefit from immediate surgery and which patients benefit from watchfulwaiting, and an intriguing session on graft infections and the difficulties of how to best intervene with these patients.
A discussion on aortic graft infections will look at recent US data focused on Asian patients showing that vascular graft infections are now the most common prosthetic device infection, more than orthopaedic surgery or other surgical specialties where you put in some form of device. Speakers will ask whether there might be a case for a more liberal approach to antibiotic prophylaxis in these patients.
The Congenital programme is structured around eight focus sessions, bringing together worldrenowned experts who will share their knowledge, experiences, and the latest advances in this constantly evolving field. The primary goal is to provide participants with rich, relevant content that encourages engagement and the exchange of best practice for the benefit of patients.
This year’s programme includes debates on international collaboration, showcases state of the art imaging and diagnostic innovations that are transforming congenital heart disease care, and explores the latest innovations and evidence surrounding right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduits.
A highlight will be the AATS/EACTS joint session on the management of congenital aortic stenosis in children. There will also be a session that will showcase state of the art imaging and diagnostic innovations that are transforming congenital heart disease care.
This year’s packed programme from the Thoracic Disease Domain includes 10 focus sessions, the Young Investigator Award session, four rapid response abstract sessions and five moderated E poster sessions. Key themes include the emergence of immuno-oncology, the latest advances in robotic thoracic surgery and a dedicated session on mesothelioma.
Immuno-oncology (IO) or immunotherapy has become a game changer in the treatment of lung cancer and the session ‘Role of surgery in the era of perioperative immunooncology' will be an opportunity to explore the many studies assessing IO and surgery and have some fascinating discussions.
A special session on the ‘Management of esophageal surgical disease’ is one of the highlights of the thoracic programme and a must-see for all thoracic surgeons who are interested in esophageal surgery. We are honoured to have two world class speakers in this session, Siva Raja from the Cleveland Clinic and Patrick Seastedt from the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.
9 October Escape the Coffin 3.0: Small holes - big problems 15:15 – 16:15 Friday 10 October Nightmare patients unlocked 10:00 – 11:00 Precision, Prediction, and Personalisation: AI in Cardiothoracic Surgery
15:15 – 16:15
WiCTS - Gender Medicine: Unravelling the blind spots 10:00 – 11:00
9
Advancing cardiothoracic surgery through data and insights 16:30 - 17:30
INNOVATE, DISCOVER, EDUCATE
8 - 11 October 2025 • Copenhagen, Denmark
INNOVATE, DISCOVER, EDUCATE
Join our industry colleagues and learn about the latest developments in the cardiothoracic market. Our partners include many of the world’s leading manufacturers of medical devices and solutions.
These sessions are separate from the official EACTS scientific programme. Sessions are popular so make sure to get your seat.
There is also a fantastic opportunity to join ‘industry learning labs’ - hands-on training sessions run by our industry partners. These include small practice sessions, wet and dry labs and more, all conveniently located in the exhibition hall.
Our popular learning lab workshops are also available to delegates who are looking to gain hands-on experience of specific techniques. Amongst this year’s sessions participants can practice and learn the basic techniques for minimally invasive (endoscopic) valve replacement/repair as well as how to perform coronary anastomoses and manage different types of graft configurations. Left-handed surgeons should not miss Friday’s session which will provide tips and tricks from experienced left-handed surgeons to improve your surgical skills.
Left-handed surgeons should not miss Friday’s session which will provide tips and tricks from experienced left-handed surgeons to improve your surgical skills.
Our extensive exhibition brings together Annual Meeting delegates and industry leaders to exchange knowledge, share ideas and demonstrate new-to-market technology in a friendly and dynamic environment. These face-to-face interactions are valued by delegates and exhibitors alike, providing opportunities to connect in one convenient location.
What to expect from the EACTS booth
We hope you can join us at the EACTS booth this year to enjoy a programme of activity in our new presentation area, including a series of presentations from start-ups and a residents' open mic session focusing on global perspectives on cardiothoracic training. In this highly interactive session audience members are invited to question four global representatives (Austria, Italy, UK, US) about their training experience. Come and connect with cardiothoracic trainees worldwide.
Catch the highlights from the Annual Meeting on EACTS TV
EACTS TV brings all the highlights from the day’s events, with some of the world’s leading cardiothoracic surgeons. Our daily preview show begins with a forward look to the day’s main events in the company of a panel of key faculty. Catch up with any events and debates you might have missed with our end of the day review show.
Plan your visit to the TV Studio ahead of time, or alternatively, watch the sessions online via the EACTS App. The TV Studio will be located in the Exhibition area on the ground floor of the Bella Center.
Download the EACTS app to stay up to date with the latest news about the 39th EACTS Annual Meeting. Our app gives you quick and easy access to the full programme and you can search by speaker, day, session topic or session type. You can also view a selection of live broadcasts on the EACTS TV channel and access the video on-demand library. Create your own agenda, mark your favourite elements and take notes.
USE THIS CODE TO DOWNLOAD THE APP
Collaborating with other international societies is an important part of EACTS’ work, helping to fulfil our mission of better skills, better surgery and better outcomes. As a major international society, we value these partnerships which provide opportunities to share expertise and skills, hear new perspectives and be part of discussions that help shape the future of cardiothoracic surgery.
The AATS 105th Annual Meeting in Seattle in May included a joint session with EACTS featuring EACTS Vice-President, Rafa Sadaba and chaired by Rosemary Kelly, Professor in the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery from at the University of Minneapolis and Secretary of the AATS.
Titled ‘Guidelines, Big Data, and Clinical Trials’ this collaborative session explored the growing influence of large clinical databases and international registries in advancing cardiac surgery research and informing guideline development.
Joanna Chikwe, Chair of the Department of Cardiac Surgery in the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai from Los Angeles, opened with a focused overview of the strengths
and limitations of big data, highlighting its potential for generating powerful insights alongside challenges such as confounding and data quality issues.
Patrick Myers, EACTS Secretary General, addressed the complexities of streamlining clinical practice guidelines and fostering collaboration between multiple professional societies, sharing valuable lessons from Europe. He pointed out how divergent recommendations can emerge from identical evidence due to differing interpretations and methodologies, emphasising the idea that “there is no absolute truth, only different perspectives.”
He stressed the critical need for inter-association cooperation to amplify a unified, authoritative voice and proposed strategies to optimise guideline development for greater consistency and impact.
Register today for the Latin American Cardiovascular Surgery Conference
Lima, Peru | 4 – 6 December 2025
This is a collaborative event which brings together the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS), the Latin-American Association of Cardiac and Endovascular Surgery (LACES) and EACTS.
Featuring a world-class, international faculty, the meeting will address and explore the latest developments and best practices in coronary artery disease, congenital heart disease, thoracic aortic disease, atrial fibrillation, and the surgical management of heart failure.
Register today
2025 ESC/EACTS Guidelines for the management of valvular heart disease published by EACTS and ESC
• Surgery remains the preferred choice for patients with primary mitral regurgitation.
• A new class IIa recommendation for surgery and a IIb recommendation for transcatheter procedures for patients with atrial secondary mitral regurgitation.
• A new class I recommendation for mitral valve repair surgery in patients with asymptomatic primary mitral regurgitation, who meet certain diagnostic criteria.
• A change in the age cut-off from 75 to 70 years, in favour of TAVI for patients with tricuspid aortic valve stenosis.
• An upgrade in the recommendation (IIa) for aortic valve repair, in experienced centres, for patients with aortic regurgitation.
EACTS and the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) have published new guidelines which will have a significant impact on the worldwide care of patients with valvular heart disease (VHD). The two organisations have worked in close collaboration to develop the 2025 ESC/EACTS Guidelines for the Management of Valvular Heart Disease, drawing on the latest clinical evidence available.
The guidelines recommend lowering the age cut-off for transcatheter aortic valve implementation (TAVI) for tricuspid aortic valve patients from 75 to 70 years. This recommendation reflects a growing body of clinical evidence, including extended follow-up results from multicentric randomised trials, demonstrating outcomes with TAVI comparable to SAVR, particularly in the terms of hard clinical endpoints.
The guidelines address several important issues for surgeons taking care of VHD patients, including setting out clear diagnostic criteria for patients with aortic stenosis, better defining the role of CT angiography in preoperative assessment of coronary artery disease, and management of patients with mixed or multiple valvular disease.
In addition, this is the first time that any guideline document provides a definition of atrial secondary mitral regurgitation. These guidelines include a IIa recommendation for surgery and a IIb recommendation for transcatheter procedures for these patients. Michael Borger, EACTS-appointed co-chair of the guidelines Task Force which developed the VHD guidelines, explained: “This is particularly important for us as surgeons, because we are able to offer a therapy that really treats the actual etiology of the disease. We're able to offer repair of the mitral and frequently the tricuspid valve, in addition to an ablation procedure against the atrial fibrillation (AF) and a closure of the left atrial appendage, all in one procedure. And the results for surgery, although preliminary and not randomised, seem to be better than for transcatheter procedures.”
These guidelines are of global significance for everyone working in the field of VHD
The guidelines also clearly reiterate that surgery is the procedure of choice for patients with primary mitral regurgitation, with transcatheter therapy being an option only for those patients who are not appropriate candidates for surgery.
A new class I recommendation for mitral valve repair surgery in patients with asymptomatic primary mitral regurgitation, who meet certain diagnostic criteria, stresses the benefits of early intervention, instead of monitoring for the emergence of traditional class I triggers (i.e. symptoms or LV dysfunction). The guidelines stress that delaying surgery until symptoms or LV dysfunction has taken place will likely have an adverse impact on life expectancy following surgery. Patients with primary mitral regurgitation who undergo earlier mitral valve repair can benefit from the same long-term life expectancy as people enjoy who do not suffer from VHD.
The guidelines also clearly reiterate that surgery is the procedure of choice for patients with primary mitral regurgitation, with transcatheter therapy being an option only for those patients who are not appropriate candidates for surgery.
Further additions to the guidelines, which will replace the previous 2021 version, include:
• A clearer definition regarding when a concomitant tricuspid valve repair procedure is recommended.
• A new class I recommendation to close the left atrial appendage for VHD patients with AF. There is an increasing amount of data showing that AF has a negative impact on patients and that left atrial appendage closure reduces the risk of stroke. Concomitant surgical atrial ablation is also mentioned prominently in the text as a method to mitigate those negative outcomes associated with AF.
• An expanded chapter on mixed and multi-valve disease, which stresses the importance of involving the Heart Team in discussions about treatment where surgery is often the most reasonable option.
Michael Borger said: “These guidelines are of global significance for everyone working in the field of VHD. The Task Force, which included both surgeons and cardiologists, has worked together closely over the past two years using the latest data available to develop these recommendations to support Heart Teams everywhere. These guidelines demonstrate the importance of collaboration between cardiologists and surgeons for the benefit of patients. I highly recommend these guidelines to Heart Teams in Europe and across the world to support your clinical decision making.”
The 2025 ESC/EACTS Guidelines for the Management of Valvular Heart Disease were published in August 2025 at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in Madrid and will be discussed extensively at the 39th EACTS Annual Meeting in Copenhagen in October 2025.
Further information: eacts.org
This free webinar presents the newly released 2025 ESC/EACTS Guidelines for the Management of Valvular Heart Disease, focusing on the treatment of aortic, mitral, and tricuspid valve disease, as well as optimal antithrombotic management.
Join Michael Borger, Director of Cardiac Surgery at Leipzig Heart Center, along with EACTS Task Force representatives, for a deep dive into the essentials of the new guidelines.
View here
In this episode, we are joined by Emile Bacha, AATS President and former member of the Congenital Disease Domain, to discuss the emerging field of partial heart transplantation. The conversation explores the history of the concept, its reintroduction in recent years, and how techniques such as domino procedures are being developed to expand donor availability. Emile Bacha explains the practical
challenges of regulation, organ procurement, and immunosuppression, as well as early outcomes seen in paediatric patients. With reflections on valve durability, patient growth, and the future potential of this approach, this episode offers a detailed look into a promising area of congenital cardiac surgery and beyond.
Our world-renowned, high-quality publications are trusted within the cardiothoracic surgical community for advancing knowledge, disseminating best practice and promoting research excellence.
EJCTS
Surgical versus transcatheter treatment of aortic valve stenosis – a meta-analysis of low-risk randomised trials with completed five-year follow-up
Torsten Doenst, Alexander C Gregg, Hristo Kirov et al
Multidisciplinary tumour boards and surgical intervention improve overall survival in patients with Stage 3 non-smallcell lung cancer: a retrospective cohort study Open Access Shao-Syuan Tong, Yi-Ling Chen, Ya-Fu Cheng et al
2024 REVIEWERS
Congratulations to our 2024 Reviewers of the Year, selected by the Editors-in-Chief for EJCTS and ICVTS Invited reviewers have an important role in looking over the manuscripts submitted to EACTS journals, ensuring the originality, significance and validity of the material presented. The Reviewer of the Year awards the top reviewers from each journal.
“It is a true honour to be recognised as the Reviewer of the Year 2024 for the European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. I would sincerely like to thank the editorial board for this recognition, which reflects my commitment to both the journal and our professional society.
“In an era where journals are increasingly inundated with submissions, maintaining high standards is more crucial than ever. This relies on a dedicated team of knowledgeable and motivated reviewers. I am grateful for the scientific training I received at the University Hospitals Leuven and Memorial Sloan
“I thank the editorial boards for recognising my contribution to the journal as Reviewer of the Year. Peer review provides me with the opportunity to read and evaluate the quality of others' work, which enhances my knowledge and is essential for quality checks in the scientific literature. I am pleased to join the editorial board of the Interdisciplinary Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery (ICVTS)
Kettering, which has shaped my ability to critically appraise manuscripts – an ability that continues to grow with each review I undertake for EJCTS.
“The value of an engaged and rigorous reviewer community cannot be overstated. I would therefore like to take this opportunity to encourage all members of our society to contribute as reviewers. Not only is it an essential service to our field, but it also offers a rewarding path of professional growth, and perhaps, the chance to pursue this prestigious recognition in the future."
Journal and assure you of my continued support and dedication."
Over 2,157 submissions were received by EJCTS last year from 77 countries worldwide. Over 507 manuscripts were submitted to ICVTS from 53 countries.
Berlin | 20-22 November
We have an innovation-filled programme in store for this year’s Mechanical Circulatory Support Summit. The much-anticipated meeting will feature keynote presentations by leaders in the field, interactive panel discussions and live-in-a-box cases.
Jan Gummert, Director of the Clinic for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at the Heart and Diabetes Center NRW, Bad Oeynhausen, Germany, and a Chair of the EACTS Mechanical Circulatory Support Summit, shares why this year’s Summit is not one to miss.
Why should people attend the the 9th EACTS MCS Summit?
Mechanical circulatory support is one of the most exciting fields in cardiac surgery. What we are seeing right now are many new devices going through clinical study. We are excited to hear more about new pumps that are in development as there is a lot of movement in the field. Meeting in-person in Berlin gives delegates the opportunity to find out first-hand about these latest developments, as well as network with leading experts in the field.
What can delegates expect from this year’s MCS Summit?
Innovation will be a key theme. We are excited to learn more about the status of new devices, ongoing trials, early results, pitfalls and experiences of the trial investigators so far. We have an exciting programme in store and it is one I am really looking forward to.
What are the topics of this year’s meeting?
A key question this year will be whether medical therapy prolongs the time patients require a pump – and whether patients receiving medical therapy develop too many complications meaning they are no longer eligible for a pump.
We will be discussing whether it is beneficial to prolong the time before implanting an assist device or whether it is better to implant an assist device as early as possible. This is an ongoing discussion, and we look forward to discussing new data covering the number of pumps that were implanted in 2024 across the world. It will be interesting to see whether the number of pumps implanted has increased or decreased, and the reasons for that.
Who will be attending the 9th EACTS MCS Summit?
Mechanical circulatory support is a team approach, which is why it is so important that the EACTS MCS Summit is a coming together of all of the specialties involved in MCS therapy. We look forward to welcoming anaesthesiologists, pump technicians, VAD coordinators, surgeons, cardiologists, rehab specialists and more, many of whom will be presenting at the meeting.
What do you say to those who are considering submitting an abstract?
You should absolutely do it. It is a great way to highlight your own programme and provoke interesting discussions. I would especially encourage young surgeons and cardiologists to submit abstracts.
Abstract poster submissions close on 1 October. Submit your abstract now.
Browse the programme and register for the summit
EACTS INNOVATION GRANTS: Applications open 1 October 2025
The EACTS Academy has been at the forefront of global cardiothoracic surgical education for more than a decade. Read about our exciting programme of in-person events coming this autumn.
3-4 November I Paris, France
The comprehensive two-day programme includes live surgery transmission with commentary from the most renowned experts in their respective field.
The course will focus on the current controversies for the best treatment of each individual congenital and paediatric atrio-ventricular valvular anomalies, from birth to adult age.
Registered delegates are also invited to submit a five-minute case or surgical video to present during the course.
6 -7 November I Windsor, UK
Leading faculty will present across the two-day in-person course including sessions on pre-operative planning, the step by step approach for both sides lobectomies, 3D modelling, top tips for success in the OR, mediastinal surgery and different approaches for thymus surgery, discovery of endobronchial navigation shape sensing with training, as well as talks, exercises and training on non-technical skills with deep analyses by professionals in the field.
Marion Durand, the Course Director and Head of Thoracic Surgery at Clinique Ambroise Paré Hartman in Paris, said: “This course will
November I Leuven, Belgium
Taking place in the enchanting city of Leuven, Belgium, this two-day course is a fantastic opportunity to gain hands-on experience of working with a surgical robot with 3D-printed patients and to perform a beating heart anastomoses in a safe but realistic working environment.
Participants will also gain greater understanding of the flow, inclusion and contraindications for MIDCAB and learn about the latest developments in Europe and the US.
Wouter Oosterlinck, the Course Director and Cardiac Surgery Professor at Leuven University, said: “Revasc strategies are
EACTS/Intuitive Discovery Course
8 December I Amsterdam, Netherlands
This is an exciting opportunity to take a deep dive into the telemanipulation of thoracic surgery. High-quality lectures and focused training sessions will give delegates invaluable insights into the latest techniques and best practice.
Course Director, Emre Belli said: “This course is a fantastic opportunity to present your videos of complex surgeries and discuss your patient cases with some of the world’s leading surgeons. This is a forum to exchange ideas to challenge the experts and provide support to surgeons who encounter congenital valve problems in their current practice.”
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also extend your skills, help you optimise resources, technically and non-technically related, helping you achieve beautiful surgery and great outcomes in a minimally invasive way. We will also focus on collaborative surgery and the use of the hub for telementoring, teleproctoring… shaping the future of surgery: telesurgery.”
Join Marion Durand and other leading faculty, including surgeons: Kelvin Lau, Francois Montagne, Franca Melfi, Karel Pfeuty, Ghada Shahin, Sasha Stamenkovic, Alper Toker with Mrs Trudie Williamson psychologist and Mr Paul Field neuroscientist.
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really the first step in robotic surgery - and this course is the perfect introduction to the topic, to connect with specialists and see what is possible in the field.
“The course gives participants the chance to work on 3D printed patients within a very high level, high fidelity, simulator environment, as well as the opportunity to carry out cadaver training."
Only 25 places are available.
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This course is available to EACTS members only and is free of charge. Apply now to secure your spot!
Learn more here
There are now more opportunities than ever before to apply for a Francis Fontan Fund Fellowship, with four new fellowships available this year enabling EACTS members to develop skills and expertise in TAVI, extracorporeal life support (ECLS) mitral valve repair and pulmonary thromboendarterectomy.
The inaugural recipients of these new fellowships describe how the fellowship experience will improve outcomes for patients in their home centres.
Juan Esteban De Villarreal
Soto, Hospital Universitario
Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda, Spain
I am truly excited and deeply grateful for this outstanding opportunity. I look forward to embracing every aspect of this fellowship and making the most of the experience. I hope to gain comprehensive knowledge of transcatheter planning, patient selection, and CT-scan interpretation, and to develop the ability to tailor prosthesis selection to each patient. Most importantly, I aim to gain valuable hands-on experience in performing TAVI procedures.
I firmly believe that transcatheter and structural interventions represent a growing and essential field within our specialty, and as cardiac surgeons we must be proficient in both mastering and performing these procedures.
This fellowship will significantly benefit my hospital, where the majority of transcatheter procedures are currently performed by cardiology. Within our department, only a limited number are carried out, and exclusively by the head of department. By adding another surgeon trained in TAVI, our team will gain strength, expertise and the ability to expand the number of procedures we can offer.
For my patients, this means broader access to advanced treatment options and improved outcomes. For my career, this fellowship will allow me to grow as a cardiac surgeon, enhancing my skills in structural interventions and enabling me to provide the highest quality of care.
I firmly believe that transcatheter and structural interventions represent a growing and essential field within our specialty, and as cardiac surgeons we must be proficient in both mastering and performing these procedures.
Farah Sobia, Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology & National Institute of Heart Diseases, Pakistan
I am delighted to have been awarded the Mitral Valve Repair Fellowship.
In my home centre, rheumatic heart disease remains the predominant aetiology of mitral valve pathology, particularly among females in their early reproductive years, who often present with symptomatic manifestations.
As the inaugural female cardiac surgeon in the centre, I feel a profound responsibility to advocate for the most effective treatment modalities for women during this critical phase, safeguarding them from the inherent risks associated with anticoagulation therapy while enhancing their quality of life.
Currently, we lack comprehensive training in preserving the native mitral valve through meticulous repair techniques. Although we have performed a few repairs, I want to advance our proficiency to achieve optimal outcomes and provide maximum benefit to young women in their reproductive years.
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 more surgeons.
Ahmad Khalis Bin Nazib, Hospital Sultan Idris Shah, Ministry of Health, Malaysia
I previously worked in the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle in the UK. This centre has an established transplant unit, enabling exposure to heart transplants and various forms of mechanical circulatory support.
We have a lot of high-risk patients in Malaysia, the majority of them presenting at an advanced stage of their diseases. I believe that we could offer something more for these patients provided that we have the expertise, especially for patients requiring extracorporeal life support.
I applied for this fellowship for a number of reasons. I aim to learn the various modalities available for extracorporeal life support, including the technical aspects. My experience in Newcastle was an invaluable exposure that deepened my interest in these modalities.
Matheus Heluany, Hospital São João Batista, Brazil
I feel deeply honoured and grateful to be selected for this prestigious fellowship. It represents a significant milestone in my career and a unique opportunity to learn from worldleading experts in PTE surgery.
I hope to gain advanced surgical training, deepen my understanding of perioperative management in PTE, and learn best practices that I can implement in my home centre. I also look forward to engaging with a multidisciplinary team and building international collaborations.
In Brazil, there are very few centres performing pulmonary thromboendarterectomy, and no established national reference programme. I applied for this fellowship with the goal of acquiring the necessary expertise to help develop a dedicated and high-quality PTE programme in my institution, improving access to life-saving treatment for patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.
It will also strengthen our surgical team’s capabilities and contribute to the development of a national reference centre in Brazil. For my career, it represents a step forward in becoming a leader in complex pulmonary vascular surgery and advancing cardiac surgical innovation in my country.
I also hope to gain experience on how multidisciplinary teams work together to optimise patient care. I believe that a successful outcome for a patient is a product of each team member understanding their role and contribution.
I acknowledge that places such as Maastricht and Leuven have established pathways for high-risk patients who require this kind of support. Gaining this experience will be invaluable. Overall, my aim is to establish a team for managing high-risk patients with heart failure in Malaysia. Hopefully, with this opportunity, I am able to set up a pathway and bring in these devices for my patients in the near future.
I am very grateful for this opportunity and I believe it would be a fantastic learning experience.
THE 39TH EACTS ANNUAL MEETING 8 - 11 October 2025 • Copenhagen, Denmark
Join us in Copenhagen for the 39th EACTS Annual Meeting. For 2025 you can expect robust debate and discussion led by global experts, the latest technological advances on display and an opportunity to share knowledge and socialise with your peers from around the world.