Issue 33 | March 2023 - EACTS News

NEWS Issue 33 / March 2023

The quarterly publication for EACTS members

Issue 33 Highlights 3. Welcoming new task force members 6. Join the Clinical Practice Guidelines Committee 7. Get ready for the 37th EACTS Annual Meeting 10. Find out more about the 2nd Aortic Forum 16. EACTS launches new podcast series

THE 2 AORTIC FORUM

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World class education with globally renowned experts 21-23 June in Brussels, Belgium

Domains

DOMAIN UPDATES Congenital Heart Disease Domain Jürgen Hörer, Chair

Members of the Congenital Heart Disease Domain recently came together at the EACTS programme meeting in Paris to agree the key sessions for the EACTS 37th Annual Meeting taking place in October. This includes addressing some new areas that we haven’t previously included in the programme such as ‘Borderline Left Ventricle’, ‘Hybrid for Hypoplastic left heart syndrome’ and an update on CCTGA (Congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries) management.

We are also planning sessions that have been well-received at past meetings such as innovations in paediatric and congenital cardiac surgery, which will be an opportunity to learn more about the latest technology and techniques. We also plan to run a session with the Residents Committee on surgical training.

One of the most important roles for members of the EACTS Domains and Task Forces is developing the scientific programme for the Annual Meeting.

We want to ensure the programme excites and educates, addressing the most topical subjects in cardiothoracic surgery.

Thoracic Disease Domain Richard Milton, Chair

The Thoracic Disease Domain has been busy following a very strong and successful programme at the 36th EACTS Annual Meeting in Milan last year. Our activity included a thoracic interactive webinar in December that involved a series of expert lectures and case presentations. This was very well received and I hope to repeat the format in the future.

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In addition to the EACTS Annual Meeting we are offering EACTS Academy courses aimed at both residents and more experienced surgeons. Earlier this month we ran the Fundamentals in Congenital Heart Disease, a virtual course designed for residents preparing for their EBCTS exams.

We are also running a level 3 course in Krakow later this year which will cover all aspects of first step single ventricle palliation. Don’t forget to sign up here for email updates about the latest EACTS Academy courses to find out more.

I’m pleased to announce the formation of two new task forces within the Thoracic Disease Domain, one on Solitary Pulmonary Nodules and the other dedicated to robotic thoracic surgery. These task forces will be increasingly busy over the next few months in terms of educational output amongst other projects, and I hope that more of our members, especially amongst the residents, will have the opportunity to get involved. In fact, the first event in the 2023 calendar year was a webinar last month delivered by the Robotic Task Force. The lectures were excellent, as was the subsequent discussion and online Q&A. The next webinar will be on Lung Volume Reduction Surgery on June 14th, that will include endobronchial and surgical strategies, and an MDT session.

A face-to-face Academy thoracic course is being held in Windsor next month from 17 – 19 April, with the option to attend online for those unable to travel. This is very much focused towards residents and follows the European Board syllabus.

Of course, there are lots of things going on behind the scenes, and I look forward to updating you over the next few months. First and foremost, preparations are already underway for this year’s Annual Meeting in Vienna in October, which will be here before you know it.

As always, I am incredibly grateful to my friends and colleagues within the Thoracic Domain whose hard work makes my role much easier.

EACTS NEWS

Acquired Cardiac Disease Domain Filip Casselman, Chair

The work of the Acquired Cardiac Disease Domain is supported by 14 task forces, bringing together experts in different specialties.

WELCOMING NEW TASK FORCE MEMBERS A full list of task force members, including new members, can be found here.

We were delighted to welcome several new members to our task forces recently following a formal nomination process.

Members were encouraged to self-nominate for a place on their preferred task force and we received over 200 highquality applications. Successful candidates were selected based on their expertise and experience in each specialty.

The new nomination procedure aims to encourage more members to take an active role in EACTS’ domains and task forces. Membership of each task force is staggered so there will be further opportunities to join a task force over the coming years. I would like to thank outgoing members for their valued contributions.

The domain and task force chairs came together in Paris recently for the first Annual Meeting programme committee meeting. We look forward to sharing more details of the exciting scientific programme we have planned for the 37th EACTS Annual Meeting.

Professor Sabine Bleiziffer New Technology Task Force “EACTS is a leader in engaging women and promoting female leadership in cardiac surgery. However, the ability to innovate especially in the technological field - is often still considered a male trait. Societal stereotypes and a lack of role models undoubtedly have an impact on the number of women innovators so it’s therefore very encouraging that the New Technology Task Force is becoming more diverse with both male and female members.”

Professor Marjan Jahangiri Aortic Valve Task Force “It is an honour to be a member of the Aortic Valve Task Force at a time of increasing cardiological intervention. At this juncture it is more important than ever to address evidence-based practice and review the literature to demonstrate the outcomes of surgery. The task force enables us to share members’ experiences from different countries so that we can define the optimal configuration of a heart team.

“For the past few years, I have had the privilege of contributing to the design of the scientific programme for the Annual Meeting, specifically in relation to the management of the aortic valve and aortic dissection.

I am looking forward to working on this year’s programme as part of the task force.”

Professor Moritz C. Wyler von Ballmoos Mitral & Tricuspid Task Force “Mitral and tricuspid valve disease affect millions of people worldwide and, in recent years, has taken centre stage in device development with rapidly evolving technology. Cardiac surgery was the first specialty able to offer meaningful treatment for valve pathologies, and over the decades, we have established extremely safe and successful procedures to help patients. As surgeons, we must stay intimately involved with all the new developments in this space & contribute to the evolving science. Further, the EACTS Mitral & Tricuspid Task Force can play an important role in training the next generation of valve specialists and fostering collaborations with our non-surgical colleagues to benefit our patients. I’m excited to contribute with my expertise to all of these important initiatives.”

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Domains

Vascular Disease Domain Konstantinos Tsagakis, Chair

Members of the Vascular Disease Domain and the Chairs of our associated task forces held a very productive meeting last month in Paris to discuss the scientific programme for the 37th EACTS Annual Meeting. We look forward to sharing more details in due course.

We continue to work closely with the Academy programme to develop training courses that deliver hands-on experience and develop knowledge and skills across a range of topics prevalent to vascular disease. Our popular Fundamentals in Aortic Surgery course recently took place at EACTS House in Windsor and was also available online for attendees unable to join us in person. The programme covered the major aspects of aortic surgery and guidance was given to those attendees wishing to embark upon an endovascular programme. For those in Windsor we had 5 hands-on stations, from the aortic root to the arch to endovascular treatments. We would like to thank all the attendees, faculty and Industry partners who helped make this course a success once again.

Our first webinar of 2023 explored aortic dissection and feedback* has been very positive, with over 90% of participants rating the webinar excellent or good and describing the course as a good investment. The second online webinar, which takes place on 11 May, is focused on Connective Tissue Disease and specifically decision making in root and ascending aortic disease. More information about this webinar can be found here *of those attendees who completed the evaluation

Join the Clinical Practice Guidelines Committee Chair and committee member positions available We have an exciting opportunity for EACTS members to take an influential role in the development of comprehensive, up-to-date, evidence-based clinical practice guidelines that are critical to the delivery of the highest standards of patient care.

Our Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) Committee is looking to appoint a Chair and approximately eight new committee members representing one or more of the following domains and fields of expertise: • Acquired cardiac disease • Congenital heart disease • Thoracic disease • Vascular disease

The Committee also has a role in ensuring guidelines follow EACTS’ published methodology and will work with the CPG Director to strengthen this area.

The Committee also has a role in providing education and training to develop and improve methodology for society documents.

Committee Chair We are looking for a dedicated and experienced member to lead this important committee. The Chair of the CPG Committee is responsible for representing the vision and purpose of our clinical practice guidelines and working with the CPG Director to contribute knowledge and expertise across a range of topics.

• Clinical research methodology.

About the CPG Committee The Clinical Practice Guidelines Committee supports the development of comprehensive and regularly updated clinical practice guidelines. The guidelines help surgeons and other members of the heart team provide informed recommendations on the best treatment options available to their patients. Members of the Committee are responsible for guiding the programme, which includes building and fostering collaborations with other international bodies on consensus statements and guidelines for maximising dissemination and implementation.

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CLOSING DATE The closing date for both Chair and Committee roles is 28 April 2023, 5pm GMT. HOW TO APPLY Visit here for more information including job descriptions and application details.

Giulia Zuodar, Guidelines Programme Manager, can also be contacted with any questions at giulia.zuodar@eacts.co.uk

EACTS NEWS

Championing Allied Health Professionals Cardiac surgery requires a multi-disciplinary team effort to improve outcomes for patients. Allied health professionals - nurses, nurse practitioners, surgical care practitioners, therapists, perfusionists and other non-surgeons - play a vital role providing critical pre- and post-operative care, ensuring patients have the best possible chance of recovery after surgery.

Richard Van Valen

Chair, Allied Health Professsionals Committee

To champion the role and influence of Allied Health Professionals, EACTS has established the Allied Health Professionals Committee. The Committee, chaired by Dr Richard Van Valen, will lead, advise and support EACTS activities in all matters concerning cardiothoracic allied health professionals, including educational output, research, training and guidelines.

EACTS is a membership Association of surgery, not surgeons, and the involvement and influence of the professionally diverse range of our membership is a vital part of our mission.

Enhancing leadership skills There is still time to register for our compelling webinar series ‘The Changing Face of Leadership: moving from diversity to inclusion’. Led by the WiCTS Committee, the series provides a forum for community building, networking and leadership development for women cardiothoracic surgeons.

Supported by Committee members, the series also offers tools to help all surgeons develop the skills required to maintain influence and leadership in their roles. Feedback to date has been exceptional, with participants highly rating the excellent, informative content.

Don’t miss the final two webinars taking place in April and May, which focus on organisational politics and inclusive leadership respectively. All webinars in the series are also available on demand. Click here for more information.

What participants say about the ‘Communication with Impact’ WiCTS webinar

87%

agreed they had learnt a lot from the webinar that would be useful to advance their career

Thursday 6 April Political Savvy as a Critical Leadership Skill Keynote Speaker: Dr Jane Horan

93%

agreed that the webinar enhanced their leadership skills

87%

agreed that the webinar contributed to their learning about inclusion and diversity

Thursday 11 May Becoming an Inclusive Leader: from Hero to Host The webinars are kindly sponsored by:

“I found it reassuring that leading with a feminine style is also efficient. I found the practical advice regarding one’s tone when communicating very useful.”

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Committees

New residents’ virtual summit The EACTS Residents Committee is bringing together resident representatives from across Europe for a virtual summit to discuss current training programmes for residents and identify future training needs.

Hosted virtually, the first national residents’ representatives summit invites representatives to share their views and experiences of training in their home country, explore general issues around training and discuss areas for collaboration between countries.

The meeting also provides an opportunity for the Residents’ Committee to outline its role and achievements and consider how the committee can best represent residents.

TAKE PART IN THE FIRST NATIONAL RESIDENTS’ REPRESENTATIVES SUMMIT The Residents Committee would like resident representatives from across Europe to join the virtual summit. The committee is currently seeking representatives from the following countries to take part.

Denmark, Italy, Greece, Latvia, Belgium, Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria and Sweden.

Please get in touch with the Residents Committee at eacts-residents@eacts.co.uk if you are interested in participating.

JOIN THE RESIDENTS’ COMMITTEE Are you a resident looking to shape the future of cardiothoracic surgery? Are you motivated to participate in international projects and contribute to education and training? EACTS is looking for two enthusiastic residents to join the Residents Committee starting in October 2023!

For more information, please visit the EACTS residents webpage here.

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RESIDENTS’ CORNER

AWARD EACTS and the Residents’ Committee have established a new annual award to recognise the important academic work of EACTS residents.

We are now inviting applications for the new Residents’ Corner award from residents. This year’s award applications are open to residents who have published a peer-reviewed article within the last 3 years in the EACTS Residents’ Corner, EJCTS and ICVTS. We’ll announce the winner at the 37th EACTS Annual Meeting in Vienna this October.

The deadline for submissions is 31 May 2023.

Find out more about the award and how to apply at Residents - EACTS.

Preparations underway for the 37th EACTS Annual Meeting This year we are delighted to be back in Vienna for the 37th EACTS Annual Meeting, the same location where we held the inaugural Annual Meeting back in 1987.

Our Domains and Task Forces are busy preparing a scientific programme composed of energetic abstract presentations, exciting plenary sessions and robust panel led debates featuring key opinion leaders on the latest advances in cardiothoracic and vascular science.

As the world’s largest cardiothoracic meeting, the EACTS Annual Meeting is the place to be to share research findings, explore scientific innovation and advances in the field, discover new techniques and ways of working and learn from experts.

Join us in October to help realise EACTS’ vision; that with better skills and better surgery, we can deliver better patient outcomes.

Five reasons to attend the 37th EACTS Annual Meeting • Reconnect with colleagues from across the globe, networking and sharing experiences with new friends and old • Synthesise knowledge and innovation to shape the future of cardiothoracic medicine • Learn from diverse and internationally recognised surgical leaders, teachers and specialists • Experience cutting-edge science at our major commercial exhibition and within our industry satellite symposia programme

4 - 7 OCTOBER 2023 SAVE THE DATE AND EXPLORE THE PROGRAMME

• Gain hands-on experience in our fascinating Learning Labs For more information about the 37th EACTS Annual Meeting click here

1987 President FRANCIS FONTAN

2003 President WALTER KLEPETKO

2009 President ERINO RENDINA

2013 President JOSE LUIS POMAR

2017 President MIGUEL SOUZA UVA

2023 President PATRICK PERIER

2023

1987

1st EACTS Annual Meeting

It all started in Vienna……

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Annual Meeting

PROGRAMME AT A GLANCE 4 - 7 O C TO BE R 2 0 2 3 - V I E N NA , A UST RIA

Wednesday 4 October

Thursday 5 October

Friday 6 October

Saturday 7 October

08:00

08:00

08:15

08:15

08:30 08:45 09:00 09:15 09:30 09:45

Parallel Sessions

Parallel Sessions

Break

Break

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10:00

10:30 10:45

Hands on Training EACTS Learning Lab

Parallel Sessions

11:00

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11:15

Honoured Guest

Presidential address

Break

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11:30 11:45 12:00

08:45 09:00 09:15

Hands on Training EACTS Learning Lab

Parallel Sessions

10:15

08:30

President's Choice Plenary

Break

Plenary

Parallel Sessions (Thoracic & Congenital)

Hands on Training EACTS Learning Lab

09:30 09:45

Exhibition

10:45

Awards & Closing Ceremony

Break Parall

13:00

13:45 14:00 14:15

12:45

Exhibition

13:00

Techno-College

Break

Exhibition

13:30

Break Parall

Parallel Sessions

Parallel Sessions

13:45 14:00 14:15 14:30

Break

15:00

Parallel Sessions

15:45

Hands on Training EACTS Learning Lab

Break Parallel Sessions

Break

Break

Parallel Sessions

Parallel Sessions

Hands on Training EACTS Learning Lab

14:45 15:00 15:15 15:30

Break Parall

15:45 16:00 16:15

16:15 16:30 16:45

12:15

13:15

Break

13:30

16:00

11:45 12:00

Hands on

13:15

15:30

11:30

12:30

Industry Satellite Sessions

Industry Satellite Sessions

12:45

15:15

10:30

11:00

12:30

14:45

10:15

11:15

12:15

14:30

10:00

16:30 16:45

17:00

17:00

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17:30

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17:45 18:00

17:45

Industry

18:15 18:30

18:00

General Assembly (EACTS Members Only)

18:15 18:30

18:45

18:45

19:00

19:00

19:15

19:15

programme subject to change

BE PART OF THE SCIENTIFIC PROGRAMME General abstracts are now open for submissions! Share your science and submit your abstract for the chance to present at this year’s Annual Meeting.

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Abstract sessions at the Annual Meeting are a fantastic opportunity for participants to learn more about the latest research in cardiothoracic surgery.

The deadline for abstract submissions is 30th April 2023.

Click here for further details about the criteria and guidelines on the EACTS website.

EACTS NEWS

EACTS TV

We are excited to announce that the EACTS premium TV channel will be making a return this year! Available online or in-person, EACTS TV is a fantastic opportunity to engage with a plethora of live & recorded content.

Educational and entertaining, features of EACTS TV include: • Selected prime session content, broadcast in real time • Interactive panel sessions and debates featuring key opinion leaders • Daily highlight broadcasts • Interviews with keynote faculty, guests and industry

Find out more here

RECOGNISING EXCELLENCE Apply today for an EACTS award. As part of our commitment to advancing education and research, nominations for the following awards are now open.

Young Investigator Awards

EACTS/STS Award

The Young Investigator awards recognise the best manuscripts on topics of clinical or experimental research in the fields of thoracic surgery, cardiac surgery and congenital heart disease presented by young investigators at the Annual Meeting.

The EACTS/STS award rewards the best abstract presented during the combined EACTS/STS aortic session.

Hans G Borst Award for Thoracic Aortic Surgery

This award recognises the best presentation on “Rheumatic Heart Valve Disease and Management of Associated Tricuspid Regurgitation”, presented during the annual Joint EACTS/PASCaTS session at the Annual Meeting.

Named in honour of Professor H G Borst, one of the founders of EACTS, this award aims to stimulate advanced clinical or experimental research in this field by young investigators as documented by an outstanding presentation during the Annual Meeting.

EACTS/GHC-PASCaTS Excellence Award for Rheumatic Heart Valve Repair & Aortic Reconstruction

All awards are based on self-nomination and applications close on 30th April 2023.

For more information about EACTS awards click here

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Raising Standards through Education and Training

SIGN UP NOW FOR THE 2ND AORTIC FORUM 21-23 June in Brussels, Belgium Major changes have been made to this year’s Aortic Forum to deliver a meeting that cannot be missed.

Aimed at everyone with an interest in aortic surgery, the threeday meeting features a fantastic blend of topics in aortic surgery, from the root to the bifurcation.

A similar session will also be held on the specific problems related to cerebral perfusion, arch surgery and the increased risk of stroke.

Engage with pioneers in the specialty The Aortic Forum will also celebrate the lifetime contributions from two of the masters, Professor El Khoury and Professor Schäfers.

Ruggero De Paulis, Aortic Forum Taskforce Chairman, said, “My colleagues on the Aortic Forum Taskforce and I have worked tirelessly to create a programme that we are confident will fulfill the expectations of our community, from young colleagues to experienced surgeons.

“We are bringing together all the topics that we have traditionally offered during the Aortic Valve Repair Summit with the key aspects of major aortic surgery. You can expect world class education with globally renowned experts covering aortic valve sparing surgery and aortic valve repair – as well as open, hybrid, transcatheter and endovascular techniques used in aortic surgery.”

Live surgery will be an important feature of this year’s Aortic Forum as well as interactive sessions that will explore the recent aortic guidelines. Renowned experts will discuss the most controversial aspects of the guidance with a special focus on applying the guidelines in everyday practice to improve outcomes for patients.

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Professor El Khoury, a pioneer in aortic valve repair surgery, will share his expertise and techniques that have made him a renowned expert around the world. There will also be an invaluable opportunity to learn from Professor Schäfers, whose dedicated approach to the collection of sound scientific data has been instrumental in the standardisation and reproducibility of aortic valve repair.

A special session will take place to celebrate their careers and will also feature two giants in our specialty: Sir Magdi Yacoub and Professor Tirone David who paved the way for this type of surgery more than thirty years ago.

EACTS NEWS

A packed final day The final day of the Aortic Forum will be devoted to acute aortic dissection with a particular focus on how to tailor the surgical approach based on the clinical presentation and the anatomical lesions.

In addition: • learn more about the latest available technology to reduce mortality, reduce the rate of complications as well as reducing the impact of surgery.

• explore how much has changed in the surgery of descending aorta with the development of endovascular technology.

According to Ruggero De Paulis, “This year’s Aortic Forum has been designed to give you the answers to the many unanswered questions in various aspects of aortic surgery. We are proud to invite you to such an important meeting and we look forward to seeing you in Brussels in June.”

Find out more here

• Consider the best approaches for the treatment of acute and chronic aortic syndrome involving the descending aorta following a debate between vascular and cardiac surgeons.

Coming up in 2023 7TH EACTS MECHANICAL CIRCULATORY SUPPORT SUMMIT

MINIMALLY INVASIVE TECHNIQUES IN ADULT CARDIAC SURGERY (MITACS)

2-4 November Copenhagen, Denmark

30 November-1 December Leipzig, Germany

Finn Gustafsson MCS Summit Chairman (Copenhagen)

“The EACTS MCS Summit is already well-established as the major European meeting for surgeons, cardiologists, intensivists, scientists and others working in the field of MCS and I am extremely proud that this year, for the first time, the meeting will be held in Copenhagen. Among other exciting new developments for the Summit, is the addition of Dr. Gloria Färber to the Steering Committee.

“Some things, however, will remain unchanged, most importantly the offer of an up-to-date programme with the latest developments in MCS, including practical, in-depth discussions with leaders in the field on all aspects of management of this difficult patient cohort. Indeed, the case-based discussions are among the most valued in the EACTS Summit and these will also remain a cornerstone of the programme in Copenhagen. I look forward to welcoming old and new friends in November.”

For further information and to view the full calendar of courses, please click here

Returning to the EACTS Academy calendar in 2023, this twoday course features interactive lectures, live-in-a-box videos and live surgical cases.

Our specialty is evolving very rapidly with new techniques and treatments. The correct implementation of these new procedures is crucial to the progress of our specialty and the training of future surgeons. EACTS recognises the need for structural educational activities in minimally invasive techniques.

Therefore, MITACS was founded in 2011 and has since been one of EACTS’ most popular courses.

The focus of the course is on technical aspects of different minimally invasive procedures. The course is designed to provide the participants with a platform and insight into all the current and very latest minimally invasive procedures. The twoday course is composed of different parts, each dedicated to a specific subject and will feature presentations, live-in-a-box videos and live surgery in order to demonstrate the technical aspects of these procedures.

We look forward to seeing you this November in Leipzig, Germany.

MITACS Organising Committee: G Dahle, T Holubec, J Kempfert, W Oosterlinck, P Sardari Nia & P Suwalski Local Course Director: M Borger For further information and to view the full calendar of courses, please click here

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Academy CARDIOPULMONARY TRANSPLANTATION COURSE

and carry out heart and lung transplants using cutting edge simulation techniques. We are proud that the course has evolved and developed to now join the EACTS Academy course portfolio.

Upcoming courses

11-12 December 2023 | Newcastle, UK

“Delegates have attended from all over the world, many returning to begin programmes in their own institutions sometimes with ongoing support from Newcastle.

“The course is designed to provide the cardiothoracic surgeon in training with didactic teaching and hands on cadaveric surgical training experience under the guidance of a faculty of experienced surgeons. Candidates will also implant left ventricular assist devices, practice cannulation for ECMO and gain practical experience of ex vivo lung perfusion.

Stephen Clark Course Director

“Freeman Hospital in Newcastle, UK is one of the leading heart and lung transplant centres in Europe undertaking both adult and paediatric cardiothoracic transplants and mechanical circulatory support.

“For nine years the centre has hosted an International Surgical Techniques in Heart and Lung Transplantation Course, aiming to teach complex techniques in the field of cardiopulmonary transplantation and providing delegates with the chance to witness complex procedures first-hand

“This is an intensive two-day course of lectures, debate and practical hands-on surgical practice. The course has a high ratio of faculty to delegates and has received outstanding feedback from those attending each year.

“We look forward to welcoming colleagues keen to train in the surgical aspects of cardiopulmonary transplantation.”

For further information and to view the full calendar of courses, please click here

UPCOMING WEBINARS EACTS CASE CORNER Connective Tissue Disease Webinar 11 May

Lung Volume Reduction Webinar 14 June, all skills levels

Mitral Valve Repair

Thoracic Surgery

30th March

25th May

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation

Aortic Dissection

20th April

29th June

Mechanical Circulatory Support 21st September

Please see our website for the full list of webinars

Find out more here

Here’s what participants said about the EACTS Fundamentals in Coronary Artery Disease 2023 - Hybrid Course*

DID THIS COURSE MEET YOUR EXPECTATIONS?

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100% said yes

DID YOU LEARN A LOT THAT WILL BE USEFUL TO ADVANCE YOUR CAREER?

91% said yes

WAS THIS COURSE A GOOD INVESTMENT?

100% said yes

*Feedback from participants who completed the evaluation

EACTS NEWS

Corporate

WELCOMING NEW TEAM MEMBERS IN WINDSOR We continue to grow and strengthen our Windsor-based executive team to ensure we remain well placed to provide critical support to our domains, task forces and committees and deliver a high-quality service to our members.

We welcome the following new team members who have recently joined EACTS.

Colin Drummond Managing Editor Colin is responsible for the day-to-day running and development of EACTS’ publications: the European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery; our open access journal Interdisciplinary Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery and our Multimedia Manual of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. He works closely with other members of the Publications team, the Editors-in-Chief and Editors to deliver high quality publications for the cardiothoracic surgery community and patients.

Katie Webster Events Coordinator Katie works very closely on coordinating the planning and delivery of the EACTS Annual Meeting. Experiencing her first Annual Meeting in October 2022 (Milan), Katie has been supporting the development of the Annual Meeting to ensure an outstanding and innovative experience for all attendees. Her role varies across project management and logistical delivery, with coordination across event agencies, suppliers and industry partners. Katie is also involved in executing the strategic marketing and communications plan, as well as the Annual Meeting social events. Outside of the Annual Meeting, Katie is also involved in coordinating other specialist EACTS events.

Adrienn Bestel Finance Director Adrienn oversees the financial operations of EACTS including accounting, budgeting, reporting, and analysis. She works closely with EACTS’ senior leaders to ensure that financial goals are met and that EACTS operates efficiently and effectively. Her role includes managing financial risk, creating and implementing financial strategies, and developing and monitoring financial performance metrics. She also works closely with external stakeholders, such as Trustees, financial institutions, and auditors, providing them with accurate financial information and ensuring transparency.

Monika Wilusz Digital Projects Manager As Digital Projects Manager at EACTS, Monika’s role includes a variety of exciting projects from recording and publishing the newly launched EACTS podcasting channel ‘A Cut Above’ to supporting the publications team in publishing content and maintaining the MMCTS website. Monika is also responsible for leading the project group focused on the redevelopment of the EACTS website. She also provides graphic design and multimedia support across all departments within EACTS.

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Corporate

MEMBERSHIP SURVEY As a global membership organisation for the cardiothoracic community, EACTS exists to improve outcomes for patients with heart and lung conditions.

EACTS achieves this by supporting the global surgical community with education and learning opportunities and informing best practice with journals, clinical guidelines, a quality improvement programme and research.

As we continue to innovate and develop how we support our community, we understand the importance of listening to our membership. We are lucky to have over 4000 members from countries across the world and we want to hear from you!

Your views on membership will help us identify and explore opportunities to develop our current offering, which is why we are creating a survey to gather feedback on your motivations to become a member and what, if anything you would like to see more of.

This short survey will be arriving in your inboxes soon – so do keep an eye out. We really appreciate any feedback you can give us so we can continue to support you in your career, no matter what level you are at.

Don’t forget, as a member you receive: • Exclusive member rates for the EACTS Annual Meeting and training through The Academy • Exclusive participation in influential EACTS committees and task forces to support patient outcomes • Eligibility to apply for Francis Fontan Fund fellowship programme and travel bursaries • Access to the European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery and the Interdisciplinary CardioVascular and Thoracic Surgery journals • Opportunities to publish in MMCTS, the premier online video manual of cardiovascular and thoracic surgery tutorials • EACTS News exclusive quarterly member newsletter

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• Networking opportunities and a personal profile on ctsnet.org

URVEY

Your views on membership will help us identify and explore opportunities to develop our current offering, which is why we are creating a survey.

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• An EACTS membership certificate

EBCTS EXAM APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN MEBCTS

FEBCTS

EACTS NEWS

EBCTS

Applications are now open for the European Board of Cardiothoracic Surgery (EBCTS) level 1 MEBCTS and level 2 FEBCTS examinations.

The level 1 exam - Membership of the European Board of Cardiothoracic (MEBCTS) - awards surgeons who have attained levels of knowledge and proficiency that can be recognised as appropriate for early and established independent specialist practice in cardiothoracic surgery and sub-specialist areas - adult cardiac/congenital or thoracic.

standard expected in one or more areas of established subspecialist practice – adult cardiac surgery, thoracic surgery and congenital cardiac surgery.

Applications for the 2023 level 2 FEBCTS exam will close on 30 April 2023.

MEBCTS examinations are now delivered in recognised test centres around the world including centres in Istanbul, Berlin, Riyadh, London, Zurich and Madrid.

Be part of the EBCTS team

Applications for the 2023 level 1 MEBCTS exam are now open and will close on 31 May 2023.

FEBCTS The level 2 exam – Fellowship of the European Board of Cardiothoracic Surgery (FEBCTS) – is a comprehensive and challenging exam which tests the scope of knowledge, clinical judgement and applications of the principles and practice of an autonomous/ independently practising surgeons to the

Don’t miss the opportunity to become an EBCTS question writer and/or level 2 examiner. We welcome applications from colleagues to join our pool of level 2 examiners or who wish to submit questions for both the MEBCTS and FEBCTS examinations as one of our question writers.

The question bank remains the greatest asset of EBCTS and requires constant input of high-quality questions. The European Board is extremely grateful for the efforts of our volunteer examiners and questions writers.

For more information about how to apply, click here

STAY IN TOUCH Keep up to date with the latest EACTS news and developments by signing up to receive regular updates straight to your inbox.

STAY IN TOUCH WITH THE LATEST NEWS FROM EACTS

Communicating with our members is important to our work as a global educational association. By subscribing to email updates, you will be the first to hear the latest news about the 37th EACTS Annual Meeting, including programme and registration announcements as well as reminders about EACTS Academy courses and the Francis Fontan Fund Fellowships.

Don’t miss out. Sign up here

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Publications

INTRODUCING OUR NEW MONTHLY PODCAST We’re delighted to share that we’ve launched our very own podcast!

Co-hosted by Dr Miia Lehtinen and Dr Can GollmannTepeköylü, A Cut Above helps our members keep up to date with the latest research findings impacting everyday practice from wherever you are in the world.

New episodes are available on the last Tuesday of each month at 10am GMT and are available across all the major streaming services, including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music.

Click here for more information.

A Cut Above provides the perfect platform for surgeons, perfusionists and allied health professionals with increasingly busy schedules to keep abreast of key debates on topics such as artificial intelligence, the future of MV therapy, the development of clinical guidelines and much more.

EACTS Publications Director, Ash Merrifield, said, “The podcast will enable the global cardiothoracic community to engage with the Association’s various activities through a new medium.

“It gives members the opportunity to connect, share views, inspire one another and incorporate key learnings into their own daily practices.”

The first episodes featured guest speakers, Igor Mokryk and Ihor Stetsyuk, highlighting the impact of the war in Ukraine on cardiothoracic surgery and residency and an interview with EACTS’ Immediate Past President, Friedhelm Beyersdorf, discussing innovation and careers .

Latest episode: Standing on your shoulders: Friedhelm Beyersdorf In this episode, our hosts Can Gollmann-Tepeköylü and Miia L Lehtinen, talk to Prof. Dr. Friedhelm Beyersdorf, eminent cardiothoracic surgeon and Past-President of EACTS (2021 – 2022) about his career – how he got to where he is today, the challenges he faced along the way, and his thoughts on the future of cardiothoracic surgery.

Click here to listen

MMCTS RESIDENTS’ TUTORIAL COMPETITION EACTS and TSRA collaboration: Celebrating excellence in online surgical education Applications are now open for the 2023 MMCTS Residents’ Tutorial Competition.

The annual competition recognises the best core skills video tutorial and rewards technical quality, surgical skills and educational clarity.

Aimed at advancing education in the field of cardiac, thoracic and vascular interventions, the tutorial topic must cover the core skills relevant to the basic education of residents.

The winner will receive the Marko Turina Award for Best MMCTS Residents’ Tutorial at the upcoming 37th EACTS Annual Meeting in Vienna.

Find out more information here. Submissions close on 31st May 2023.

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EACTS NEWS

Publications

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Improving the peer review process The Editors-in-Chief (EiCs) of EJCTS and ICVTS are constantly reviewing the submission and peer review processes to ensure that they are robust and efficient. As such, the EiCs have recently implemented some changes that will support authors in highlighting how their research is new and what questions it aims to answer, and will ask reviewers to consider if submissions are new, true and impactful within the community.

Find out more about these changes here

Highlights from EJCTS, ICVTS and MMCTS Latest articles:

Editor’s Choice

EJCTS

EJCTS Vol 36, Iss 1

Long-term survival outcomes after lobe-specific nodal dissection in patients with early non-small-cell lung cancer

Joint 2022 European Society of Thoracic Surgeons and The American Association for Thoracic Surgery guidelines for the prevention of cancerassociated venous thromboembolism in thoracic surgery

Atsushi Kamigaichi, Keiju Aokage, Takashi Ikeno, et al

ICVTS Local control and short-term outcomes after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery segmentectomy versus lobectomy for pT1c pN0 non-small-cell lung cancer

Yaron Shargall, MD, Wojtek Wiercioch, PhD, MSc, Alessandro Brunelli, MD, et al

Céline Forster, Etienne Abdelnour-Berchtold, Benoît Bédat,

ICVTS Vol 36, Iss 1

MMCTS Tutorial

On the three-dimensionality of flow in the neo-sinus and its implications for subclinical leaflet thrombosis

Cardiac surgery simulation: Step-by-step hemi-Yacoub operation in a preclinical model

Dong Qiu, Ali N Azadani, et al

MMCTS Case Report Bilateral pulmonary septic embolectomy in the setting of multivalvular acute infective endocarditis surgery

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Fellowships

New learning opportunities Five new prestigious Francis Fontan Fellowships will give recipients the opportunity to expand their knowledge in areas such as robotic surgery and clinical trials.

The first recipients of these new fellowships highlight what they hope to learn from taking part in the FFF programme.

TSF/FFF/LACES Travelling Fellowship

Márcio Rufino Barbosa Jr Cardiovascular Surgeon at HUCAM-UFES, Brazil

“I feel honoured to be the first South American to receive this Fellowship.

“Through this experience I hope to contribute to the development of cardiovascular surgery in South America, with techniques that reduce the cost of surgery and increase the survival of our patients.

Unfortunately, rheumatic disease is still very prevalent in Brazil, which makes valvular patients even more in need of good treatment.

In the majority of our centres, we still practice valve surgery from the 1990s, where we only decide between bioprosthetic or mechanical valves. The price of these prostheses makes heart surgery even more expensive for our public health system.

“I will have a lot to learn from Professor El Khoury. Professor El Khoury and his entire team at the U.C. Louvain, Brussels/Belgium are at the forefront of valve procedures. They have extensive experience in sparing and valve repair, with excellent outcomes, as a result of building a complex and functional heart team, and surgeons with exceptional dedication and technical ability.

“My goal is to bring back all the knowledge acquired on this Fellowship and build a strong valve disease programme in our University Hospital, HUCAM, being a reference for the treatment of complex structural diseases of approximately 4 million patients, raising the bar with good results and low costs.”

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Clinical Trials & Statistics Fellowship

Vincenzo Caruso Cardiovascular Department, St Thomas’s Hospital, London

“I am really honoured to be selected for this fellowship. I have a lot of passion and love for studying medicine and statistics and am keen to improve my knowledge. I hope to meet the expectations of EACTS/ UCL for this fellowship. I really think it is important to further my education and be the best I can be with such an amazing opportunity from EACTS. “Since I received the fellowship, everyone has been supportive and encouraging, and the team at the Institute of Clinical Trials and Methodology at UCL has excellent teaching skills. The online programme covers all sorts of trials, with the use of STATA or R software. I am most drawn to the Non-inferiority trials, MAMS (multi-arm, multi-stage trials), the Bayesian approach, meta analysis and health economics.

“As a clinician this fellowship will mean that I will collaborate with statisticians in trials design and analysis. I want to start a trial at St Thomas’ Hospital (my home centre) in the cardiovascular department, that has a long research tradition. I would also like to be part of the research team at EACTS and be involved in the review of publications and guidelines.

“When the fellowship ends, I will explore further academic study to improve the statistical methodology in cardiovascular medicine.”

About the TSF/FFF/LACES Travelling Fellowship

About the Clinical Trials & Statistics Fellowship

The TSF/FFF/LACES Travelling Fellowship fosters the continued growth and development of cardiothoracic surgeons by providing members of the Latin America Association of Cardio and Endovascular Surgery the chance to learn from the highest standards of cardiothoracic care in Europe and North America, and gain knowledge of novel techniques and innovative technologies used by other institutes around the world.

The Clinical Trials and Statistics Fellowship provides an excellent grounding in statistics for clinical trials. Fellows have an opportunity to learn about all types of trials, from early to late phase trials and simple to complex interventions. This will be both from a design and analysis perspective. In addition, EACTS Fellows will learn to code in R and STATA.

EACTS NEWS

Robotic Surgery – Cardiac Fellowship

OPCAB Fellowship

Emre Yasar Istanbul Mehmet Akif Ersoy Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Research and Training Hospital

Laura Besola Pisa University Hospital

“It is a great honour to be the 2022/23 Robotics in Cardiac Surgery Fontan Fund Fellowship Award Fellow; this is a big opportunity for me and my institution to start and build a local robotic programme in cardiac surgery. I am really looking forward to beginning this exciting adventure!”

“Francis Fontan Fund has provided a once-in-a-lifetime learning experience to surgeons around the world for years. I am proud to become a part of this community. The opportunity to learn from experts will not only have a great impact on my career but also offers the chance to build friendships that will last a lifetime.”

About the Robotic Surgery – Cardiac Fellowship

About the OPCAB Extended Fellowship

The Robotic Surgery - Cardiac Fellowship provides the successful Fellow with the chance to gain both theoretical and practical skills on robotic cardiac surgery and visit Medical Research and Advanced Technological Institutes in Europe.

The OPCAB Extended Fellowship, in partnership with Medtronic, provides an opportunity for a cardiothoracic surgeon to gain an in-depth clinical understanding of cardiothoracic surgical outcomes. Fellows will also acquire theoretical and practical knowledge in the surgical and anaesthesiologic management of patients with coronary artery disease, with particular interest in off-pump (OPCAB) techniques.

Become a Francis Fontan Fund Fellow Become a Francis Fontan Fund Fellow and join the global cardiothoracic community.

• Learn new skills and techniques from experts in their field.

• Share knowledge and expertise around the world.

• Improve clinical outcomes and enhance patient care.

Applications for the 2023-24 Fellowship Programme are open from 1 July 2023.

Click here for more information.

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4 - 7 OCTOBER 2023 · VIENNA, AUSTRIA Join us next year in Vienna, Austria for the 37th

As the largest and most exciting event in the

EACTS Annual Meeting. For 2023 you can expect

cardiothoracic calendar we will be raising the bar

robust debate and discussion led by global experts,

as we showcase scientific excellence and insights,

the latest technological advances on display and

along with the very latest innovations in

an opportunity to share knowledge and socialise

cardiothoracic surgery. We hope to see you there! www.eacts.org

with your peers from around the world.

www.eacts.org