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Monthly Newsletter - April 2007

Table of Contents

What's New

New Feature - Adult Cardiac Portal

CTSNet is pleased to announce a-soon-to be-released new feature - the Adult Cardiac Portal. Two important goals for CTSNet are to add new important and useful content, and to provide convenient and organized access to that content for the viewers. The Adult Cardiac Portal has been designed with these two goals in mind. The Portal will also function as a guide for further development of the unique aspects of the CTSNet. We greatly look forward to your responses to this new feature, and hope you find it useful.

Watch for the launch!

Dr. Ed Savage, Editor
Adult Cardiac Portal
CTSNet.org

2007 AATS Meeting Schedule - CTSNet Booth #745

To make your visit to our booth more meaningful, we are inaugurating a series of demonstrations/discussions for certain periods throughout the time the exhibit hall is open. The following is a schedule of these events. If you see a topic of particular interest to you, please arrange to stop by at the appropriate time. Of course, you are invited to come by at any time for conversation, and to get your CTSNet home page photograph taken.

1. What's New at CTSNet? (15 minutes; twice a day)
a. Demonstration of new and changed features on CTSNet.
b. Review what's coming in the near future.

SUNDAY: 5:15; 6:00
MONDAY: 9:15; 3:00
TUESDAY: 10:45; 3:15

2. CTSNet 101 (20 minutes; daily)
a. Explain: what is CTSNet?
b. Review the major components and sections of CTSNet.
c. Showcase how the community uses CTSNet.

SUNDAY: 5:30; 6:15
MONDAY: 9:30; 3:15

3. CTSNet for Organizations (20-30 minutes; once per meeting)
a. Review the tools that CTSNet provides to Participating Organizations.
b. Present "Best Practices" for organizations using CTSNet--how to make best use of
the toolkit.
c. Show how the Organization Toolkit works.

By special request and arrangement.

4. CTSNet for Industry (20 minutes; once a day)
a. Review Industry Forum.
b. Show how Industry product information is networked through CTSNet.
c. Demonstrate how Industry sponsors can make the best use of CTSNet in
communicating product information.

By special request and arrangement.

5. Collage Training (3 hours; once per meeting)
a. Train IT staff of the Participating Organizations how to maintain their web sites
through CTSNet

SUNDAY: 9:00 till Noon

6. Special Events (Extending throughout the meeting)
a. 10TH Anniversary Videotaping.
b. Ad hoc speakers from other organizations commenting on CTSNet relationships.

Ongoing throughout the meeting.

New Feature - CTSNET IMAGE LIBRARY

CTSNET IMAGE LIBRARY: The explosion in digital images and video in the past decade has provided a great opportunity for cardiothoracic surgeons to create and share spectacular images of surgical techniques. CTSNet is seeking contributions to build an online Image Library. The library will be a collection of still and videos of the highest quality that comprehensive illustrate cardiothoracic surgery. CTSNet invites contributions from all professionals in cardiothoracic surgery who wish to make images and videos available for educational use by the public. CTSNet will request a nonexclusive, royalty-free license to publish and distribute images through the CTSNet Web site. Contributors will maintain copyright and will be permitted to use their contributions elsewhere. Individual images and videos should be under 10 megabytes, and users can upload up to 100 megabytes per session. Individual user albums have a 1 gigabyte storage limit. For additional information contact Rob Oberteuffer at 410-385-1949 ext 100.

Blog Update

CTSNet welcomes two new bloggers! In his first posting, Dr. Ahmed El-Sherbini of Giza, Egypt discusses the value of EndoVentricular Circular Patch Plasty Technique especially in countries that do not have the facilities to perform heart transplants or where organ transplants are prohibited by law.

And read a new blog by Dr. George Tolis, Jr., entitled "Cyanide, Ricin and the Pump." Dr. Tolis is at the Caritas St. Elizabeth's Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. This is an interesting commentary on on-pump:off-pump question.

Veteran blogger Dr. Tom Treasure provides the lighter side of organization naming in his post, entitled "Thoracic Surgeons in the Forefront." Finally, Dr. Luis Quinonez considers that dramatic effect the Internet is now having as a replacement for medical textbooks in his most recent posting. Consider these and other thoughts on CTSNet Blogs.

And remember, there is a space reserved for your comments. Send them in!

Thoracic Portal Surveys Redux

This month CTSNet reintroduces survey tools on the Thoracic Portal. Surveys were initially introduced on the Thoracic Portal in August 2006, and surveys have been used sporadically on the CTSNet home page since its inception. However, we have found that, although results have been interesting and potentially informative, the response rate hasn't been sufficiently high to permit use of these surveys to importantly influence thought or behavior.

Surveys, although used informally in our setting, have substantial potential value to the leadership of CTSNet. Our initial survey asked members about what they like on the Thoracic Portal and what changes might be desirable. This information, combined with data regarding page reads for various content on the portal, provides useful insight into how we can tailor the content of the portal to the needs of the readership. Our aim is to be as responsive to CTSNet members as possible, providing them with the information that they need to optimize their professional lives.

Surveys also can benefit CTSNet members in more immediate clinical ways. Thus far we have posted results of four clinical surveys, and a fifth clinical survey is available for members to complete. The four completed surveys focus on clinical management of lung and esophageal cancer. The current survey explores management of primary spontaneous pneumothorax. In each of the surveys published to date we found surprising variations in management of common clinical problems. Such results are bound to give the readership insight into alternative methods for approaching conditions that they may see nearly every day.

In addition to learning results of survey questions posed by others, the survey tool offers the CTSNet readership the opportunity to develop surveys of their own. Perhaps you, the reader, are curious about how different surgeons might manage a specific clinical entity that you and others have found challenging. Simply provide a clinical scenario and suggested survey questions that address the issue, and the survey will be considered for posting during one of our updates.

For the future, surveys will be posted every four to six weeks. The posting of a new survey will be announced on the CTSNet home page and on the Thoracic Portal main page. The survey tool link will be highlighted with a flashing reminder on the Thoracic Portal main page. After each survey is completed, the results will be tabulated and posted within two weeks along with a brief summary and commentary to help contextualize the outcomes.

The results of competed surveys to date can be found in the right gutter of the Thoracic Portal Home Page.

This updated survey content is designed to provide additional value to your CTSNet membership. As always, we welcome comments and suggestions regarding it and all elements of the Thoracic Portal experience.

Mark K. Ferguson, MD
Editor, Thoracic Portal
CTSNet.org

"Resection of an Intrathoracic Thyroid Gland"

"Resection of an Intrathoracic Thyroid Gland" by Doctors Teng Mao and Wentao Fang, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai, China, and A. Thomas Pezzella, Director Special Projects, World Heart Foundation, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA.

New Thoracic Expert Technique

"Surgical Management of Epiphrenic Diverticula" by Subrato J. Deb, MD, Commander, United States Navy, National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, USA, and Claude Deschamps, MD, Mayo Graduate School of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA.

New Congenital Heart Video

"Bi-Directional Glenn Shunt for Tricuspid Atresia" by Doctors A. Sampath Kumar and Sachin Talwar, MS, MCh of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.

New Arrhythmia Video

"Unilateral Thoracoscopic Microwave Ablation Procedure" by Dr. Daniel J. Beckman of Clarian Health Group Methodist Hospital, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. A commentary is provided by Dr. George Tolis, Jr., Editor, Video Section, Adult Cardiac Surgery for the Cardiac Portal. St. Elizabeth's Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

Thoracic Clinical Trials Update

Interested in finding a clinical trial for your patients? See the new clinical trials information! Dr. David W. Johnstone, Editor of the Clinical Research Section of the Thoracic Portal, with the assistance of Dr. Robert J. Downey, has updated an exhaustive list of active or pending clinical trials of interest to thoracic surgeons.

New In My Opinion

"How can Morbidity and Mortality Conference Contribute to QA?" by Doctor Vincent A. Gaudiani, Pacific Coast Cardiac & Vascular Surgeons, Redwood City, California, USA.

Memorial Service for Dr. Hermes Grillo

A memorial service for Dr. Hermes Grillo will be held on Thursday, May 3, 2007, at 3:00 pm at the Memorial Church, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, with a reception to follow at the Harvard Faculty Club.

Asian Society for Cardiovascular Surgery

The 15th Annual Meeting of the Asian Society for Cardiovascular Surgery will be held May 17-20, 2007, at the JIUHUA SPA & RESORT, Beijing, China.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: THE VENUE OF THE MEETING HAS BEEN CHANGED. THE RELATIVELY DISTANT LOCATION OF THE NEW VENUE FROM DOWNTOWN BEIJING NECESSITATES THE CHANGE OF RESERVED HOTELS FOR MANY PARTICIPANTS. For more information about hotels and the meeting.

IMPORTANT NOTICE:
CTSNet, the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, and the Asian Cardiovascular and Thoracic Annals invite all Chinese cardiothoracic surgeons to participate in an educational exchange program. You need only to come by the CTSNet booth to register and have your photo taken. For doing this, you will receive complimentary online access to the Asian Cardiovascular and Thoracic Annals, the European Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery, and the Interactive CardioVascular and Thoracic Surgery for one year. We encourage you to take advantage of this one-time offer.

ISMICS 10th Anniversary 2007 Annual Scientific Program

Flash back to 1997 - a meeting in Rome where a handful of surgeons shared their experiences with a set of new techniques that later came to be called MIDCAB. The surgeons formed an organization (ISMICS) to focus on minimally invasive approaches and exploit the new technologies becoming available.

Fast Forward to 2007 - ISMICS is back in Rome. The scientific program includes over 100 authors presenting original research, postgraduate courses on AFIB, Percutaneous Valvular Therapies and Endovascular Aortic Therapies. The keynote address,"Evolution, Revolution, Renaissance", will be delivered by Dr. Thomas J. Fogarty, renowned surgeon, inventor and entrepreneur.

You still have time to make your plans for Rome. Visit the website to preview the entire program. Meeting registration, hotel reservations and links to Rome visitor information are also posted.

ICVTS - Note from the Editor

ICVTS is EACTS' OPEN-ACCESS journal and there are NO AUTHORSHIP CHARGES.

You are cordially invited to join in with the interactive discussion in the journal of Interactive CardioVascular and Thoracic Surgery (ICVTS).

The accepted papers for ICVTS Volume 6/Issue 3 (June 2007) have now been posted on the website and are open for discussion.

To submit an eComment for a particular article in the listing, open it then simply click on the link 'eComments: submit' which appears in the content box to the right of the article Abstract or PDF proof. To respond to a specific eComment simply click on the link which appears to its left. We would be delighted if you could look at the papers posted and contribute any appropriate 'eComments' - your comments will be citable, posted on-line and subsequently published in print in ICVTS Volume 6/Issue 3. To submit an article to ICVTS.

Many thanks for your support, interest and cooperation.

Yours sincerely,

Ludwig von Segesser - Editor-in-Chief ICVTS
ICVTS Editorial Office
av. Gd. St. Bernard 69B (app. 6)
CH-1920 Martigny
Switzerland

Valvular Heart Disease 2007

We encourage you to take advantage of the early bird rate and register now for Valvular Heart Disease 2007: Advanced Surgical and Interventional Therapies, to be held September 7-9, 2007, at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers, Chicago, Illinois, USA.

Sponsored by the American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS), this postgraduate course is designed to foster collaboration among cardiac surgeons, interventional cardiologists and echocardiographers.

The course is also designed for medical practitioners involved in cardiac surgery, such as perfusionists and physician assistants, as well as nurses and technicians working in cardiac surgery, interventional cardiovascular medicine and echocardiography. Cardiothoracic residents and fellows are encouraged to attend.

Preview the Program Outline
Note the sessions most important to you; here is a partial sampling of topics:
Aortic Valve-Stenosis, Ross Procedure, Anatomy & Pathology, Echocardiographic Selection of Patients, Repair for Aortic Insufficiency or Aortic Root Aneurysm, Trans-catheter Aortic Valve Implantation.

Mitral Valve-Pathophysiology of Ischemic Mitral Regurgitation, Echocardiographic Selection of Patients, Combined Treatment of AF and Mitral Valve Disease, Endocarditis, What Now-It's Not Repairable? Trans-catheter Mitral Valve Therapies.

Tricuspid & Pulmonary Valves-Management of Isolated Tricuspid Insufficiency, Always a Mechanical Valve-Other Choices? Trans-catheter Pulmonary Valve Implantation.

Western Thoracic Surgical Association

The Preliminary Program for the 33rd Annual Meeting of the Western Thoracic Surgical Association is now available. You can also view the 2007 Scientific program and abstracts.

Registration for the Annual Meeting is now open. This year's meeting will be held in New Mexico at the Hyatt Regency Tamaya, Santa Ana Pueblo (near Albuquerque) from June 27-30, 2007. To register for the meeting, download the Registration form and fax completed forms to (978) 524-0498.

To reserve your hotel accommodations, make your reservations online or download the Hotel Reservation form and fax completed forms directly to the hotel at fax # (505) 771-6180.

For other meeting information.

Women in Thoracic Surgery Annual Meeting and Reception

The WTS Annual Meeting and Reception will be held at the AATS meeting Sunday, May 6, 2007, from 7 to 9 PM in Room 10, the Renaissance Washington Hotel, Washington, DC, USA.

STS 44th Annual Meeting - Call for Abstracts

Abstracts and surgical videos are now being accepted for consideration for presentation at the STS 44th Annual Meeting in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, January 28-30, 2008.

Abstract and surgical video submissions will be accepted until June 25, 2007. Accepted submissions will be presented as oral presentations, scientific posters, or surgical movies.

To simplify the abstract submission process, STS highly recommends a review of the Abstract and Video Submission Guidelines before beginning the submission process. Reviewing these guidelines in advance will answer many questions about the submission process. To submit an abstract.

EuroPCR 2007, Barcelona, Spain

EuroPCR will take place in Barcelona for the first time from 22nd-25th May, 2007. Also for the first time EACTS will be present at this meeting. As part of the new philosophy of a Heart Team Approach, this collaboration will be strengthened in future meetings.

The main track programme is made up of four major themes:
(1) percutaneous coronary interventions
(2) percutaneous peripheral interventions
(3) valve & non-coronary cardiac disease
(4) cardio-thoracic surgery & vascular surgery

Discover the Course content.

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Industry Forum

What's Happening, Where to Be: Medtronic Activities May 5-9 in Washington, D.C.

Join us May 5-9 in Washington, D.C.!

Discover our new EDGE Skills Training Programs:

Test your skills at the Medtronic EDGESM "Hands-on Surgical Skills Challenge" area adjacent to Medtronic Booth #105.

National Air and Space Museum: Learn more as we "take flight" into the future of managing structural heart disease--join us at our Monday educational event.

Attend our Monday morning educational event as we chart the course for surgical ablation with case presentations from concomitant to stand-alone.

Take advantage of our in-booth educational activities. Explore a booth full of product innovations (booth #105).

For a comprehensive listing of all of Medtronic's activities, download the PDF.

Boston Scientific Sponsors Speakers at Upcoming AATS Annual Meeting

Go farther with experience..... Visit booth #135 at AATS

Booth Speaker Schedule

Sunday, May 6 5:30 PM - 6:00 PM

Routine Aortic Assessment and Management Are Critical for CABG Outcomes: Emory University Approach and Experience
Vinod H. Thourani, MD
Assistant Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery
Associate Director, Cardiothoracic Surgery Clinical Research Unit
Associate Director, Cardiothoracic Surgery Residency Program
Emory University School of Medicine
Atlanta, Georgia

Monday, May 7 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM

Endoscopic Radial Artery Harvesting: My Experience
Chand Ramaiah, MD
Assistant Professor of Surgery Director
Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery Director
Heart Transplant Program University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky

Monday, May 7 1:00 PM - 1:30 PM

Unilateral Thoracoscopic Ablation With the FLEXViewTM System
Daniel J. Beckman, MD, FACS
Surgical Director, Cardiovascular Critical Care
Methodist Hospital
Indianapolis, Indiana

Boston Scientific Medical Symposium: "Interviews With Experts: A Collaborative Approach to Resolving Atrial Fibrillation"

Medical Symposium: "Interviews With Experts: A Collaborative Approach to Resolving Atrial Fibrillation"

Faculty:
Marc Gillinov, MD
Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
The Cleveland Clinic Foundation
Cleveland, Ohio

Adam E. Saltman, MD, PhD
Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery
Maimonides Medical Center
Brooklyn, New York

Kalyanam Shivkumar, MD, PhD
UCLA Cardiac Arrhythmia Center
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Los Angeles, California

A video presentation with emphasis on problem areas, plus a Post-test and Evaluation form. CME credit available.

Jointly sponsored by Postgraduate Institute for Medicine and Imprint Science.
Supported by an educational grant from Boston Scientific.

CryoLife Sponsors Konstandinos Plestis, M.D., as he presents "Complex Aortic Surgery: The Mount Sinai Experience"

CryoLife, Inc. is welcomed as a Contributing Sponsor of CTSNet

CTSNet is pleased to welcome CryoLife, Inc. as a Contributing Sponsor of CTSNet. Founded in 1984, CryoLife, Inc. is a leader in the processing and distribution of implantable living human tissues for use in cardiac and vascular reconstruction throughout the United States and Canada. The Company's BioGlue® Surgical Adhesive is FDA approved as an adjunct to sutures and staples for use in adult patients in open surgical repair of large vessels. BioGlue is also CE marked in the European Community and approved in Canada and Australia for use in soft tissue repair. The Company also distributes the CryoLife-O'Brien® Stentless Aortic Bioprosthesis heart valve and the SG Model 100 vascular graft, which are CE marked for distribution within the European Community. CryoLife is a valuable addition to the CTSNet community.

TERUMO CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEMS HOSTS OPTIMIZING CARDIAC SURGERY SYMPOSIA, MAY 2007

In May 2007, Terumo Cardiovascular Systems will host the popular Optimizing Cardiac Surgery® Annual Symposia Series for the fifth straight year. You're invited to attend our program highlighting new topics.

Attendees appreciate these features that have earned the series high rankings for content and professionalism:

This year's program:

Schedule:
On the first day of the Mechanisms of Perfusion XXII, May 10, 2007, 8-11 am, (continental breakfast at 7:30 am), Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress, Orlando, Florida.

Call your Terumo Cardiovascular Systems sales representative for more information or visit Optimizing Cardiac Surgery Symposia to register.

TERUMO CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEMS LAUNCHES TLINK(TM) DATA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Terumo Cardiovascular Systems has launched TLink(TM) Data Management System, an automated data acquisition system that enables primary focus on the patient. Data from devices in the OR environment are acquired quickly and accurately without manual intervention. Settings and features can be tailored to meet the specific requirements of different cases and different users, then saved and recalled as needed. Case data is easily transferred to a central database or HIS providing all the functionality needed to implement a paperless system for perfusion records. TLink System's integrated query management allows all data to be queried in the system. Its enhanced open-ended query capabilities can optimize post-case analysis and quality assurance management.

Contact your Terumo Cardiovascular Systems sales representative for more information or visit TLink Data Management System.

Terumo Cardiovascular Announces SmartPReP2 Platelet Gel Therapy

The use of platelet therapy and the procurement of concentrated, platelet-derived growth factors are being adopted in cardiothoracic surgery to improve hemostasis, promote wound healing and reduce the incidence of mediastinitis.

Terumo Cardiovascular Systems is the exclusive North American distributor for SmartPReP2 Platelet Gel Therapy in the cardiovascular and perfusion markets. SmartPReP2 sets a new standard for producing autologous platelet concentrate enriched with growth factors. Find out more, including clinical articles and presentations, floating shelf technology, optimized platelet recovery, high platelet concentrations, consistent results, fast processing time, and volume flexibility at SmartPReP2 Platelet Gel Therapy.

Click here to receive a complimentary copy of Use of platelet gel and its effects on infection in cardiac surgery. Journal of Extracorporeal Technology. Dec 2005;37:381-386. Trowbridge, et al. In this study, Trowbridge evaluated over 1,200 patients and reduced their deep sternal wound infection rate from 1.5% to zero using platelet gel.

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books

CTSNet Bookstore Values

The CTSNet Bookstore, maintained in conjunction with Amazon.com, has a new offering, as well as price reductions on a number of books that will make your mouth water. The just published book is Difficult Decisions in Thoracic Surgery: An Evidence-Based Approach by Mark K. Ferguson, Head of Thoracic Surgery at the University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA, and the Editor of the Thoracic Portal for CTSNet. In addition, a number of books by cardiothoracic surgeons previously available are now offered at substantial price reductions. Don't miss this opportunity!

Looking for a Night Table Thriller?

Looking for a Night Table Thriller? Check the Bookstore for a New Novel "Firebase Gecko" by John C. Opie, MD, of Scottsdale, Arizona, USA.

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Clinical Resources

SPECIAL REPORT - "The Match and Changing Times"

SPECIAL REPORT: "The Match and Changing Times" An important article by Dr. Benson R. Wilcox on the Residency Match Program in these troubled times. Dr. Wilcox is Professor Emeritus of Surgery and former Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, USA. He was President of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons in 1995. He is currently a member, and former President of the Board, of the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP).

Videos

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Organizations

European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery

The deadline for applications of MEMBERSHIP in the EACTS is 30 APRIL, 2007. For further details.

21st EACTS Annual Meeting, Geneva, Switzerland, 13-19 September, 2007.

Registration for the meeting is now open.

Important! CTSNet Members

An updated, functioning e-mail address is our only way of communicating with you.

For those of you who wish to be kept up to date on all the CTSNet menu offerings, meetings, Newsletter, and other information in cardiothoracic surgery, PLEASE MAINTAIN YOUR CORRECT E-ADDRESS ON YOUR HOME PAGE. It is our only reliable way of communicating with you.

It takes only a minute to do, so go to your home page right now and double check that your address is the correct one. If it is not, and needs changing in any way, go to the top of your home page and click on Profile Update under Member Services in the blue bar. Add your password to your UserID to access your Update options. Your e-address, as well as all the other information we have about you, is found under CONTACT INFORMATION.

This is also a good time to double check all the other Contact Information to make sure it is correct, as well as update the other elements on your home page - your Specialty, Interests and Background Information.

PLEASE DO IT NOW!

Message Directed to CTSNet Participating Organizations

CTSNet encourages member organizations to utilize its information network in the dissemination of information about member organization activities and events. It is the easiest way to get information to the world-wide cardiothoracic community, and for member groups, is available to your organization without additional charge. All such announcements are carried both on the website, and in the monthly Newsletter. Use it!

The 15th Annual Meeting of the Asian Society for Cardiovascular Surgery

The 15th Annual Meeting of the Asian Society for Cardiovascular Surgery will be held May 17-20, 2007, at the Beijing International Convention Center, Beijing, China. ADVANCE REGISTRATION DEADLINE AND HOTEL BOOKING DEADLINE: March 31, 2007. For more information.

IMPORTANT NOTICE:
CTSNet, the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, and the Asian Cardiovascular and Thoracic Annals invite all Chinese cardiothoracic surgeons to participate in an educational exchange program. You need only to come by the CTSNet booth to register and have your photo taken. For doing this, you will receive complimentary online access to the Asian Cardiovascular and Thoracic Annals, the European Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery, and the Interactive CardioVascular and Thoracic Surgery for one year. We encourage you to take advantage of this one-time offer.

AATS Resident Traveling Fellowships (2007-2008)

AATS Resident Traveling Fellowships (2007-2008) Online Award Applications Now Available.
Deadline: July 1, 2007

Candidates must be a resident in their final year of an approved North American cardiothoracic surgical training program who plans to spend a maximum of two weeks at one or more institutions other than their home institution. Awardees must also plan to attend the annual meeting of the Association, May 10-14, 2008 in San Diego, CA.

More Information and to apply.

AATS Evarts A. Graham Memorial Traveling Fellowship (2008-2009)

AATS Evarts A. Graham Memorial Traveling Fellowship (2008-2009)

Candidate must be a non-North American who plans a cardiothoracic surgery training program in a North American center and who has not had significant clinical training in North America prior to making application.
Candidate should have completed his/her formal training in general surgery and in thoracic and cardiovascular surgery, but should not have reached a senior position.

More Information and to apply.

AATS Norman E. Shumway Research Scholarship (2008-2010)

AATS Norman E. Shumway Research Scholarship (2008-2010). Online Award Applications Now Available. Deadline: July 1, 2007.

Norman E. Shumway Research Scholarship (2008-2010) provides an opportunity for research, training and experience for North American surgeons committed to pursuing an academic career in cardiothoracic surgery.

Research program must be undertaken within the first three years after completion of an approved North American cardiothoracic residency. Applications for the scholarship may be submitted during the candidate's final year of cardiothoracic residency or during his or her first two years in an academic position. The duration of the scholarship is to be two years.

More Information and to apply.

Webcast of STS 2007 Annual Meeting Now Available

Don't miss Frederick L. Grover's Presidential Address, "The Bright Future of Cardiothoracic Surgery in the Era of Changing Health Care Delivery: An Update," or this year's Thomas B. Ferguson Lecture by former US Senate Majority Leader and STS member William H. Frist. Also included are the four invited presentations by Albert Starr, Mark B. Orringer, Hazim J. Safi, and G. Alexander Patterson. And look for the latest thinking on CABG vs PCI through several sessions on this important topic.

In total, 119 lectures are available for viewing. The list of available presentations may be browsed in the faculty or session sections. Presentations can also be searched by using a particular title, presenter name or keyword.

The Webcast is an excellent chance to review a session you attended during the meeting or to catch up on something you missed. Also, those who missed the STS Annual Meeting this year can still have an opportunity to learn from experts in the field.

While the Webcast captures many of the presentations on tape, it does not replace the experience of being on-site. From networking with old colleagues to hands-on sessions, there's nothing quite like being there. Plan now to attend the next STS Annual Meeting, already being planned for January 28-30, 2008 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

AATS 87th ANNUAL MEETING

We hope you are planning to attend the American Association for Thoracic Surgery's Annual Meeting May 5-9, 2007 in Washington, DC. A few of the highlights follow:

Basic Science Lecture to focus on Nanotechnology
Steven R. Bailey of the University of Texas will deliver the basic science lecture on Monday morning at 10:05 a.m. The lecture will be titled "Nantotechnology - Impact on Cardiovascular Medicine."

Former FDA commissioner to deliver Honored Guest Lecture
This year's Honored Guest Lecturer is Mark B. McClellan, M.D., Ph.D., visiting senior fellow at the AEI-Brookings Joint Center for Regulatory Studies, former administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

President to deliver address titled, "Who We Are, Who We Will Be"
AATS President Bruce Lytle will focus his Presidential Address on the unique qualities that exist in CT surgeons and how these qualities will help to lead the specialty in the future.

Top notch Lillehei Forum on tap
The Tenth Annual AATS C. Walton Lillehei Residents' Forum will once again feature a selection of top-notch young scientific talent, according to Co-Moderator Mark J. Krasna, M.D.

Attendee Reception
Attendees will have the opportunity to browse the newly opened "Hall of Mammals" as well as explore the National Gem and Mineral Collection, which includes such famous pieces as the Hope Diamond and the Star of Asia Sapphaire.

Emerging Technologies and Techniques Forum
Don't miss the Emerging Technologies and Techniques Forum on Wednesday, with moderators Michael A. Acker, M.D. and Michael J. Mack, M.D.

Global Thoracic Forum to focus on global access to information and operative skills in CTS
The 2007 Global Thoracic Symposium will focus on the use of modern technology to allow global access to information, pertinent to the CT specialty. This session will feature presentations by Volkmar Falk, M.D., University of Leipzig Heartcenter, Thoralf M. Sundt, M.D., of the Mayo Clinic, Marko Turina, M.D. of University Hospital in Zurich, Switzerland and Jonathan Schaffer of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation.

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Residents Section

New Horizons Contribution

Another essay in the New Horizons series has been posted in the Residents' Section, entitled The "Ideal" Life as a Cardiothoracic Surgeon, by Alex G. Little, MD, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio, USA.

This feature is edited by Walter H. Merrill, MD, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio.

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Journals

EJCTS April Issue

ICVTS - Coming soon: ESCVS Venice Abstracts (Suppl. 1 to Vol. 6) and ESTS Leuven Abstracts (Suppl. 2 to Vol.6).

Join-in the ICVTS on-line discussion and see your citable comments published in the April print journal: http://icvts.ctsnetjournals.org/content/vol6/issue2/index.dtl

EJCTS - April issue is live http://ejcts.ctsnetjournals.org/content/vol31/issue4/ including 2 CME activities.

MMCTS - 88 surgical procedures now on-line: http://mmcts.ctsnetjournals.org/misc/contentsbydate.shtml

JCTVS April Issue

Continuing Medical Education Articles

Surgery for Congenital Heart Disease

Osman O. Al-Radi, Frank E. Harrell, Jr, Christopher A. Caldarone, Brian W. McCrindle, Jeffrey P. Jacobs, M. Gail Williams, Glen S. Van Arsdell, and William G. Williams.
Case complexity scores in congenital heart surgery: A comparative study of the Aristotle Basic Complexity score and the Risk Adjustment in Congenital Heart Surgery (RACHS-1) system.
J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2007;133:865-875.

General Thoracic Surgery

Giulia Veronesi, Francesco Petrella, Francesco Leo, Piergiorgio Solli, Patrick Maissoneuve, Domenico Galetta, Roberto Gasparri, Giuseppe Pelosi, Tommaso De Pas, and Lorenzo Spaggiari.
Prognostic role of lymph node involvement in lung metastasectomy.
J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2007;133:967-972.

Surgery for Acquired Cardiovascular Disease

Charles R. Bridges, Sean M. O'Brien, Joseph C. Cleveland, Edward B. Savage, James S. Gammie, Fred H. Edwards, Eric D. Peterson, and Frederick L. Grover.
Association between indices of prosthesis internal orifice size and operative mortality after isolated aortic valve replacement.
J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2007;133:1012-1021.

This issue contains the most recent message from the member journals of the Surgery Journals Editors Group (SJEG), Consensus statement on mandatory registration of clinical trials. Specifically, the SJEG member journals, including The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, will require registration of all prospective clinical trials, whether publicly funded or commercially sponsored, as a condition of consideration for publication, effective July 1, 2007. The SJEG will also require registration of Phase I and Phase II trials.

Navia, et al report on studies done in sheep to test 2 different configurations of a stentless pericardial mitral valve prosthesis in 2 configurations that they developed. Both configurations showed reliable valve performance but further study is requires to verify and evaluate their results. Dr. Robert Frater, in an accompanying editorial, provides background information on mitral valves and looks at "what has been learned," "what has been achieved,"and "where are we going."

The Annals of Thoracic Surgery - April Issue

The April 2007 issue of The Annals of Thoracic Surgery carries important and timely material of interest to readers of The Annals and all those in the healthcare industry. See the supplement, "Quality Measurement in Adult Cardiac Surgery: Report of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Quality Measurement Task Force" (Ann Thorac Surg 2007;83:S1-S26) and two related articles in the regular issue: an Editorial by Immediate Past STS President Dr. Frederick L. Grover, "An Innovative New Concept for Quality Measurement in Adult Cardiac Surgery" (Ann Thorac Surg 2007;83:1237-1239) and the Statistician's Page by Drs. Gary L. Grunkemeier and Y. Wu, "What Are the Odds?" (Ann Thorac Surg 2007;83:1240-1244).

CME ARTICLES

General Thoracic

Petersen RP, Pham D, Burfeind WR, Hanish SI, Toloza EM, Harpole Jr DH, D'Amico TA.
Thoracoscopic Lobectomy Facilitates the Delivery of Chemotherapy after Resection for Lung Cancer.
Ann Thorac Surg 2007;83:1245-1250.

Adult Cardiac

Vanden Eynden F, Bouchard D, El-Hamamsy I, Butnaru A, Demers P, Carrier M, Perrault LP, Tardif J-C, Pellerin M.
Effect of Aortic Valve Replacement for Aortic Stenosis on Severity of Mitral Regurgitation.
Ann Thorac Surg 2007;83:1279-1284.

Pediatric Cardiac

Aellig NC, Balmer C, Dodge-Khatami A, Rahn M, Prêtre R, Bauersfeld U.
Long-Term Follow-Up After Pacemaker Implantation in Neonates and Infants.
Ann Thorac Surg 2007;83:1420-1423.

REPORT FROM THE WORKFORCE ON EVIDENCE-BASED MEDICINE

Engelman R, Shahian D, Shemin R, Guy TS, Bratzler D, Edwards F, Jacobs M, Fernando H, Bridges C.
The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Practice Guideline Series: Antibiotic Prophylaxis in Cardiac Surgery, Part II: Antibiotic Choice.
Ann Thorac Surg 2007;83:1569-1576.

CONSENSUS STATEMENT

Consensus Statement on Mandatory Registration of Clinical Trials.
Ann Thorac Surg 2007;83:1583-1584.

Annals of Thoracic Surgery Discussion Paper - April 2007

Stulak JM et al. Ten-year experience with the Cox-Maze procedure for atrial fibrillation: How do we define success? Ann Thorac Surg 2007;83:1319-24.

In the April 2007 issue of The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Stulak et al from Mayo Clinic present data regarding one of the most successful arrhythmia operations of our era, the Cox maze. The authors contend that analysis of new devices and lesion sets is difficult because of variable methods of reporting success in eliminating AF. They have analyzed their 10-year outcome with the "cut and sew" Cox-maze.

335 patients underwent the Cox-maze procedure for atrial fibrillation, which was chronic (CAF) in 175 patients and paroxysmal (PAF) in 160. Concomitant mitral valve procedures were performed in 59%, coronary artery bypass grafting in 19%, and tricuspid valve repairs in 7%. Early mortality was 0.9%. During hospitalization, transient AF occurred in 29% of patients and 10% required implantation of a new permanent pacemaker (PPM). Dismissal electrocardiogram was normal sinus rhythm in 64%, junctional rhythm in 18%, AF in 11%, and PPM in 7%. At follow-up (mean 42 +/- 6 months), 88% of patients were free of AF. Freedom from AF was lower for patients with preoperative lone PAF (5 years, 90%; 10 years, 64%), preoperative lone CAF (5 years, 80%; 10 years, 62%), and patients undergoing combined maze-mitral valve surgery (5 years, 68%; 10 years, 41%). Only left atrial dimension remained as a significant predictor of recurrent AF in the follow-up period.

The authors contend that their results highlight some of the difficulties in assessing follow-up, in that the electrocardiogram is a "snap-shot" in time and has limited ability to detect those patients that may have transient atrial arrhythmias over time. Their ideal method for assessment of recurrent arrhythmias is the Holter monitor; however, widespread use for routine follow-up is not feasible. The second difficulty is in how the results of the procedure are reported. "Rhythm at last follow-up," they state, may underestimate the recurrence atrial arrhythmias in the follow-up period, and thus overestimate the success of the procedure.

The authors conclude that ten-year results with the standard Cox-Maze procedure confirm high effectiveness, but reporting methods should be standardized to account for patients who have transient atrial arrhythmias during long-term follow-up.

Please read the article and add your comments and experience to this Dilemma in Adult Cardiac Surgery in the CTSNet Discussion Forum.

The monthly articles for discussion are selected and summarized by Dr. Tom Karl, University of California at San Francisco, UCSF Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, San Francisco, California, USA. Dr. Karl is Editor of the ATS Discussion Section.

The Journal of Extracorporeal Technology - TOC for 2007 Issue 1

Table of Contents (TOC) for the 2007 first issue (March) of The Journal of Extracorporeal Technology.

Asian Annals April Issue

Issue 2 (April) of Volume 15 of the Asian Cardiovascular and Thoracic Annals is now available for viewing. There are many interesting articles in this issue. Two examples:

Radial Artery Graft Use and Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery Outcome.
Ahmet T Gurbuz, Orhan Findik, Haiyan Cui, and Aydin Aytac.
Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann 2007;15:106-112.

Gurbuz and colleagues at the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Tucson Medical Center, Tucson, Arizona, USA, did a study of radial artery grafts in the setting of Off-pump CABG, and found that radial artery grafting was an independent predictor of increased symptom recurrence and adverse cardiac events. Patients with radial artery grafts also had a tendency towards more angina recurrence, coronary re-intervention, and sudden cardiac death when compared to patients with other types of conduits.

New Era in Management of Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome.
Shunji Sano.
Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann 2007;15:83-85.

Doctor Sano has written a thoughtful editorial assessment of the progress being made in one of the most difficult congenital heart conditions we encounter -- Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. Dr. Sano is from Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine and Dentistry, Okayama, Japan.

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Transitions

The French Society of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery

At the Autumn meeting of The French Society of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery the following Council officers were elected:

President: Alain Pavie
Vice President: Marcel Dahan
Secretary for cardiac surgery: Rémi Nottin
Secretary for thoracic surgery: Jacques Azorin
Treasurer: Alain Prat

Council Members:

Jean-Louis de Brux
Charles de Riberolles
Patrick Donzeau-Gouge
Gérard Fournial
René Jancovici
Marc Laskar
Emmanuel Pouliquen
Marc Riquet
Pascal Alexandre Thomas
Jean François Velly

Invited as President of the College: Francine Leca
Invited as Editor: Gilbert Massard

Women in Thoracic Surgery New Officers!

The following slate of officers was elected at the January 28, 2007 meeting of WTS held in conjunction with the STS meeting in San Diego:

President: Margarita Camacho
Vice President: Nora Burgess
Secretary: Joanne Starr

Board of Directors:

Nora Burgess
Margarita Camacho
Yolonda Colson
Joanne Starr
Patricia Thistlethwaite

Committee Chairs:

By-Laws: Lorraine Rubis
Historian: Nora Burgess
International Membership: Carolyn Dresler
Membership: Lorraine Rubis
Mentoring: Cynthia Herrington
The ORACLE: Kathleen Fenton
Photo archivist: Rebecca Wolfer
Website: Virginia Litle

Past Presidents:
Andrea Carpenter
Mercedes Dullum

Save this Date! WTS Meeting and Reception at the AATS meeting in Washington D.C., Sunday, May 6, 2007, from 7 to 9 PM in Room 10, the Renaissance Washington Hotel.

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Abstract Deadlines

More meeting abstract deadlines are available.

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Upcoming Meetings

Advanced Cardiac Techniques in Surgery (ACTS) 2007

Advanced Cardiac Techniques in Surgery (ACTS) 2007: The Sixth in the Series will be held Wednesday and Thursday, May 2-3, 2007 in The Equitable Center, New York, NY. Accommodations: Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers, New York, NY. Contact: Promedica International CME, a California Corporation, 2333 State Street, Suite 203, Carlsbad, CA 92008; Tel: 760-720-2263; Fax: 760-720-6263; Email: acts@promedicacme.com

Historic Inaugural Meeting of the World Society for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery

Historic Inaugural Meeting of the World Society for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery will be held 3 - 4 May, 2007, at the Renaissance Washington Hotel, Washington, DC, USA. For additional information. For information, contact: Christine Prader, Conference Coordinator; Email: christine@wspchs.com

Registration is Open for the 2007 AATS Meeting

Registration is now open for the 87th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS). The meeting will be held at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC, USA, May 5-9, 2007. For hotel accommodations.

European Vascular Course "Open Surgery versus Endovascular Procedures"

The European Vascular Course Meeting will be held May 10-12, 2007, at the Palais du Pharo, Marseille, France. The main topic for this meeting will be "Open Surgery versus Endovascular Procedures" Course Directors are Dr. Alain BRANCHEREAU, Department of Vascular Surgery, Hôpital La Timone, Marseille, France and Dr. Michael JACOBS, Department of Surgery, University Hospital, Maastricht, The Netherlands. For more information.

Extending the Horizons in Valvular Heart Disease

Extending the Horizons in Valvular Heart Disease: The First in the Series will be held on May 10, 2007 at the Abington Memorial Hospital, Abington, PA. For information, please contact: Promedica International CME, a California Corporation, 2333 State Street, Suite 203, Carlsbad, CA 92008; Tel: 760-720-2263; Fax: 760-720-6263; Email: vmartinelli@promedicacme.com

24th Annual Meeting of Japanese Association for Chest Surgery

The 24th Annual Meeting of Japanese Association for Chest Surgery will be held May 17-19, 2007, at the PACIFICO YOKOHAMA, Yokohama, Japan. Contact: Masayuki Iwazaki, MD, PhD, Secretary General; Bohseidai Isehara-shi, Kanagawa 259-1193, Japan; Phone:+81-463-98-3021; Fax:+81-463-98-3023; Email:jacs24@m.med.u-tokai.ac.jp. For further information.

Asian Society for Cardiovascular Surgery

The 15th Annual Meeting of the Asian Society for Cardiovascular Surgery will be held May 17-20, 2007, at the JIUHUA SPA & RESORT, Beijing, China.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: THE VENUE OF THE MEETING HAS BEEN CHANGED. THE RELATIVELY DISTANT LOCATION OF THE NEW VENUE FROM DOWNTOWN BEIJING NECESSITATES THE CHANGE OF RESERVED HOTELS FOR MANY PARTICIPANTS. For more information about hotels and the meeting.

IMPORTANT NOTICE:
CTSNet, the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, and the Asian Cardiovascular and Thoracic Annals invite all Chinese cardiothoracic surgeons to participate in an educational exchange program. You need only to come by the CTSNet booth to register and have your photo taken. For doing this, you will receive complimentary online access to the Asian Cardiovascular and Thoracic Annals, the European Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery, and the Interactive CardioVascular and Thoracic Surgery for one year. We encourage you to take advantage of this one-time offer.

HERSHEY CONFERENCE

The Third International Conference on PEDIATRIC MECHANICAL CIRCULATORY SUPPORT SYSTEMS, PEDIATRIC HEART TRANSPLANTATION, AND PEDIATRIC CARDIOPULMONARY PERFUSION will be held May 17-19, 2007 at the Hotel Hershey, Hershey, PA. Sponsored by the Penn State Children's Hospital and Penn State College of Medicine. Contact: Bonnie J. Bixler, M.Ed. Dir. of Special Projects Penn State Continuing Education, College of Medicine, PO Box 851, Hershey, PA 17033-0851; ph: 1 717-531-6483.

THE EUROPEAN SOCIETY FOR CARDIOVASCULAR SURGERY

The 56th International CONGRESS OF THE EUROPEAN SOCIETY FOR CARDIOVASCULAR SURGERY will be held May 17-20, 2007 in Venice, Italy. For information, contact: Professor Claudio Muneretto, Secretary General, UDA Cardiochirurgia - Spedali Civili, P.le Spedali Civili 1, 25123 Brescia (Italy). Phone: + 39 030 399 6401; Fax: + 39 030 399 6096; Email: munerett@med.unibs.it

The IVth Turkish Thoracic Surgery Congress

The IVth Turkish Thoracic Surgery Congress will be held 17 - 20 May, 2007, at the Kremlin Palace Hotel, Antalya, Turkey. For information, contact: Associate Professor Dr. Turgut Isitmangil; Telephone: 902-165-756-731; Email: isitmangil@gmail.com; Additional information.

Left and Right Ventricular Failure: concepts and management. Approved by EACTS

"Left and Right Ventricular Failure: concepts and management" will be held 17 - 22 May 2007, at Ettore Majorana Centre for Scientific Studies, Erice, Sicily, Italy. Program approved by EACTS. For information, contact: Professor Ugo F. Tesler, M.D., Direzione Scientifica del Policlinico di Monza, Via Amati 111, Monza, Italy; Email: hugin@iol.it

EuroPCR 2007, Barcelona, Spain

EuroPCR will take place in Barcelona for the first time from 22nd-25th May, 2007. Also for the first time EACTS will be present at this meeting. As part of the new philosophy of a Heart Team Approach, this collaboration will be strengthened in future meetings.

The main track programme is made up of four major themes:
(1) percutaneous coronary interventions
(2) percutaneous peripheral interventions
(3) valve & non-coronary cardiac disease
(4) cardio-thoracic surgery & vascular surgery

Discover the Course content.

MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL POSTGRADUATE COUSE IN GENERAL THORACIC SURGERY

The 37th Annual Postgraduate Course in General Thoracic Surgery, co-directed by Douglas J. Mathisen, MD and Cameron D. Wright, MD will be held May 24-25, 2007 at the Royal Sonesta Hotel, Cambridge, MA, USA. For information/registration, please contact Harvard Medical School, Division of Continuing Education (617) 384-8600.

4th International Meeting on Cardiac Surgery "The Euro-Asian Bridge"

The 4th International Meeting on Cardiac Surgery "The Euro-Asian Bridge" will be held 26-27 May, 2007, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Dubai. Contacts: "The Euro-Asian Bridge" Secretariat, 29 Sinopis Str., 115 27, Athens, Greece; Telephone: +30 210 7799261; FAX: +30 210 7711768; E-Mail: secretariat@euroasianbridge.net

EACTS course "Advanced Techniques in Adult Cardiac Surgery"

EACTS course "Advanced Techniques in Adult Cardiac Surgery" will be held in Krakow, Poland, May 31 - June 2, 2007. The International Cooperation Committee of the EACTS is repeating a two and a half day teaching course for cardio-thoracic surgeons, centred on advanced surgical techniques in the field of adult cardiac surgery. The course consists of a series of lectures by invited experts addressing various surgical conditions; and direct video transmissions of their surgical procedures. Participants will be able to involve the faculty in direct discussions following the presentations and surgeries.

This course is oriented towards cardiac surgeons at an advanced level of training, and at experienced surgeons wishing to learn more from acknowledged experts.

Course organization: Marko Turina
Local organizing committee: Jerzy Sadowski and Piotr Przybylowski.

For registration and further details.

JUNE

33RD ANNUAL TORONTO THORACIC SURGERY REFRESHER COURSE

33RD ANNUAL TORONTO THORACIC SURGERY REFRESHER COURSE at the Sutton Place Hotel, Toronto, Canada June 1-2, 2007. For more information.

ACCREDITATION:
The Office of Continuing Education and Professional Development, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto is an accredited provider for The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and The American Medical Association.

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT: Continuing Education, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 500 University Avenue, Suite 650, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1V7 Canada; Phone: 1 416.978.2719, Toll Free: 1.888.512.8173; Fax: 1 416.946.7028; E-mail: ce.med@utoronto.ca; Website: www.cme.utoronto.ca

5th Annual Current Trends in Cardiothoracic Surgery

The 5th Annual Current Trends in Cardiothoracic Surgery meeting will be held June 1-2, 2007 at the Intercontinental Hotel, Houston, Texas, USA. For information, contact: Baylor College of Medicine, Office of Continuing Medical Education, One Baylor Plaza, MS: BCM 155, Houston, TX 77030, Tel. +1 713 798 8237, Fax +1 713 798 7955, Email:cme@bcm.tmc.edu; Online registration and conference program.

EUROPEAN SOCIETY OF THORACIC SURGEONS

The 15th European Conference on General Thoracic Surgeons organized by the ESTS will take place in Leuven, Belgium 3-6 June 2007. Begijnhof Congres Hotel; Novotel Leuven Centrum; Ibis Leuven Centrum; Holiday Inn Garden Court. The program is now available. For information, contact: Dirk Van Raemdonck, M.D., Phone: +44 1392 430671 / 32 16 34; Fax: +44 1392 430671 / 32 16 34; Email: secretary@ests.org.uk

American Society For Artificial Internal Organs

ASAIO's 53rd Annual Conference will be held June 7 - 9, 2007, at the Palmer House Hilton, Chicago, IL, USA. Contact Information: ASAIO Headquarters info@asaio.com; 1 561-391-8589.

Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgery Summit

The Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgery Summit will be held June 8-9, 2007. Course Director: Scott J. Swanson, MD, at The New York Academy of Medicine. This conference will focus on the state-of-the-art minimally invasive treatment of thoracic disease and will highlight diagnostic and therapeutic technologies that are available for diseases of the lung, esophagus, chest wall and mediastinum. Invited faculty include national and internationally recognized leaders in the field of Thoracic Surgery. For further information, please email Donald Morcone at dmorcone@nyam.org.

Contemporary Questions in Congenital Heart Disease: The Left Heart

2007 Cardiac Symposium on Contemporary Questions in Congenital Heart Disease: The Left Heart will be held June 10 - 12, 2007, at the Four Seasons Hotel, Toronto, Ont. Canada. This symposium is sponsored by Sickkids, Toronto, Canada. More information on the symposium.

60th Congress of The French Society of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery

The 60th Congress of The French Society of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery will be held 13 - 16 June, 2007, in Besançon France. For information, contact: SFCTCV, 56, Bd Vincent Auriol - 75013 - Paris - France; Phone: +33 1 42 16 42 10; Fax: +33 1 53 62 91 20; Email: sfctcv@wanadoo.fr

AmSECT Perfusion Safety 2007

AmSECT's Perfusion Safety 2007 meeting will be held June 13-16, 2007 at the Vallarta Palace in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Registration is waived for AmSECT members. For the schedule of scientific sessions and information about AmSECT membership. For registration and lodging. The ABCP has awarded 24.8 Category I CEUs for this meeting.

Rhythm - 2007 Arrhythmias and Heart Failure

Rhythm - 2007 Arrhythmias and Heart Failure: Pharmacological and Non-Pharmacological Therapies. Meeting will be held 15-17 June, 2007 at the Majestic Hotel in Cannes, France. Contact: lcurel@rhythmcongress.com. For more information.

Society for Heart Valve Disease (SHVD) Meeting

The 4th Biennial Meeting of the Society for Heart Valve Disease (SHVD) will be held 15-18 June, 2007, at the Hotel Pennsylvania, New York, NY. SHVD Executive Secretariat: Heart Science Centre, Harefield Hospital, Harefield, Middlesex. UB9 6JH United Kingdom. Telephone: + 44 1895-828977; Facsimile: +44 1895-828902; Email: secretariat@shvd.org

SOCIETY OF CARDIAC SURGEONS

The XXVth Meeting of the SOCIETY OF CARDIAC SURGEONS will be held in Pamplona, Spain, June 21-23, 2007. Registration: Miss Luisa Goni, Servicio Cirugía Cardiovascular, Clínica Universitaria de Navarra, Av. Pio XII, 36, 31008 Pamplona, Navarra, Spain; Fax +34 948 204 188.

7th Symposium on Aortic and Mitral Reconstructive Surgery

The 7th Symposium on Aortic and Mitral Reconstructive Surgery - Focus on aortic leaflet prolapse management will be held June 22-23, 2007, at the Best Western - Sodehotel in Brussels, Belgium.
Register online.

Congress secretariat: Secrétariat de chirurgie cardiovasculaire et thoracique, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc 10/6107, 1200 Bruxelles - Belgium; Telephone: 0032 2 764 61 13; Fax: 0032 2 764 89 60; E-mail : ccv@chir.ucl.ac.be

Organization: Travex Congress, Parvis de la Tinité 8, 1050 Bruxelles; Telephone :0032 2 533.20.45; Fax: 0032 2 537.75.88; E-mail : b.vandermeuse@travex-travel.be

Minimally Invasive Staging & Management of Lung Cancer

"Minimally Invasive Staging & Management of Lung Cancer" will be held 26-28 June, 2007, at The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland. Contact Name: Lorraine Judge, The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, The Adamson Centre, 3 Hill Place, Edinburgh EH8 9DS, Scotland; Telephone: +44 (0)131 668 9209; Fax: +44 (0)131 668 9241; Email:l.judge@rcsed.ac.uk More information

Western Thoracic Surgical Association

The Preliminary Program for the 33rd Annual Meeting of the Western Thoracic Surgical Association is now available. You can also view the 2007 Scientific program and abstracts.

Registration for the Annual Meeting is now open. This year's meeting will be held in New Mexico at the Hyatt Regency Tamaya, Santa Ana Pueblo (near Albuquerque) from June 27-30, 2007. To register for the meeting, download the Registration form and fax completed forms to (978) 524-0498.

To reserve your hotel accommodations, make your reservations online or download the Hotel Reservation form and fax completed forms directly to the hotel at fax # (505) 771-6180.

For other meeting information.

2nd Polish-Ukrainian Cardiac Surgery Congress

2nd Polish-Ukrainian Cardiac Surgery Congress will be held 28 - 30 June 2007 in Lublin, Poland.

For information, contact: Biuro Kongresów i Turystyki SKOLAMED, 20-070 Lublin, ul. Boczna Lubomelskiej 4; Phone: +48 (0)81 534 43 87; Fax: +48 (0)81 534 71 50;Email: kongres@paiz.com.pl Additional information: http://www.kchir.paiz.com.pl/

JULY - SEPTEMBER

The 17th World Congress of the World Society of Cardio-Thoracic Surgeons

The 17th World Congress of the World Society of Cardio-Thoracic Surgeons will be held 11 - 13 July 2007, in Kyoto, Japan at the Kyoto International Conference Hall. For information, contact: WSCTS 2007 Secretariat, c/o Congress Corporation, 3-6-13 Awaji-machi, Chuo-ku, Osaka 541-0047 Japan; Email: wscts2007@congre.co.jp

AmSECT Pediatric Perfusion 2007

AmSECT's Pediatric Perfusion 2007 meeting will be held July 11-14, 2007 at the Hyatt Regency Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. More information can be obtained from mejakb@ohu.edu or by clicking here.

The Association of Physician Assistants in Cardiovascular Surgery 7th Annual Summer Educational Meeting

The Association of Physician Assistants in Cardiovascular Surgery 7th Annual Summer Educational Meeting will be held 20 - 22 July 2007 at the Marriott Washington, Washington, DC, USA. For information, contact: Lindsay McConeghy, APACVS, O Box 4834, Englewood, CO 80155; Phone: 1 877 221-5651; Fax: 1 303 771-2550; Email: lindsay@goddardassociates.com; Additional information.

55th Annual Meeting of the Cardiac Society of Australian and New Zealand

The 55th Annual Meeting of the Cardiac Society of Australian and New Zealand will be held 9 - 12 August, 2007, at Christchurch, New Zealand. Abstract submission is closed. For information, contact: The Conference Company Ltd, PO Box 90-040, Auckland, New Zealand; Phone: +64 9 3601240; Fax: +64 9 3601242; Email: csanz2007@tcc.co.nz

56TH ANNUAL MEETING OF SCANDINAVIAN ASSOCIATION FOR THORACIC SURGERY AND THE 27TH ANNUAL MEETING OF SCANDINAVIAN SOCIETY FOR EXTRACORPOREAL TECHNOLOGY

The 56th Annual Meeting of Scandinavian Association for Thoracic Surgery and the 27th Annual Meeting of Scandinavian Society for Extracorporeal Technology will be held 16 - 18 August, 2007, in Helsinki Finland. The deadline for abstract submission is MAY 1, 2007. For information, contact: CONGRESZON; Itälahdenkatu 22A, FI-00210 Helsinki, Finland; Phone: +358 9 5840 9351; Fax: +358 9 5840 9555;Email: sats-scansect2007@congreszon.fi

13th Conference on Electrical Bioimpedance

The 13th Conference on Electrical Bioimpedance, which will be organized by Prof. Dr. H. Scharfetter, Graz, will be held in Graz, Austria, from August 29 to September 2, 2007. Besides biophysical, technical and clinical topics, one session about "Organ Monitoring" is devoted to ischemia, reperfusion and transplantation.

AATS Postgraduate Course: Valvular Heart Disease 2007

The AATS Valvular Heart Disease 2007 course will be held on September 7-9, 2007 in Chicago, IL. This postgraduate course is designed for practicing cardiac surgeons and cardiologists. It will cover all aspects of medical, interventional and surgical management of patients with heart valve disease. This unique course will bring together the world's leading interventional cardiologists and cardiac surgeons to share the latest progress made on percutaneous/transventricular interventional and surgical therapies on heart valve disease. By combining cutting-edge surgical techniques with state of the art interventional strategies, the program will afford participants the opportunity to network and share lessons learned in a focused and intimate setting. For more information, contact Stacy Gijsbers: Phone: 978-927-8330; Fax: 978-524-0498; E-Mail: sgijsbers@prri.com.

AmSECT 15th Annual Symposium on New Advances in Blood Management

AmSECT 15th Annual Symposium on New Advances in Blood Management will be held at Westin Crown Center, Kansas City, MO, September 19-23, 2007. CALL FOR ABSTRACTS is now open through JULY 31, 2007. For more information, contact astammers@aol.com, or this website.

Cardiac Insufficiency 2007 (Herzinsuffizienz 2007 - Das Dreiländertreffen)

Cardiac Insufficiency 2007 (Herzinsuffizienz 2007 - Das Dreiländertreffen) will be held 27 - 29 September, 2007, in Nürnberg, Germany. For additional information, contact: E&E PCO, Nobilegasse 23-25, 1150 Vienna, Austria; Telephone: + 43 (1) 867 49 44 0; Fax: + 43 (1) 867 49 44 9; Email: office@ee-pco.com; Website information

OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2007

XVI Argentine Congress of Cardiovascular and Endovascular Surgeons, II Congress of the Latin American Society of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery

Joint Meetings of the XVI Argentine Congress of Cardiovascular and Endovascular Surgeons and the II Congress of the Latin American Society of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery will be held October 3-5, 2007 at the Sheraton Hotel & Towers, Av. Leandro N. Alem 1151, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Abstract submission deadline: 15 July 2007. For information, contact: Pilar Ponce de León, Tinogasta 4151 (C1417EIQ), Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Telephone: +54 911 4422-4410; Fax: +54 11 4567-4481; Email: pilarponcedeleon.ppl@gmail.com; Additional information.

POSTINTERVENTIONAL BLOOD-RELATED COMPLICATIONS IN CARDIAC SURGERY AND PCI

POSTINTERVENTIONAL BLOOD-RELATED COMPLICATIONS IN CARDIAC SURGERY AND PCI will be held October 3-5, 2007 in Lund, Sweden.

AmSECT Best Practices in Perfusion Meeting

AmSECT's Best Practices in Perfusion meeting will be held October 4-6, 2007 at the Delta Centre-Ville on University in Montreal, Quebec. For more information, contact jeffrey.riley@osumc.edu.

JOINT MEETING

The Joint meeting of the GERMAN SOCIETY FOR THORACIC SURGERY, the SWISS SOCIETY FOR THORACIC SURGERY and the AUSTRIAN SOCIETY FOR THORACIC AND CARDIOVASCULAR SURGERY will be held October 4-7, 2007 in Konstanz, Germany. For information, contact: Medizinische Congress-organisation Nürnberg, Zerzabelhofstr. 29, 90478 Nürnberg, Germany; Tel. +49(0) 911/39 31 60; Fax: +49 (0) 911/33 12 04; www.mcn-nuernberg.de. Scientific organiser: Thomas Kiefer, MD, Dep. of Thoracic Surgery, Klinikum Offenburg, Ebertplatz 12, 77654 Offenburg, Germany; E-mail: tagung@tc2007.de Abstract deadline: April 30th, 2007.

5th INTERNATIONAL MEETING ON CARDIAC INTENSIVE CARE

The 5th INTERNATIONAL MEETING ON CARDIAC INTENSIVE CARE will be held October 14-16, 2007, in Tel Aviv, Israel. For information, contact ISAS International Seminars, P.O. Box 574, Jerusalem 91004, Israel. Tel: 972-2-6520574; Fax: 972-2-6520558; e-mail: meetings@isas.co.il

2007 Australasian Society of Cardiac & Thoracic Surgeons Annual Scientific Meeting

The 2007 Australasian Society of Cardiac & Thoracic Surgeons Annual Scientific Meeting will be held Monday 15 - Sunday 21 October, 2007 at the Sheraton Noosa Resort, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia. ABSTRACT SUBMISSION DEADLINE: 06 AUGUST, 2007. For information, contact: Lauren Born, Taylored Images, PO Box 247 Ashgrove, Queensland 4060 Australia; Phone: +61 7 3366 2205; Fax: +61 7 3366 5170; Email: 2007ascts@tayloredimages.com.au Additional information.

Eighth Biennial Congress of the Syrian Cardiovascular Association

Eighth Biennial Congress of the Syrian Cardiovascular Association will be held in Damascus, Syria, November 1-3, 2007. Information: Prof. Sami Kabbani, P.O. Box: 8487, Damascus, Syria; Tel/Fax: 00963 94 27 27 55; E-mail: scva@scs-net.org; More information.

AmSECT Meeting Announcments

The Program Committee for NNJAECT & I-SECT's 16th International Symposium, CARDIAC SURGERY, BEYOND, is now accepting abstracts and/or case studies for the meeting to be held November 7 - 11, 2007, at the Naples Grande Resort & Club, Naples, Florida USA. Symposium information will soon be posted at www.i-sect.cjb.net. Anyone needing immediate information, please contact Paul Cappola, Craig Vocelka or Travel Unlimited New Jersey USA, (Official coordinator for registration & accommodations). The travel center will also assist you with any travel needs?.

Abstract deadline: APRIL 30th, 2007! Brochures to be mailed in June, 2007.

Program Contacts: Paul Cappola: ecmoinc@aol.com or 1.401.455-0618; Craig Vocelka: vocelka@u.washington.edu or 1.206.685-3677. Travel Unlimited, New Jersey USA, (Alan or Anne): 800.228-1502 or e-mail info@travelunlimited.com or 1.973-228-1500.

The 54th Southern Thoracic Surgical Association (STSA) Annual Meeting

The 54th Southern Thoracic Surgical Association (STSA) Annual Meeting will be held 8 - 10 November, 2007, at the Hyatt Regency, Bonita Springs, Florida, USA. For information, contact: Nancy Gray Puckett, 633 North Saint Clair, Suite 2320, Chicago, IL 60611; Phone: 1 800 685-7872; Fax: 1 312 202-5801; Email: stsa@stsa.org

12th Congress on Cardio-Thoracic Surgery for the Belgian Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery

The 12th Congress on Cardio-Thoracic Surgery for the Belgian Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery will be held 17 November, 2007, at the Sodehotel, Woluwe, Brussels Belgium. Abstract submission deadline: 1 August, 2007. For information, contact: Dr. Y. Van Belleghem Chairman Scientific Committee BACTS, Dienst Cardiochirurgie, Universitair Ziekenhuis Gent, De Pintelaan 185, B-9000 Gent. Email: yves.vanbelleghem@ugent.be.

Congress - Association of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgeons of Asia (ATCSA)

18th Biennial Congress - Association of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgeons of Asia (ATCSA) will be held November 25-28, 2007, at the Bali Convention Centre, Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia.

Abstract submission deadline: 1 SEPTEMBER 2007. For information, contact: Indonesian Association of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeons, National Cardiovascular Center Harapan Kita, Main Building, 4th Floor, Jl. Let. Jend. S. Parman Kav. 87, Slipi, Jakarta 11420 Indonesia; Phone: 62.21.569.44.08; Fax: 62.21.566.5993; Email: aditya_kusuma_w@yahoo.com.au

ISMICS Winter Workshop

ISMICS Winter Workshop will be held 28 November - 2 December, 2007 at the Sungate Port Royal Resort, Antalya, Turkey. For more information

3rd Congress of Update in Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery

3rd Congress of Update in Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery - The ISMICS Winter Workshop - will be held 28 November - 2 December, 2007 at the Sungate Port Royal Hotel, Antalya, Turkey. ABSTRACT DEADLINE 31 MAY, 2007. For more information.

2008

4th Asian Pacific Congress of Heart Failure

The 4th Asian Pacific Congress of Heart Failure will be held January 31 - February 3, 2008, at the Melbourne Exhibition & Convention Centre, Melbourne, Australia.

For information, contact: Congress Managers, GPO Box 128, Sydney Australia 2001; Telephone: +61 2 9265 0700; Fax: +61 2 9265 5443; Email: apchf@tourhosts.com.au; Additional Information

Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery in Great Britain and Ireland (SCTS)

The 2008 Annual Meeting of the Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery in Great Britain and Ireland (SCTS) will be held March 9 - 12, 2008 at the Edinburgh International Convention Centre, Edinburgh, Scotland. For further details, contact sctsadmin@scts.org or +44 (0)20 7869 6893, and check the website periodically.

European Society for Cardiovascular Surgery

The 57th International Congress of the European Society for Cardiovascular Surgery (ESCVS) will be held April 24-27, 2008, in Barcelona, Spain. For more information, contact: ESCVS General Secretariat, Prof. Claudio Muneretto , ESCVS Secretary General, UDA Cardiochirurgia, Spedali Civili P.le Spedali Civili, 1, 25123 Brescia (Italy); Phone: + 39 030 3996401; Fax: + 39 030 3996096; E-mail: munerett@med.unibs.it; And consult the website.

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Member Section

Future Meetings

Be sure to stop by the booth and pay us a visit at the upcoming AATS meeting in Washington May 5-9, 2007. CTSNet Booth Number is #745.

If you are planning to be at the Asian Society for Cardiovascular Surgery Annual Meeting in Beijing, China, May 17-20, 2007, be sure to stop by the CTSNet booth to say hello and get your picture taken. Several members of the CTSNet staff will be there. We look forward to seeing you in Beijing.

IMPORTANT NOTICE:
CTSNet, the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, and the Asian Cardiovascular and Thoracic Annals invite all Chinese cardiothoracic surgeons to participate in an educational exchange program. You need only to come by the CTSNet booth to register and have your photo taken. For doing this, you will receive complimentary online access to the Asian Cardiovascular and Thoracic Annals, the European Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery, and the Interactive CardioVascular and Thoracic Surgery for one year. We encourage you to take advantage of this one-time offer.

Also, both EACTS and CTSNet will be represented at the EuroPCR meeting in Barcelona 22nd-25th May, 2007, by Maud Zingmark. If you are there, drop by and say hello.

MEMBER PHOTOS

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.

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: 1 314.962.1825
E-mail: ctsnet@wudosis.wustl.edu

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