Turkey Day has come and gone in the United States, and the world is looking forward to the religious time of the year. Happy holidays, everyone!
Particularly at this time of year it is appropriate for CTSNet to recognize our industry colleagues who offer the financial backing that supports our many activities.
CTSNet Sponsors
Founding Sponsors
3F Therapeutics, Inc.
Guidant, Corp.
Medtronic, Inc.
St. Jude Medical, Inc.
Sustaining Sponsors
Edwards Lifesciences, Corp.
Contributing Sponsors
Boston Scientific, Corp.
CarboMedics, Inc.
CTSNet Product Forum Participants
ATS Medical, Inc.
Baxter
Cardiovations, Ethicon, Inc.
Cryocath Technologies, Inc.
Intuitive Surgical, Inc.
Medical Carbon Research Institute (MCRI)
Medical CV, Inc.
Synovis Surgical Innovations
Terumo Cardiovascular Systems
So thanks, one and all. We could not do it without your support!
WHAT'S NEW:
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Doctor S. Thomas Rayburn III, of Little Rock, Arkansas, has contributed a new Adult Cardiac Experts' Techniques entitled "Electrical Isolation of the Pulmonary Veins With Bipolar Radio Frequency Ablation on the Beating Heart." View his article here:
http://www.ctsnet.org/doc/9689
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Doctors Federico Venuta, Erino A. Rendina, and Tiziano de Giacomo, Department of Thoracic Surgery, University of Rome "La Sapienza" have submitted a new Thoracic Surgery Experts' Techniques contribution: "Airway Stenting." Read the article here:
http://www.ctsnet.org/doc/9690
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A video contributed by Doctors Pierluca Lombardi, Marco Ricci, Fuad Moussa, and Tomas A. Salerno of the University of Miami, Miami, Florida, entitled "Aortic Valve Replacement in a Beating Heart" is available for viewing:
http://www.ctsnet.org/realmedia/vidgal/vg2004_lombardi.ram
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A LIVE WEBCAST entitled "Maximizing Left Ventricular Mass Regression: Surgical Options in Aortic Valve Replacement" will be presented by Dr. Vincent A. Gaudiani, Sequoia Hospital, Redwood City, CA, on Tuesday, DECEMBER 7, 2004, 1:30 PST, 4:30 EST (21:30 UTC). For more information, and Webcast viewing on December 7, access here:
http://www.or-live.com/medtronic/1200/
This Webcast is supported in part by an educational grant from Medtronic, Inc.
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In the Galleries Section of the left menu, a wonderful new collection of Historic Images has been made available to CTSNet. A project undertaken by CTSNet History Editors Drs. Roberto Lorusso Cardiac Surgery Unit, Civic Hospital, Brescia, Italy, and W. Randolph Chitwood, Jr., Chief, Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, and generously supported by an educational grant from EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES, is entitled "Historical Heritage in Cardiovascular Medicine: A Collection of Images," and consists of 13 Sections on various topics. The first section posted is entitled "The Anatomical Dissections:"
http://www.ctsnet.org/historicimages/
Other Sections will be added over time. Enjoy this magnificient tribute to medical history
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Abstract Deadline for ISMICS is December 16, 2004. The International Society for Minimally Invasive Cardiothoracic Surgery is now accepting abstracts for its 8th Annual Meeting, which will be held June 1-4, 2005, at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City, New York. ISMICS is accepting submissions for oral, poster, and video presentations, and, new for 2005, case reports. For more information, go to the ISMICS website:
http://www.ismics.org/
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New Horizons in Cardiothoracic Surgery, edited by Dr. Walter Merrill and found in the Resident's Section, features articles dedicated to "generating interest in cardiothoracic surgery among medical students and residents." In the third article, Dr. Denton A. Cooley discusses "A Critical Decision."
http://www.ctsnet.org/doc/9696
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A Case Presentation has been added to the Resident's Section, entitled "Surgical Resection of Bullous Lung Disease" by Grayson H. Wheatley III, MD and Aaron S. Estrera, MD of the University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, Texas. Access at:
http://www.ctsnet.org/doc/9745
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One of the features of interest on our website is REUTERS News. Every day we cull news stories we feel are important to our readers. These are posted daily, and are archived for a week at:
http://www.ctsnet.org/reuters/
Get the REUTERS habit!
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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/
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We are pleased to announce that the EUROPEAN SOCIETY FOR CARDIOVASCULAR SURGERY (ESCVS) has recently joined as a CTSNet member. For more information about the ESCVS please visit the website: http://www.escvs.org
Prof. Claudio Muneretto, Secretary-General of the ESCVS, wishes to bring to the attention of CTSNet Members the 54th International Meeting of the European Society for Cardiovascular Surgery to be held on May 19-22, 2005 in Athens, Greece. Abstract submission opened is now open. Abstract submission deadline: February 15, 2005. For abstract submission and meeting details please visit: http://www.escvsannualcongress.org
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IN MY OPINION
In this month's IMO, Dr. Vincent A. Gaudiani of Redwood City, CA offers his comments on the increasing importance of quality assurance in medicine, and particularly cardiac surgery. Read his essay, entitled "Comprehensive Quality Assurance for Cardiac Surgery," found at:
http://www.ctsnet.org/doc/9784
And then participate in the Discussion:
http://www.ctsnet.org/fusetalk/messageview.cfm?catid=8&threadid=20000887
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INNOVATION CENTERS
Arrhythmia Center
Editor Dr. John P. Boineau, has contributed an article entitled "A Less Complex Substrate" http://www.ctsnet.org/doc/9423
and Editor Krishna Khargi has added a Commentary on Dr. Boineau's article:
http://www.ctsnet.org/doc/9788
Also Editor Jos Maessen has contributed an essay entitled "Ablation of the Electrophysiological Substrate:" A New Treatment Modality for Atrial Fibrillation Ablation. http://www.ctsnet.org/doc/9790
Read these articles, and then add your comments in the Discussion:
http://www.ctsnet.org/fusetalk/messageview.cfm?catid=91&threadid=20000899
Beating Heart Surgery Center
Editor Gianni Angelini comments on the details of the statement by the ISMICS Consensus Panel, titled "Update On The ISMICS Consensus Conference 2004: Meta-Analysis and Consensus Statement of Off-Pump versus Conventional Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery."
http://www.ctsnet.org/doc/9747
The full report is scheduled to be released before the end of the year.
Valve Technology Center
Doctors Edward H. Kincaid, Anthony Atala, and Section Editor Neal D. Kon, all from Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, have contributed a provocative article entitled "Tissue Engineered Heart Valves: A Potential Cure for Valvular Heart Disease."
http://www.ctsnet.org/doc/9749
Add your comments on this subject in the discussion:
http://www.ctsnet.org/fusetalk/messageview.cfm?catid=87&threadid=20000885
Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery Center
The subject this month is MI endoharvesting. An Editor's Note by Dr. Vassilios Gulielmos entitled "Endoscopic Harvesting Leads Off, followed by Guest Commentaries by Drs. Utz Kappert of Dresden, Germany, accessed here:
http://www.ctsnet.org/doc/9568
and by Drs. V.A. Subramanian and James D. Fonger, of New York. Read their comments here:
http://www.ctsnet.org/doc/9567
and then join in the discussion:
http://www.ctsnet.org/fusetalk/messageview.cfm?catid=88&threadid=20000869
In addition, there is an important contribution from Prof. Andreas Liebold, Rostock, Germany, entitled "Mini-Perfusion Systems: Around the Corner?"
http://www.ctsnet.org/doc/9397
Also Dr. Kypson has contributed a Literature Review entitled "Clinical Experience with the Mini-Extracorporeal Circulation System: An Evolution or a Revolution?" Access at:
http://www.ctsnet.org/doc/9468
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RESIDENTS' SECTION
Dr. Vinod H. Thourani, Editor, is pleased to announce several new exciting features for the Section:
"PIONEER INTERVIEWS" takes a look back at the history of cardiac surgery through Dr. W. Gerald Rainer's talks with nine leaders in the field from the past half-century. http://www.ctsnet.org/residents/pioneer/ A full transcript and streaming audio are now available for the following interviews:
Dr. Henry Swan at http://www.ctsnet.org/doc/9089
Dr. Dwight Harken: http://www.ctsnet.org/doc/9398
Dr. Wilfred Bigelow: http://www.ctsnet.org/doc/8840
Dr. Clarence Crafoord: http://www.ctsnet.org/doc/8871
Dr. Clarence Dennis: http://www.ctsnet.org/doc/9697
NEW HORIZONS IN CARDIOTHORACIC SURGERY edited by Dr. Walter Merrill, features articles dedicated to "generating interest in cardiothoracic surgery among medical students and residents." Three articles are now available:
(1) Dr. Nicholas Kouchoukos - "Why Become a Cardiac Surgeon?"
http://www.ctsnet.org/residents/new_horizons/kouchoukos.cfm
(2) Dr. Harold C. Urschel - "Let's Bring the Magic Back"
http://www.ctsnet.org/residents/new_horizons/urschel.cfm
(3) Dr. Denton C. Cooley - "A Critical Decision"
http://www.ctsnet.org/doc/9696
He calls your attention to an announcement on the Resident's home page:
U. of Virginia Health System Announces a New General Thoracic Track available in July, 2006. More details at:
http://www.ctsnet.org/section/residents/
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SOCIETY NEWS
On-line registration is available NOW for The Society of Thoracic Surgeons 41st ANNUAL MEETING from January 24-26, 2005 in Tampa, Florida. Please visit
http://www.sts.org
For the first time in its 41-year history, the STS will present four live cardiothoracic surgical procedures. STS University, beginning at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 26, will include courses and wet labs. The four live surgical procedures will be shown in the Tampa Convention Center’s main ballroom, and will include a director for each procedure. Delos M. Cosgrove, M.D. of the Cleveland Clinic will serve as the director for mitral valve repair; Todd Dewey, M.D. of Medical City Hospital in Dallas will be the director for thoracoscopic sympathectomy; Randall K. Wolf, M.D. of the University of Cincinnati will direct the surgery on minimally invasive atrial fibrillation ablation; and Mark W. Connolly, M.D. of the Newark, N.J.-based St. Michael’s Medical Center will be the director for endoscopic conduit harvest. All meeting participants are encouraged to attend these sessions, which will be shown from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday of the Annual Meeting.
You also will not want to miss these important sessions at the upcoming Annual Meeting:
1) Thomas B. Ferguson Lecture on Patient Safety by James P. Bagian, MD
2) New Session on Defining YOUR role in Mass Casualty Decision Preparedness
3) Town Hall Meeting on Patient Safety
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DISCUSSION
In the November, 2004 issue of The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Dr. Ehud Raanani and his colleagues from Tel Aviv present 15 cases of direct reconstruction for isolated left main stenosis, using either a saphenous vein patch or autologous pericardium. The procedure is a physiologic alternative to coronary artery bypass. There was no early mortality or perioperative myocardial infarction. During mean follow-up of 55 ± 39 months, no patient had any cardiac events or required repeat coronary intervention. Follow-up transesophageal echocardiography demonstrated a wide open left main coronary artery (range 3 to 8 mm), a normal flow pattern by pulsed-wave Doppler, and no aneurysmal dilatation or calcification of the onlay patch. The authors conclude that this technique is safe and effective for the treatment of selected cases of isolated left main stenosis. The use of autologous pericardium appeared to be as safe as saphenous vein patch.
Why has this technique not come into more common usage for such cases? Is there adequate follow-up to determine that it is superior to other graft techniques? Which cases are suitable candidates? Please read the article at http://ats.ctsnetjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/78/5/1610
and then add your comments and experience to this Dilemma in Adult Cardiac Surgery Discussion Forum:
http://www.ctsnet.org/fusetalk/messageview.cfm?catid=8&threadid=20000891
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JOURNALS
The December issues of The Annals of Thoracic Surgery and the European Journal of Cardio-thoracic Surgery are now available online. The Annals includes the STS/AATS Tech-Con 2005 and the 41st STS Annual Meeting Program at http://ats.ctsnetjournals.org/current.shtml#STS_ANNUAL_MEETING In the European Journal, read Professor James Monro's Presidential Address entitled "The Next Challenge: Adapting to Change" presented at the Leipzig meeting at http://ejcts.ctsnetjournals.org/cgi/content/full/26/6/1063
One of the many features of the CTSNet Journals collection is "e-mail a friend." This feature provides an easy to use interface that permits a reader to recommend an article by e-mail to a colleague. The colleague receives the friend's recommendation and a URL and citation for the article. It can be found in the newly designed content box on the title page of each article. Try it; it is free.
Beginning January, 2005, the Interactive CardioVascular and Thoracic Surgery (ICVTS) will be fully integrated into the CTSNet journal collection and electronic platform. It is expected that this move will both increase ICVTS citations and visibility and further expand the CTSNet collection. ICVTS has opted for a single on-line platform on CTSNet/HighWire Press, and therefore will no longer be published by Elsevier, but directly by EACTS. The journal URL - www.icvts.org - will be switched to the new website in late December, 2004. ICVTS stays an 'open-access' journal and print copies will continue to be sent to all members of EACTS, ESTS and ESCVS.
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ABSTRACT DEADLINES
December 15, 2004: The SCANDANAVIAN SOCIETY FOR RESEARCH IN CARDIOTHORACIC SURGERY (SSRCTS), Geilo, Norway.
Submit: http://www.ssrcts.org/
December 16, 2004: THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR MINIMALLY INVASIVE CARDIOTHORACIC SURGERY (ISMICS), New York, New York.
Submit: http://ismics.org/
January 7, 2005: The WESTERN THORACIC SURGICAL ASSOCIATION (WTSA), Victoria, BC, Canada.
Submit:http://www.abstractsonline.com/submit/login.asp?mkey=%7BFD62926B%2D6E8A%2D43AF%2D8CAE%2D397381832FB4%7D
January 31, 2005: THE SOCIETY FOR HEART VALVE DISEASE, Vancouver, Canada.
Submit: http://www.shvd.org
February 1, 2005: WORLD SOCIETY OF CARDIO-THORACIC SURGEONS, Vilnius, Lithuania.
Submit:http://www.wscts-congress2005vilnius.org
February 15, 2005: EUROPEAN SOCIETY FOR CARDIOVASCULAR SURGERY (ESCVS), Athens, Greece.
Submit: http://www.escvsannualcongress.org
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DECEMBER MEETINGS
The fourth meeting of MECHANICAL CIRCULATORY SUPPORT - TODAY'S FACTS AND FUTURE TRENDS will be held December 1-4, 2004, in Bad Oeynhausen, Germany. Chairman: Reiner Koerfer. Program Director: Aly El-Banayosy, Contact Address: Susan Traut, Heart Center NRW, Georgstr. 11, 32545 Bad Oeynhausen, Germany, Tel: +49-5731-971333, Fax: +49-5731-971820, Email: straut@hdz-nrw.de
The Second Annual Winter Workshop of The INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR MINIMALLY INVASIVE CARDIAC SURGERY (ISMICS) will be held December 3-5, 2004 at the Inter Continental Hotel in Bangkok Thailand. More information can be found on the ISMICS website:
http://www.ismics.org
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FUTURE MEETINGS
The 8th Annual NewEra Cardiac Care: Innovation & Technology meeting, co-chaired by W. Randolph Chitwood, Jr., MD and Mehmet C. Oz, MD, will be held January 7-9, 2005, at the Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, in Dana Point, California. The deadline for abstracts and videos is October 31, 2004. For further information, please visit http://www.amainc.com/cardiac_care.html
The SOCIETY OF THORACIC SURGEONS 41st Annual Meeting will be held January 24-26, 2005 in Tampa, Florida. See http://www.sts.org/ for information about the meeting.
The 13th Annual Meeting of the ASIAN SOCIETY FOR CARDIOVASCULAR SURGERY will be held February 5-8, 2005, in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The venue is the Sheraton Chiang Mai (formerly the Westin Hotel). Address for information: Supreecha Tanamai, MD, Honorary Secretary, Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Rajavithi Hospital, 2 Rajavithi Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand: Tel: 662-354-8006; Fax: 662-354-8007; E-mail: office@ascvs2005.org Further details can be viewed at http://www.ascvs2005.org/
The 15th Annual Meeting of the SCANDANAVIAN SOCIETY FOR RESEARCH IN CARDIOTHORACIC SURGERY (SSRCTS) will be held February 10-12, 2005, in Geilo, Norway. Abstracts due: December 15, 2004. For information, contact the website: http://www.ssrcts.org/ or J. Michael Hasenkam, President of SSRCTS, Tel.: 45 8949 5480, Fax: 45 8949 6016, Email: hasenkam@ki.au.dk
The 25th Annual San Diego CARDIOTHORACIC SURGERY Symposium, chaired by Julie A. Swain MD, will be held February 10-13, 2005, at the San Diego Marriott Hotel and Marina in San Diego, California. The abstract deadline is November 1, 2004. For further information, please visit
http://www.amainc.com/cref_cardiothoracic.html
The 34 Annual meeting of the GERMAN SOCIETY FOR THORACIC AND CARDIOVASCULAR SURGERY will be held in Hamburg, Germany February 13-16, 2005. For further information, visit the website:
http://www.interplan.de/thorax05/eng/word_of_welcome.htm
The 2nd INTERDISCIPLINARY WORKSHOP FOR INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGISTS AND CARDIAC SURGEONS will be held February 24-25, 2005 at Innsbruck University Hospital, Innsbruck, Austria. More information accessed at:
http://www.icr-workshop.at
The SOCIETY OF CARDIOTHORACIC SURGEONS OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND (SCTS) will hold its Annual Meeting in London, UK, March 5-8, 2005. Abstract submission begins September 1, 2004, and closes November 5, 2004. Submit abstracts at:
http://www.ctsnet.org/abstracts/scts/1047
The WHISTLER BRITISH COLUMBIA CARDIAC TEAM MEETING will be held March 18-22, 2005. "Ski the Canadian Rockies." Special rates for hotel and registration prior to Dec 31, 2004. Abstract deadline Feb 17, 2005. For more information, visit:
http://www.cardiacteam.com/whistler/
The 5th BIENNIAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE PAKISTAN SOCIETY OF CARDIOVASCULAR AND THORACIC SURGEONS, and the 1st HEART SUMMIT OF EMERGENT COUNTRIES, Hosted By: PUNJAB INSTITUTE OF CARDIOLOGY, LAHORE, PAKISTAN, and supported by different national and international organizations, will be held March 27-29, 2005 in Lahore, Pakistan. The theme of the conference is "Development of Adult and Paediatric Cardiology and Cardiothoracic Surgery in Emergent Countries." Experts and delegates around the world will get together to discuss challenges and issues they face in their locality, and share experiences and knowledge. The scientific sessions will cover the topics of Adult and Paediatric Cardiology and Cardiothoracic Surgery. Appropriate scientific papers are requested. For details, see:
http://www.pakscts.com
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
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. Deadline for abstract submission: February 15, 2005. Deadline for early registration: March 15, 2005. Other particulars can be found on the website:
http://www.escvsannualcongress.org/
The 31st ANNUAL THORACIC REFRESHER COURSE will be held May 27-28, 2005 at the Sutton Palace Hotel Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Further details to follow. The brochure will be available online in January, 2005.
The 8th Annual Meeting of the INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR MINIMALLY INVASIVE CARDIOTHORACIC SURGERY (ISMICS) will be held June 1-4, 2005 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel, New York City. This year's meeting will feature hands-on sessions, live surgery broadcasts, and an enhanced exhibition with the latest techniques and technologies. Call for abstracts can now be found on the organization website at http://www.ismics.org Abstract deadline is Thursday, December 16, 2004.
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 abstract deadline is January 31, 2005, and abstract submissions are currently being accepted. The program and abstracts of the Second Biennial Meeting held in Paris, France in 2003 remains available on the Society website for your information. Abstract submission for Third Biennial Meeting:
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. Abstract submission and early registration close February 1, 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. Abstract submission opens November 12, 2004, and closes January 7, 2005. Check the WTSA website for more details: http://www.westernthoracic.org/
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
The Fifth TRIENNIAL BRIGHAM CARDIAC VALVE SYMPOSIUM will be held Oct 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
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TRANSITIONS
The current officers for the Western Thoracic Surgical Association (WTSA) and the Women in Thoracic Surgery (WTS) can be found in the Transition Section:
http://www.ctsnet.org/section/transitions/
WTSA Officers and Council for 2004-2005
Steven W. Guyton, President
R. Scott Mitchell, Vice-President
John A. Hawkins , Secretary
Robbin G. Cohen, Treasurer
Andrew S. Wechsler, Editor
Marvin Pomerantz, Historian
Councillors
Gabriel S. Aldea
Elliot T. Gelfand
J. Scott Millikan
Colleen F. Sintek
Vaughn A. Starnes, Past President
Arthur N. Thomas, Councillor-Founder
Meet the WTS 2004-2005 Officers and Directors:
Mercedes K.C. Dullum, M.D., President
Margarita Camacho, M.D., Vice President
Lorraine J. Rubis, M.D., Secretary/Treasurer
Mary J. Boylan, M.D.
A.J. Carpenter, M.D., PhD., Immediate Past President
Carolyn M. Dresler, M.D.
Shauna R. Roberts, M.D.
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PRODUCT FORUM
ST. JUDE MEDICAL provides CTSNet with videotapes of its 2004 Cardiac Surgery Residents’ Symposium Scientific Session. The first two presentations are posted:
John Hammon MD: "Neuroprotective Strategies for Cardiac Surgery"
http://www.ctsnet.org/symposia/Hammon-web.html
Todd Rosengart, MD: "Angiogenesis and Cellular Cardiomyoplasty"
http://www.ctsnet.org/symposia/Rosengart-web.html
3F THERAPEUTICS, INC. announces the 3F Aortic Bioprosthesis™ Heart Valve received the CE Marking of Conformity and has commenced commercial distribution. See the press release:
http://www.ctsnet.org/productforum/press/press.cfm?pid=926&pr=29
For more information, visit the 3F website:
http://www.3ftherapeutics.com
and the 3F Product Forum listing:
http://www.ctsnet.org/company/3ftherapeutics
CRYOCATH has posted brief audio clips of comments from leading opinion leaders at the International Society for Minimally Invasive Cardiothoracic Surgery (ISMICS) Conference held June 23-26, 2004 in London, England, speaking on the merits of New Approaches to the Surgical Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation.
http://www.ctsnet.org/cryocath/product/930
EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES announces the first U.S. implant of the PERIMOUNT Magna Heart Valve with ThermaFix Process:
http://www.ctsnet.org/productforum/press/press.cfm?pid=699&pr=28
The company has also added a new Magna Product Animation to its Carpentier-Edwards PERIMOUNT Magna Bioprosthesis listing:
http://www.ctsnet.org/realmedia/prodforum/814/45.ram
EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES, has provided CTSNet with content from its Fourth International Forum: Controversies and Innovations in Cardiac Surgery and Cardiology held early last year. Two more presentations have been posted:
Drs. Lishan Aklog: "Ischemic Mitral Regurgitation: Repair or Replace? Which Techniques? Which Ring?"
http://www.ctsnet.org/edwards/aklog/aklog.html
Dr. Delos Cosgrove: "The Changing Face of Aortic Valve Surgery"
http://www.ctsnet.org/edwards/cosgrove2/cosgrove2.html
BAXTER BioSurgical, a division of Baxter BioScience, posts its FloSeal Matrix Haemostatic Sealant as a Featured Product. Review the Instructions for Use, Clinical Trial information, Mechanism of Action Summary, and Educational Video:
http://www.ctsnet.org/baxter/product/931
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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/section/members/
We will be registering members and taking photos at the NewEra Cardiac Care 2005: Innovation and Technology Meeting in Dana Point, California, January 7-9, 2005. If you are attending this meeting, stop by and see us.
We wish you only the best during this holiday season, and a healthy, happy new year!
Thomas B. Ferguson, M.D.
Senior Editor
Carol L. Blasberg
Managing Editor
CTSNet
3108 Queeny Tower
Barnes-Jewish Hospital Plaza
St. Louis, MO 63110
Telephone: 1-314-361-6084
FAX: 1-314-367-0585
E-mail: ctsnet@msnotes.wustl.edu