CTSNet Gets a Face Lift!

We are thrilled to launch a new look for CTSNet, the largest CT surgery portal in the world.  The new design is intended to help you find content faster, and to help us integrate content better.  This makeover is a work-in-progress, so you can expect more changes in the months to come.  We will highlight new features in upcoming newsletters.  For example, here are some important things to know:

The website is set up so you can access links in the banner and the left menu throughout the site.  This will help you move around more readily.  The center part of each page is where you will find new content and important announcements.  The far right column is where you will find links to related content or other materials.

The CTSNet home page is designed to help you find new content quickly.  The four most recent "headlines" are posted at the top.  As announcements are added, older announcements will spill over to the "More Headlines" page.  The rest of the home page includes quick links to content deeper into the site.

CTSNet Redesign Notes:  Take a look at the CTSNet Job Center, which you can now find under "News & Views."  Nearly 30 positions for cardiac and thoracic surgeons were posted in March.

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INDUSTRY FORUM (PREVIOUSLY CALLED PRODUCT FORUM)

St. Jude Medical is sponsoring a symposium at the time of the AATS meeting entitled: "The Power of Focused Energy: High Intensity Focused Ultrasound and Emerging Approaches to Cardiac Surgical Ablation."  Speakers are Drs. James Cox, Richard Shemin, and Mark Groh.

Venue: Moscone West Convention Center, Rooms 2009 & 2011

Date: Sunday, April 10, 2005, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

RSVP by Thursday April 7 at symposium@sjm.com or 762-383-2554

The Cardiopulmonary Research Science and Technology Institute (CRSTI) is sponsoring a lecture by Dr. Adam E. Saltman of the University of Massachusetts entitled "What Every CT Surgeon Should Know about Surgical Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation."

Venue: Moscone West Convention Center, Room 2007

Date: Monday, April 11, 2005, 6:00 AM  (AM is correct)

Program supported through an educational grant from Guidant.

Edwards Lifesciences is sponsoring the following CME-accredited educational programs:

Live webcast on April 6, 2005, 4:00 PM EDT

"Operative and Long-Term Considerations in Aortic Valve Replacement Using Latest Generation Bioprostheses," featuring surgery on a 57-year-old patient by Paul J. Corso, MD.  To access

this program or to view the preview:  http://www.OR-live.com  Viewers may submit questions for the surgeon to answer in real time.  This program is CME-accredited and will be recorded and available after the live webcast. Requirements:  Real Player.   For a free download of RealPlayer:  http://forms.real.com/netzip/getrde601.html?h=software-dl.real.com&r=30608304c91f39b31317&f=windows/RealPlayer10-5GOLD_bb.exe&p=RealOne+Player&oem=dlrhap_bb&tagtype=ie&type=dlrhap_bb

"Heart Valve Club"  May 20-21, 2005 in Montreal, Canada  The new Heart Valve Club, founded in 2004 and conducted by Prof. Alain Carpentier, is a program dedicated to the development of heart valve therapies.  Providing a broader scope and educational format different from the former Le Club Mitrale, this CME-accredited 2-day course includes both live surgeries and discussion of pre-recorded cases by Prof. Carpentier.  He is joined by an esteemed faculty of surgeons and cardiologists for an interactive program featuring surgical techniques for valve repair and replacement of mitral, aortic, and tricuspid valves.  The role of echocardiographic assessment, as well as indications and techniques for adjunctive and future therapies, will also be discussed.  Register on-line at: http://www.5starmeded.org/hvc  Space is limited and registrations will be accepted on a first come, first served basis.

Two new presentations have been added to the Symposia Section:

To the Edwards 2003 Fourth International Forum:

"Tricuspid Valve Surgery: A Cardiologist's Perspective"

James B. Young, MD

The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH

http://www.ctsnet.org/symposia/young2/young2.html

To the St. Jude Medical Symposium: March 2004:

"Minimally Invasive Surgery and AF: A Robot's "Killer App?"

L. Wiley Nifong, MD

East Carolina University, Greenville, NC

http://www.ctsnet.org/symposia/Hifong-web.html

Baxter BioSurgery announces that its surgical sealant CoSeal(R)  is now also approved in Europe (CE marked) for use in patients undergoing cardiac surgery to prevent or reduce the incidence, severity and extent of post surgical adhesion formation. For this new indication it is recommended to use CoSeal(R)  with the Air Enhanced Spray Applicator. See instructions for use, European version:

http://www.ctsnet.org/baxter/product/924

GUIDANT has added a new, well-illustrated animation demonstrating the use of the HEARTSTRING(R)II device.  This hemostatic seal provides an innovative option for CABG anastomoses without allowing the release of cerebral emboli associated with the aortic cross-clamp or the side-biting clamp.

http://www.ctsnet.org/guidantcardio/product/780

TERUMO CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEMS reports the publication of "Intraoperative Regional Myocardial Acidosis and Reduction in Long-term Survival" in the February issue of The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery:

http://jtcs.ctsnetjournals.org/cgi/content/full/129/2/372

The study, by Shukri Khuri et al, follows 496 adult cardiac surgery patients and concludes that reversing or avoiding intraoperative acidosis improves long-term patient survival.  For more information on pH-guided myocardial management, see the information at: http://www.ctsnet.org/terumo/product/905

GUIDANT announces the launch of a clinical trial.  The prospective, randomized trial, called RESOLVE-AF (Randomized Study Of Surgical Ablation with Microwave Energy for the Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation), will evaluate the safety and efficacy of the FLEX® Microwave Surgical Ablation System to treat permanent AF patients undergoing a mitral valve procedure.  See full announcement:

http://www.ctsnet.org/sections/industryforum/industry_announce/article.html

and study design:

http://www.resolve-af.com/

Get good fast!  CME-accredited endoscopic vein harvesting training for TERUMO CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEMS new VirtuoSaph(TM) Endoscopic Vein Harvesting System includes virtual reality training on state-of-the-art endoscopic simulators.  Training is sponsored by Terumo for clinicians evaluating the VirtuoSaph System:

http://www.ctsnet.org/terumo/product/949

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WHAT'S NEW

AmSECT Joins CTSNet

We are very pleased to announce that the American Society for Extra-Corporeal Technology (AmSECT) has joined CTSNet as a member organization.  Founded in 1964, AmSECT has over 2000 perfusionist members worldwide.  Their website, http://www.AmSECT.org, is being moved to a new server, and so is temporarily unavailable, but will be operational soon.

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STS Website has a New Face!

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons is pleased to announce the launch of a redesigned website.  Please visit the home page to learn about the purpose of STS, its products and services, and the many ways the organization helps cardiothoracic surgeons serve patients better.  Access:

http://www.sts.org

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2004 Gibbon Lecture Now Available

The 2004 Gibbon Lecture, presented at the American College of Surgeons Annual Meeting by Dr. Robert Replogle of Chicago, is now available for viewing.  It is titled: "Can A Genius be a Surgeon, or can a Surgeon be a Genius?"

http://www.ctsnet.org/sections/residents/lectureseries/index.html

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Cooley Lecture

The Honored Guest's Lecture, entitled " My 60 Years of Cardiovascular Surgery" by Dr. Denton A. Cooley, given at the fall 2004 meeting of the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association, is available for viewing:

http://www.ctsnet.org/sections/residents/lectureseries/index.html

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New Video Available

A new video entitled, "Transventricular Fixation of Papillary Muscles for Mitral Homograft Implantation in the Tricuspid position"  by Drs. Matthias Kirsch, N. Costin Radu and Daniel Loisance at the Hospital Henri Mondor, Creteil, France, can be viewed at:

http://www.ctsnet.org/sections/clinicalresources/videos/index.html

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New Adult Cardiac Expert Technique Procedure

Dr. Niv Ad of Falls Church, Virginia has contributed a new technique entitled "The Cryosurgical Maze Procedure."  Access:

http://www.ctsnet.org/sections/clinicalresources/adultcardiac/expert_tech-5.html

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New Article Added to New Horizons

A new article has been posted in the New Horizons Section of the Residents Resource.  Under the purview of Dr. Walter Merrill, surgeons tell why cardiothoracic surgery is for them a fulfilling career choice.  Dr. Robert Cerfolio of the University of Alabama writes "Why Become a Chest Surgeon?"  View at:

http://www.ctsnet.org/sections/residents/newhorizons/index.html

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New STSA Video available

A video shown at the fall 2004 STSA meeting has been posted.  The title: "Replacement of the Descending Thoracic Aorta in an Animal: A Totally Robotic Procedure" by Drs. Porat, Herrera, Sheinbaum, Estrera, Vinnerkvist, Huynh, Allen and Safi.  To view:

http://www.ctsnet.org/sections/clinicalresources/videos/index.html

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Important Information from the ABTS

The American Board of Thoracic Surgery has published important information about Maintenance of Certification (MOC) that is must reading for all potential and current diplomates.  Access:

http://www.abts.org

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REMINDER - Abstract Deadline EACTS - ESTS combined meeting

The abstract deadline for the 2005 European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery and the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons in Barcelona is APRIL 1st.  More information at:

http://www.eacts.org and http://www.ests.org

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Abstracts for the upcoming International Society for Minimally Invasive Cardiothoracic Surgery (ISMICS) meeting being held June 1-4, 2005 in New York City can be viewed at:

http://www.ismics.org/doc/5073

Early registration discounts are available only until April 15.  Register here:

http://ismics.prri.com/registration.cgi

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Abstracts are being received for the 52nd Annual Meeting of the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association to be held November 10-12, 2005 at the Disney Yacht & Beach Club, Orlando, Florida.  Submit your abstract to:

http://www.ctsnet.org/abstracts/stsa/856/

DEADLINE is April 8, 2005.  DVD (movie) submissions must go though the online abstract submission process to STSA offices to arrive no later than April 6, 2005.  See STSA website for further details:

http://www.stsa.org/

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Historic Images

Another chapter from the Historical Collection of Roberto Lorusso and W. Randolph Chitwood, Jr. has been posted.  This chapter is entitled "Historical Medical Books," and can be viewed at:

http://www.ctsnet.org/sections/clinicalresources/images/historicimages/index.html

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BOOKSTORE

The Bookstore is featuring a new title: GENERAL THORACIC SURGERY by Thomas W. Shields, Joseph LoCicero, III, Ronald B. Ponn and Valerie W. Rusch.  Send for your copy today:

http://www.ctsnet.org/sections/journalsandbooks/bookstore/index.cfm

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AMERICAN BOARD OF THORACIC SURGERY

The American Board of Thoracic Surgery (ABTS) 2005 In-Training Examination date will be Saturday, April 16, 2005.  The back-up date will be April 23, 2005.  The fee for each candidate will be $200.  Beginning in 2005, access to the back-up exam date will be more strictly limited to those experiencing technical problems during the initial exam date.  Access may be denied to programs and candidates who have not made previous arrangement with the ABTS to take the exam on the back-up date.  For additional information, contact the ABTS website:

http://www.abts.org/doc/4020

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INNOVATION CENTERS

Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery Center

Read the comments of Editor Alan Kypson on "Initial Experience with the Cardiovations Endoscopic Radial Artery Harvesting Equipment", plus a Commentary by Dr. Filip Casselman:

http://www.ctsnet.org/sections/innovation/minimallyinvasive/index.html

Arrhythmia Center

A new article by Editor John Boineau and Dr. Sanjiv Gandhi entitled "Postoperative Atrial Flutter after repair in Cyanotic Congenital Heart Disease" is available for viewing:

http://www.ctsnet.org/sections/innovation/arrhythmia/articles/article-6.html

Beating Heart Surgery Center

Editor Mercedes Dullum has contributed a new article entitled "OPCAB in Women and Heart Disease" dealing in an expert way with all the gender problems encountered in OPCAB, but concluding that for women OPCAB still has a lower mortality/morbidity than conventional bypass.  Access:

http://www.ctsnet.org/sections/innovation/beatingheart/articles/article-35.html

Editor Gianni Angelini discusses off-pump usage in his article "Do We Need More Evidence?  Five Commentaries from around the world follow.  To view them all, click below.

http://www.ctsnet.org/sections/innovation/beatingheart/articles/article-30.html

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VIDEOS

Two videos presented at the November 2004 meeting of the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association are available for viewing:

(1) "Modified Konno Procedure" by Drs. Irving Shen and Ross Ungerleider, and

(2) "Left Carinal Pneumonectomy with Partial Resection of Left Atrium on Cardiopulmonary Bypass" by Drs. Hon Chi Suen and Bill Daily. Access both:

http://www.ctsnet.org/sections/clinicalresources/videos/index.html

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ADULT CARDIAC LITERATURE WATCH

The 4th quarter 2004 Literature Watch compiled by Editors Ozuru Ukoha, M.D. and Andrew H. Gogbashian, M.D. has been posted and can be viewed at:  http://www.ctsnet.org/sections/clinicalresources/literaturewatch/adultcardiac_litwatch/article-9.html

This is the last LW contribution by Drs. Ukoha and Gogbashian.  We are deeply grateful for their efforts.  Two new LW Editors have been appointed by Section Editor Dr. Edward Savage:  Dr. Eric Okun of Chicago and Dr. Domenico Pagano, Birmingham, UK.

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GENERAL THORACIC LITERATURE WATCH

The 4th quarter 2004 Literature Watch compiled by Editor Mark Ferguson has been posted.  View at:

http://www.ctsnet.org/sections/clinicalresources/literaturewatch/thoracic_litwatch/article-12.html

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RESIDENTS SECTION

The seventh Pioneer Interview has been posted.  Dr. Rainer interviews Dr. Charles Hufnagel, pioneer in prosthetic aortic valve design.  Access at:

http://www.ctsnet.org/sections/residents/pioneerinterviews/article-7.html

At the EACTS Leipzig Meeting last fall, the Junior members were treated to a talk on "How to Survive Peer Review" by The Annals of Thoracic Surgery Editor L. Henry Edmunds, Jr.  View slides at:

http://www.ctsnet.org/file/howtosurvivepeerreview.ppt

The thoracic surgery program at the University of Pennsylvania announces that with the current NRMP match cycle they will match two separate positions, one in Cardiac Surgery and one in General Thoracic Surgery.  It is anticipated that the General Thoracic residents will spend 14 months in General Thoracic, 6-8 months in Adult Cardiac, and 2-4 months in Pediatric Cardiac.

Please send your "Interesting Case Presentations" to Dr. Thourani (vthoura@emory.edu).  Instructions for submission are available here:

http://www.ctsnet.org/sections/residents/articles/article-.html

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JOURNALS

The March issues of The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, The Asian Annals, the European Journal of Cardio-thoracic Surgery, and the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery are now available online.

The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery contains the Presidential Address by Dr. Vaughn Starnes entitled "An Evolving Discipline."

http://jtcs.ctsnetjournals.org/cgi/content/full/129/3/483?ck=nck

Every January, The Annals of Thoracic Surgery keyword list that identifies the interests and expertise of registered subscribers is updated.  This keeps the list in synchrony with the changes that are constantly occurring in cardiothoracic surgery.  Each year about a sixth of the total 370 words are changed and a few more are rephrased to be more inclusive or for grouping reasons.  Unless each of our users updates his or her list some of their interests and expertise will no longer be recognized.  For example, in 2004 well over 1200 surgeons indicated that they were experts in "coronary artery bypass surgery."  After the new keyword list was posted in January, only 49 were registered as experts in "CABG surgery," which had replaced the earlier term.

The editorial office depends upon this updated keyword list to improve the match between the content of manuscripts and the expertise of reviewers.  This is designed to give authors better reviews.  The list also helps to involve more readers in the peer review process.

Please update your personal keyword list by going to http://www.atseditorialoffice.org.  Enter your e-mail address and password; go to the Personal Information Area; click on the "Edit Expertise Terms" link.  It will only take about five minutes to choose about 20-40 keywords to update your profile.  The Annals wants your participation and thanks you for becoming involved.

Each month the European Journal of Cardio-thoracic Surgery (EJCTS) on CTSNet will be publishing one or more full articles 'open access.'

March's selection:

Joerg Lindenmann, Alfred Maier, Andreas Eherer, Veronika Matzi, Florian Tomaselli, Josef Smolle, and Freyja Maria Smolle-Juettner

The incidence of gastroesophageal reflux after transthoracic  esophagocardio-myotomy without fundoplication: a long term follow-up

Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2005 27:357-360

http://ejcts.ctsnetjournals.org/cgi/content/full/27/3/357

Note that Editorials, Images and  Letters are all open access in EJCTS

http://ejcts.ctsnetjournals.org/

Note also that the complete contents of Interactive CardioVascular and Thoracic Surgery (ICVTS) is available for viewing without subscription

http://icvts.ctsnetjournals.org/

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DISCUSSION FORUMS

Dr. Tom Karl, Annals Discussion Editor, writes:

"In the March 2005 issue of The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Quintessenza and colleagues present yet another variation in RVOT reconstruction, using a clever bicuspid PTFE valve construct.  It is elegant in its simplicity, and clearly one of the less expensive options that we have seen.  This valve was placed in 41 patients (age: range, 5.0 to 64.7 years; Median = 15.7 years).  All patients had pulmonary insufficiency, pulmonary stenosis, or both, after previous intervention for tetralogy of Fallot (27), pulmonary stenosis (11), pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum (2), or double outlet right ventricle (1).  All patients left the operating theater with transesophageal echocardiography documenting no pulmonic stenosis and zero to trace pulmonic insufficiency.  Follow-up ranged from 0.2 to 3.1 years and revealed significant improvement in NYHA Classification, pulmonary insufficiency, and right ventricular end diastolic dimension.  The authors concluded that PTFE bicus!

pid pulmonary valve reconstruction of the RVOT is a safe, effective, and durable technique for the short term.  Appropriate oversizing minimizes outflow tract obstruction while maximizing competence.  Many other techniques have been proposed for this type of reconstruction, some clearly more effective than others.  One notable feature is that results with the same technique seem to vary widely from center to center."

We invite all surgeons to comment on this report or their own experience with RVOT reconstruction. Please read the article at: http://ats.ctsnetjournals.org/cgi/content/full/79/3/924

and add your comments and experience to this Dilemma in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery in the CTSNet Discussion Forum:

http://www.ctsnet.org/fusetalk/messageview.cfm?catid=9&threadid=20000944

Interesting discussion threads are developing in 2 areas:

(1) On oversupply of physicians, in the In My Opinion forum:

http://www.ctsnet.org/fusetalk/messageview.cfm?catid=83&threadid=20000910

(2) On integrated 6-year residencies, in the Resident forum:

http://www.ctsnet.org/fusetalk/messageview.cfm?catid=14&threadid=15000874

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TRANSITIONS

The Society of Cardiothoracic Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland (SCTS) announces officers for 2005-2006: Patrick Magee, President; Bruce Keogh, President-Elect; James Roxburgh, Honorary Secretary; Babulal Sethia, Honorary Treasurer; Graham Cooper, Meeting Secretary.  For a complete listing:

http://www.ctsnet.org/announcements/announcement52.html

Deceased: Wilford Bigelow, on March 28, 2005 at the age of 92.  Dr. Bigelow was a pioneer cardiac surgeon.  He developed the technique of total body hypothermia and inflow occlusion for the surgical treatment of cardiac defects before cardiopulmonary bypass was available.  He was a past president of the AATS, and received many honors throughout his long career, including the Order of Canada.  A tribute will be added soon.

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ABSTRACT DEADLINES

April 1, 2005: European Association for Thoracic Surgery (EACTS) European Society of Thoracic Surgeons (ESTS) combined meeting, Barcelona, Spain

April 8, 2005: Southern Thoracic Surgical Association (STSA), Orlando, Florida

May 1, 2005: Scandinavian Association for Thoracic Surgery (SATS) and Scandinavian Association for Extra-Corporeal Technology (SCANSECT), Bergen, Norway

July 1, 2005: Belgian Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (BACTS), Brussels, Belgium

July 31, 2005: Association of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeons of Asia (ATCSA), Manila, Philippines

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APRIL MEETINGS

Registration is open for the 2nd Spring Meeting of the EUROPEAN SOCIETY OF THORACIC SURGEONS (ESTS) to be held in Athens, 1 - 2 April 2005.  This is a postgraduate meeting of highly interactive nature following our successful 1st Spring Meeting in Zurich last year.  Programme and on-line registration at http://www.estsmeetings.org

The 85th Annual Meeting of the AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THORACIC SURGERY (AATS) will take place from April 10-13, 2005 at the Moscone Convention Center, San Francisco, CA.  For further details, please visit: http://www.aats.org/annualmeeting

The next Annual Meeting of the ISRAEL SOCIETY OF CARDIOTHORACIC SURGERY, in association with the ISREAL HEART SOCIETY, will take place on April 13-14, 2005, at the David Intercontinental Conference Center in Tel Aviv, Israel.  The Keynote Speaker in Cardiac Surgery will be Prof. Stephen Westaby from Oxford, UK.  His title is: "The Future of Cardiac Surgery - Where are we heading?"  Further details about the meeting and abstract submission regulations and forms can be found at the Meeting's website:

http://www.congress.co.il/cardiology-cardiacsurgery05

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FUTURE MEETINGS

The 54th International Congress of the EUROPEAN SOCIETY FOR CARDIOVASCULAR SURGERY will be held May 19-22, 2005 at the Divani Caravel Hotel, Athens, Greece.  Other particulars can be found on the website:

http://www.escvsannualcongress.org/

The 2nd GLOBAL FORUM ON HUMANITARIAN MEDICINE IN CARDIOLOGY AND CARDIAC SURGERY will be held in Geneva, Switzerland May 26-28, 2005.  We recommend you register and make your hotel reservations as early as possible because availability of hotel rooms in Geneva during the month of May is limited.   More details at:

http://www.gjs-swiss.com/global-forum-humanitarian-medecine05/registration.html

The 31st ANNUAL THORACIC REFRESHER COURSE will be held May 27-28, 2005 at the Sutton Palace Hotel Toronto, Ontario, Canada. For further details:

http://www.cme.utoronto.ca/education/cmesearchdate.asp?start=01-mar-2005&end

The 8th Annual Meeting of the INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR MINIMALLY INVASIVE CARDIOTHORACIC SURGERY (ISMICS), a Joint Meeting with CARDIOTHORACIC TECHNIQUES AND TECHNOLOGIES (CTT), will be held June 1-4, 2005 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel, New York City.  Features this year include a Postgraduate Course directed by Dr. Ralph Damiano on Wednesday, June 1st, on the "Surgical Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation," Case Reports hosted by Dr. Hani Shennib, and live surgery sessions directed by Dr. Valavanur Subramanian.  More information can be found on the organization website:

http://www.ismics.org

The AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR ARTIFICIAL INTERNAL ORGANS (ASAIO) will hold its 51st Anniversary Conference June 9-11, 2005 in Washington, DC.  The theme is "Enabling The Future Through Discovery & Innovation."  The Conference is unique in scope with coverage of virtually all aspects of organ replacement, including existing therapies and the emerging technology for tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and stem cells.  ASAIO provides an ideal venue for interaction between physicians, scientists, biomedical engineers and clinical innovators.  Registration is available online:

http://www.asaio.com

CARDIOTHORACIC SURGICAL CRITICAL CARE 2005, An International CME Conference, will be held June 13-15, 2005 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel, Washington DC.  The theme is Integrating Decision Making and Technology to Increase Precision, Effectiveness, Safety and Patient Comfort.  For the complete Agenda and to Register:

http://ctscriticalcare.ws

The Third Biennial Meeting of THE SOCIETY FOR HEART VALVE DISEASE will be held in Vancouver, Canada, June 17-20, 2005.  The Society website is

http://www.shvd.org.

The 15th World Congress of the WORLD SOCIETY OF CARDIO-THORACIC SURGEONS will take place in Vilnius, Lithuania June 19-23, 2005.  For more information, see http://www.wscts-congress2005vilnius.org/

The 31st Annual Meeting of the WESTERN THORACIC SURGICAL ASSOCIATION will be held June 22-25, 2005 at the Fairmont Empress Hotel, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.  Check the WTSA website for more details:  http://www.westernthoracic.org/

An EACTS Health Management Course entitled: "Health Care: A Successful Future" will be held July 4-8, 2005 in El Escorial, Madrid, Spain.  More information available at:

http://www.ctsnet.org/doc/10032

or at the EACTS office, Windsor, UK

Phone: 44 1753 832166

Fax: 44 1753 620407

E-Mail: info@eacts.co.uk

The 15th Annual ROCKY MOUNTAIN VALVE SYMPOSIUM will be held July 13-15, 2005 in Missoula, Montana at The International Heart Institute of Montana Foundation located at St. Patrick Hospital and Health Sciences Center.  The Program Directors are Carlos M. G. Duran, MD, PhD, and Sir Magdi Yacoub.  For full program information and registration,  visit: http://www.rockymountainvalvesymposium.org

or Email: rocky@ihimontana.org.  Montana-style family and guest activities will also be available.

The 54th Annual Meeting of the Scandinavian Association for Thoracic Surgery (SATS) and the 25th Meeting of the Scandinavian Association for Extra-Corporeal Technology (SCANSECT) will be held August 25-27, 2005, in Bergen, Norway. For more details:

http://flimra.intermedia.uib.no

The 1st American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) Stand-Alone Postgraduate Course will be held September 9-11, 2005 at the Fairmont Hotel in Chicago: Valvular Heart Disease: Advanced Surgical and Interventional Therapies; Director: Delos M. Cosgrove, III, MD; Medical Director: Martin B. Leon, MD; Contact: Megan Tainer, Meeting Manager, 978-927-8330, mtainer@prri.com   For more information, please see

http://www.aats.org/

The Fifth TRIENNIAL BRIGHAM CARDIAC VALVE SYMPOSIUM will be held October 26-28th, 2005 at the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel in Boston, MA.  This is a multidimensional 2 day lecture and panel discussion course on valve surgery involving cardiologists and cardiac surgeons.  For information, contact: Norman Shostak, Harvard Medical, School-CME 21 Landmark Center 2nd Floor West, 401 Park Drive, Boston, MA 02215, Phone: 1 617 384-8611, Fax: 1 617 384-8686, Email: norman_shostak@hms.harvard.edu

The SOUTHERN THORACIC SURGICAL ASSOCIATION (STSA) 52nd Annual Meeting will be held November 10-12, 2005, at the Disney Yacht & Beach Club, Orlando, Florida.  Abstracts are currently being received:

http://www.ctsnet.org/abstracts/stsa/856/

DEADLINE is April 8, 2005.  DVD (movie) submissions must go though the online abstract submission process.  DVDs must be sent via traceable means to STSA offices (STSA, Attention: Jeanne Delaney Lippert, 633 North Saint Clair Street, Suite 2320, Chicago, IL 60611) to arrive no later than April 6, 2005.  DVD presentations can be no longer than 10 minutes.  Please mark the abstract number directly on the DVD.  See STSA website for further details:

http://www.stsa.org/

The 10th Anniversary Congress of the BELGIAN ASSOCIATION FOR CARDIO-THORACIC SURGERY will be held 19 November 2005 at the Sodehotel-Woluwe, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium. Invited speakers are Andrew S. Wechsler, Philadelphia and Joel D. Cooper, St. Louis. Deadline for abstract submission: 1st July 2005. Rules for abstract submission:

http://www.bacts.org/doc/181

More information available either at the BACTS website:

http://www.bacts.org

or the Congress website:

http://www.medicongress.com

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MEMBER SECTION

We thank all those members who have sent your photos for posting on your home page.  It does make such a difference when curious fellow-members can eyeball you.  For those who have not yet done so, we urge you to send a photograph soon.  We prefer a jpeg file attached to an e-mail, but will accept other types (bitmap, gif).  Or simply send us a wallet-sized glossy print to the address below.

Update your home page periodically.  The tool is very simple to use.  When others are curious enough about you to go to the member list and click on your home page, they are disappointed when there is no picture, and the page is largely blank.  You have had that same experience, and so know what we are talking about.  See http://www.ctsnet.org/sections/members/index.html

If you are attending the AATS meeting in San Francisco April 10-13, please stop by the CTSNet booth #1140 for a visit and a picture.  We look forward to seeing you!

Thomas B. Ferguson, M.D.
Senior Editor

Carol L. Blasberg
Managing Editor

CTSNet, Inc.

3108 Queeny Tower
Barnes-Jewish Hospital Plaza
St. Louis, MO  63110
Telephone: 1-314-361-6084
FAX: 1-314-367-0585
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