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Monthly Newsletter - January 2007

Table of Contents

What's New

STSA 2006 Adult Cardiac Video

"Surgical Ventricular Restoration" by Doctors Lois U. Nwakanma, Jason A. Williams, Nishant D. Patel and John V. Conte, all of Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland. This video was presented at the November 2006 meeting of the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association (STSA)

2006 Q4 Congenital Literature Watch

2006 Q4 Congenital Literature Watch, compiled and edited by Carl L. Backer, MD and Aditya K. Kaza, MD, is now available.

Q4 2006 Thoracic Literature Watch

The Q4 2006 Thoracic Literature Watch, compiled by Section Editor Mark Ferguson, has been posted.

STSA 2006 Video

"Repair of Tetralogy of Fallot with Absent Pulmonary Valve" by Doctors Karl F. Welke, Irving Shen and Ross M. Ungerleider, all of the Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon. This video was presented at the November 2006 Annual Meeting of the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association (STSA).

New World Heart Foundation Contribution

A New World Heart Foundation Contribution entitled "On Location - Mexico - November 2006" by A. Thomas Pezzella, MD has been posted.  Good reading!

STSA 2006 Adult Cardiac Video

"Robotically Assisted Repair of a Partially Avulsed Papillary Muscle Secondary to Blunt Trauma" by Doctors Clifton C. Reade, Alan P. Kypson, Fredrich W. Mohr, and W. Randolph Chitwood, of East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA, and Heart Center, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany (Mohr). This video was presented at the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association (STSA) November, 2006 Annual Meeting.

Latest New Horizons Contribution

"Why I Chose Cardiothoracic Surgery" by Joseph I. Miller, Jr., MD, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA. The New Horizons articles are a feature of the Resident's Section, and are edited by Dr. Walter H. Merrill, Cincinnati, Ohio.

AHA 2006 Vivien Thomas Young Investigator Award

Basel Ramlawi, M.D., M.S., a postdoctoral fellow at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, MA, has received the American Heart Association?s Vivien Thomas Young Investigator Award.  The association's Council on Cardiovascular Surgery and Anesthesia presents the award annually to acknowledge the accomplishments of young investigators focused on fundamental and applied surgical research.
 
The Vivien Thomas award is presented annually to one of five finalists who submit an abstract to Scientific Sessions.  Panels of distinguished researchers, scientists, nurses, clinicians and academicians representing the breadth of cardiovascular disease and stroke judge the award applications on the scientific merit of the abstract; quality and originality of the manuscript; professional accomplishments of the applicant; and the applicant?s oral abstract presentation at Scientific Sessions.

Dr. Ramlawi's presentation was titled: "Genomic Expression Pathways Associated to Brain Injury Following Cardiopulmonary Bypass."

EACTS Major Awards

The Francis Fontan Prize was instituted in honour of Professor Francis Fontan, leading founding father of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery.  The Prize is awarded to a cardiac or cardio-thoracic surgeon with postgraduate training.  It is not limited to European citizens.  The amount awarded at present is 30,000 Euros and should cover the costs of one year's stay at a major European department.  The activities during this year are left to the discretion of the prize-winner and the head of the department visited, but should primarily involve fields such as research training, research activities, advanced clinical education and/or departmental management.

The Thoracic Prize was instituted in 2006 by the Council of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery.  The Prize is awarded to a thoracic or cardio-thoracic surgeon with postgraduate training.  It is not limited to European citizens.  The amount awarded at present is 30,000 Euros and should cover the costs of one year's stay at a major European department.  The activities during this year are left to the discretion of the prize-winner and the head of the department visited, but should primarily involve fields such as research training, research activities, advanced clinical education and/or departmental management.

The DEADLINE for submission of applications for both the Fontan Prize and the Thoracic Prize is 15 APRIL 2007. For further details, please refer to www.eacts.org

CTSNet Announcement

A reminder about the CTSNet Blogs!

Got something on your mind that you'd like to express to the CTSNet community? CTSNet provides the community with a blogging capability. A 'Blog' is a personal Web site updated frequently with commentary and links to news items, web sites, other blogs, or anything else you like. New items go on top and older items flow down the page. Blogs can be professional journals or personal diaries that focus on one subject or range across a universe of topics of interest to cardiothoracic surgeons.

If you are interested in becoming a blogger, contact Ray Everngam.

CTSNet Participating Organization Home Pages

Two CTSNet Participating Organizations have new Home Pages.  They are the Thoracic Surgery Directors Association (TSDA) and The Scandinavian Society for Research in CardioThoracic Surgery (SSRCTS). Check them out!

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.

CTSNet Job Center

Following the member search and hits on the CTSNet.org home page, our Job Center listing receives the third largest number of hits of CTSNet pages.   Need to post a Job Opportunity or looking for a Job? Remember to check the CTSNet Job Center, as it is a great resource. Those that use it report a large response.  Recruiters say there is nothing like it in other medical specialty.

Women in Thoracic Surgery Annual Meeting and Reception

Women in Thoracic Surgery (WTS) Annual Meeting and Reception will be held 6:00 to 8:00 PM, Sunday, January 28, 2007, in the Coronado Room, San Diego Marriott, San Diego, California. Cocktails and buffet dinner will be served.

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.

TSRA to hold Annual Meeting

Dr. Daniel Boffa, Cleveland Clinic, Current  President of the Thoracic Surgery Residents Association (TSRA) has announced that the luncheon meeting of the Association will be held  at Noon Monday January 29, 2007, at the San Diego Convention Center, Room 29 C/D. The discussion topic will be "Not the Job I thought I would have: Finding Professional Success in an Unexpected Place." Speakers will be Doctors Edward P. Chen, Emory University, A. Marc Gillinov, Cleveland Clinic, and Micheal S. Mulligan of the University of Washington Medical Center.

No separate registration is necessary. All residents attending the STS meeting are invited to the luncheon at no cost. For further information.

New Thoracic Portal survey

Dr. Mark Ferguson, Thoracic Portal Editor, has posted another thought-provoking survey, which addresses controversial issues in surgical management of regionally advanced lung cancer after completion of induction therapy. To participate in this activity, go to the Thoracic Portal home page, and click on the survey in the right gutter.

Tsuguo Naruke, MD, 1934-2006

Read the tribute to Dr. Tsuguo Naruke by Hisao Asamura, MD, Chief, Division of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo Japan.

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Industry Forum

What's Happening, Where to Be: Medtronic Activities During the 43rd Annual Meeting of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons, January 28-31, San Diego, CA

Committed to Cardiac Surgery

Learn about the Medtronic EDGE(SM) Training and Simulation programs through our Mobile Therapy & Procedure Training Center. Discover Cardiac Surgeons' Emerging Opportunities in Structural Heart Disease. Hear about Medtronic Tissue Valves: "The Survival Difference."  Take advantage of our in-booth educational activities. Join us for special educational symposia on Sunday evening, January 28th. Explore 2 booths full of product innovations (booth #201 and #SV106).
 
For a comprehensive listing of all of Medtronic's activities during the STS annual meeting, download the PDF.

 

Boston Scientific To Sponsor Speakers at STS Meeting

Boston Scientific will host several speakers at its exhibit booth during the 43rd Annual Meeting of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons:

SUNDAY, JANUARY 28
5:00 p.m.
Reoperative CABG: Have You Explored All Your Options?
Seiichi Noda, MD (Cardiothoracic Surgery Associates, St. Joseph Hospital Kirkwood, St. Louis, MO)

MONDAY, JANUARY 29
9:30 a.m.
Unilateral Thoracoscopic Surgical Ablation
Surindra N. Mitruka, MD (Eisenhower Medical Center, Rancho Mirage, CA)

12:30 p.m.
OPCAB 2007?Raising the Standard
Mahesh Ramchandani, MD, FRCS, FACS (Staff Surgeon, Methodist DeBakey Heart Center, Houston, TX)

3:45 p.m.
RESOLVE Atrial Fibrillation 2 Trial
Li Poa, MD (Director of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Enloe Medical Center, Chico, CA)

For more information, download the PDF.

No Sternotomy Required

Introducing Remote Access Cannulae from the world's leading medical technology company. Ask your Medtronic® Sales Rep about Bio-Medicus® Multi-stage Venous Cannula, EOPA Cap® Arterial Cannula placed in the axillary artery and Minimally Invasive Aortic root (MIAR) Cardioplegia needle.

Symposia

"New Paradigms Guiding the Surgical Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation" a Symposium presented in conjunction with the EACTS meeting in Stockholm September 11, 2006. The program was supported by an educational grant from Cryocath Technologies.

Interview with Experts: A Collaborative Approach to Resolving Atrial Fibrillation

You are invited to attend a unique CME Symposia: Interview with Experts: A Collaborative Approach to resolving Atrial Fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation is the most commonly seen arrhythmia in clinical practice, and its incidence is increasing. With a renewed interest in the ablation of atrial fibrillation, electrophysiologists and surgeons are striving toward the goal of a cure for AF.

Monday, Jan. 29th, 2007, in San Diego, California. Jointly sponsored by Postgraduate Institute for Medicine and Imprint Science. This activity is supported by an educational grant from Boston Scientific.

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Clinical Resources

Videos

Literature Watch

Clinical Cases

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Organizations

Important CTSNet Announcement

There is a change of Address for the CTSNet Publishing office. As of October 31, 2006, the new address will be as below.  The phone and fax numbers remain the same as before:

CTSNet, Inc.
World Trade Center Building - Baltimore
401 E. Pratt Street, Suite 351
Baltimore, MD 21202
Tel:1+ 410-385-1949
Fax: 1+ 410-385-6055

STS 2006 Symposium on Thoracic Endografting

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons has made available for viewing the entire 2-day Symposium on Thoracic Endografting (Six Sessions) given in Chicago, IL, July 14-15, 2006. CTSNet is grateful for permission to pass this important information to our readers around the world.

New AATS Award Program for Medical Students

During its recent meeting, the Council of The American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) approved a new scholarship program for first and second year medical students in North America to introduce these students to the field of cardiothoracic surgery and to broaden their educational experience by providing them with an opportunity to work in a local cardiothoracic surgery program.  Successful candidates will receive a grant of $5,000 to underwrite their living expenses for an eight-week internship in a local cardiothoracic surgery program.

Eligible candidates must complete an online application by JANUARY 31st, 2007, and include a one-page outline of what they hope to accomplish during their eight-week internship, as well as a letter of support from the prospective host sponsor who must be a member of the AATS. 

We ask that you circulate this new program information to all first and second year medical students at your institution and/or in your local area.

Additional award criteria, including an application can be accessed on the AATS website.  THE APPLICATION DEADLINE IS JANUARY 31, 2007.

Irving L. Kron, MD
Secretary, AATS

WHF 2006 Executive Summary Published

The President and CEO of World Heart Foundation, Jim Cox, MD, has published its 2006 Executive Summary.

Poland: The Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity Foundation

Over the last 14 years the GOCC Foundation has motivated hundreds of thousands volunteers to gather nearly $70,000,000 USD for creating complex systems of support for children with special health care needs. This money has equipped 650 hospital wards with 16,000 medical devices. That means that statistically, every single day the GOCC donates 3 devices.

The Foundation created, launched and finances 4 national programs, which became a crucial part of public healthcare: The Program of Universal Neonatal Hearing Screenings, Implementing Insulin Pumps in Therapy of Children with Diabetes, Non-Invasive Breathing Support in Neonates, and the Program of Preventing and Treatment of Retinopathy of Prematurity.

Thanks to their support, congenital heart surgery in Poland is one of the best in the world. Out of 3,000 newborns with congenital heart defects born yearly, 2,700 go through life-saving procedures. The ratio of surgeries for CHD per million population is now the highest in Europe (F. Unger, Salzburg). Fourteen years ago only 10% of children with CHD were operated upon.

In addition, GOCC actively promotes public access to AEDs, and teaches CPR and first aid classes to the kids and youth of Poland.

A driving force behind this endeavor is Dr. Bohdan Maruszewski, Warsaw, Poland. He is Director and Chief Surgeon, Dept. for Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery, Children's Memorial Health Institute, Warsaw, Poland, and Database Director for the EACTS Congenital Database.

SCTS Announces Two Important Changes: A New Name and a New Website Design.

SCTS Announces Two Important Changes: A New Name and a New Website Design. The organization name has officially been changed to the Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery in Great Britain and Ireland. They also have a new visually improved and functionally smoother website. They invite CTSNet members to browse!

European School for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery

Dates for cardiac and thoracic courses in 2007

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Residents Section

New Horizons - Mehall

"An Exciting Time in CT Surgery?" by Dr. John R. Mehall, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.

The New Horizons feature in the Resident's Section is edited by Dr. Walter H. Merrill, University of Cincinnati, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

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Journals

EJCTS Journal January Announcements

JTCVS January Issue

The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery

CME

General Thoracic Surgery

Rebecca P. Petersen, Steven I. Hanish, John C. Haney, Charles C. Miller, III, William R. Burfeind, Jr, Douglas S. Tyler, Hilliard F. Seigler, Walter Wolfe, Thomas A. D?Amico, David H. Harpole, Jr.

Improved survival with pulmonary metastasectomy: An analysis of 1720 patients with pulmonary metastatic melanoma.

J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2007;133:104-110.

Surgery for Acquired Cardiovascular Disease

Morgan L. Brown, Martin D. Abel, Roger L. Click, Ronald G. Morford, Joseph A. Dearani, Thoralf M. Sundt, Thomas A. Orszulak, Harzell V. Schaff.

Systolic anterior motion after mitral valve repair: Is surgical intervention necessary?

J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2007;133:136-143.

Surgery for Congenital Heart Disease

José Pedro da Silva, José Francisco Baumgratz, Luciana da Fonseca, Sônia Meiken Franchi, Lilian Maria Lopes, Gláucia Maria P. Tavares, Andressa Mussi Soares, Luiz Felipe Moreira, and Miguel Barbero-Marcial.

The cone reconstruction of the tricuspid valve in Ebstein?s anomaly. The operation: early and midterm results.

J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2007;133:215-223. 

OTHER ARTICLES OF INTEREST

Dr. Hisato Takagi and co-authors present a meta-analysis of five published reports that compare results of off-pump versus on-pump coronary bypass graft procedures. In his accompanying editorial, Dr. Timothy Gardner provides helpful comments that allow the reader to consider the issues from different perspectives. Dr. Martin Clodi and colleagues show that implantation of a continuous flow axial pump with low-pulsatile blood flow profile appears to have no major effect on the hypothalamic-pituitary-endorgan system and sympathoadrenal functions. Dr. Lawrence Cohn and colleagues found that bicuspidization annuloplasty and ring annuloplasty were effective at eliminating tricuspid regurgitation a 3 years postoperatively and conclude that all patients with moderate-to-severe functional tricuspid regurgitation should undergo tricuspid annuloplasty regardless of the technique used. 

Please see the issue for details from these and a host of other articles of current interest.

Annals of Thoracic Surgery January Issue

REPORT OF THE STS/AATS WORKFORCE ON NOMENCLATURE AND CODING

Smith PK, Mayer Jr JE, Kanter KR, DiSesa VJ, Levett JM, Wright CD, Nichols III FC, Naunheim KS.
Physician Payment for 2007: A Description of the Process by Which Major Changes in Valuation of Cardiothoracic Surgical Procedures Occurred: STS/AATS Workforce on Nomenclature and Coding.
Ann Thorac Surg 2007;83:12-20.

EDITORIALS

Grover FL.
At Last, Inequities in Reimbursement Modified by Real Evidence-Based Data.
Ann Thorac Surg 2007;83:9-11.

Warkentin TE, Crowther MA.
When is HIT Really HIT?
Ann Thorac Surg 2007;83:21-23.

CME

General Thoracic

Keeling WB, Lewis V, Blazick E, Maxey TS, Garrett JR, Sommers KE.
Routine Evaluation for Aspiration After Thoracotomy for Pulmonary Resection.
Ann Thorac Surg 2007;83:193-196.

Adult Cardiac

Cowper PA, DeLong ER, Hannan EL, Muhlbaier LH, Lytle BL, Jones RH, Holman WL, Pokorny JJ, Stafford JA, Mark DB, Peterson ED.
Is Early Too Early? Effect of Shorter Stays After Bypass Surgery.
Ann Thorac Surg 2007;83:100-107.

Pediatric Cardiac 

Shinkawa T, Yamagishi M, Shuntoh K, Miyazaki T, Hisaoka T, Yaku H.

Pulmonary Arterial Reconstruction for Pulmonary Coarctation in Early Infancy.

Ann Thorac Surg 2007;83:188-192.

OUR SURGICAL HERITAGE

 

Gott VL.
Critical Role of Physiologist John A. Johnson in the Origins of Minnesota?s Billion Dollar Pacemaker Industry.
Ann Thorac Surg 2007;83:349-353.

Asian Annals Announcements

The December issue of the Asian Annals is now available. Featured in this issue:

Totally Endoscopic Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
Yugal K Mishra, Harpreet Wasir, Krishan K Sharma, Yatin Mehta, MD, Naresh Trehan.
Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann 2006;14:447-451.

Plasma Troponin Levels After Cardiac Surgery vs After Myocardial Infarction
Dan Abramov, Muhammad Abu-Tailakh, Michael Frieger, Amir Ganiel, David Tuvbin, Arik Wolak.
Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann 2006;14:530-535.

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Transitions

The Japanese Association for Thoracic Surgery - 2006-2007 Officers

The Japanese Association for Thoracic Surgery, at their recent Annual Meeting 1-4 October 2006 in Tokyo, Japan, elected the following officers:

Hikaru Matsuda, MD - President

Hiroaki Osada, MD - Vice President

Koichi Tabayashi, MD - Congress President

Takayuki Shirakusa, MD - Congress President-Elect

Hiroshi Inoue, MD - Director

Yuchi Ueda, MD - Director

Harushi Udagawa, MD - Director

Harushi Osugi, MD - Director

Shunei Kyo, MD - Director

Takashi Kondo, MD, - Director

Tohru Sakamoto, MD - Director

Shunji Sano, MD - Director

Mitsuomi Shimamoto, MD - Director

Ryuji Tominaga, MD, - Director

Takehiko Fujisawa, MD - Director

Shinichiro Miyoshi, MD, - Director

Toshikatsu Yagihara, MD - Director

Ryohei Yozu, MD - Director

Hiromi Wada, MD - Director

Koichi Kobayashi, MD, - Inspector

Shinichi Takamoto, MD - Inspector

Ryosuke Tsuchiya, MD - Inspector

Hermes C. Grillo, MD: Oct 2, 1923 - Oct 14, 2006

Read the moving tribute to Dr. Grillo by his long-time friend and colleague, Dr. Douglas Mathisen.

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Abstract Deadlines

More meeting abstract deadlines are available.

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This Month's Meetings

STS 2007 Annual Meeting

The STS 43rd Annual Meeting will be held January 29-31, 2007 in San Diego!

Meeting attendees will learn about the latest developments in cardiothoracic surgery while earning CME credits. The meeting also includes abstracts and poster presentations by presenters renowned worldwide in the field of cardiothoracic surgery. Educational programs on practice management, patient safety, advocacy and more are also scheduled, along with over 150 exhibitors of the latest technology. Plan to attend Tech-Con 2007 on January 27 and 28, exhibits are open January 28-30, followed by the STS 43rd Annual Meeting, with the popular STS University on January 31.

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Future Meetings

Scandinavian Society for Research in CardioThoracic Surgery (SSRCTS)

The 17th Annual Meeting of the Scandinavian Society for Research in CardioThoracic Surgery (SSRCTS) will be held 8 - 10 February 2007 at the Norlandia Geilo Hotel, Geilo, Norway. For information, contact: J. Michael Hasenkam, Dept. of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Aarhus University Hospital, Skejby Sygehus, DK-8200 Aarhus N; Phone: ++4589495480; Fax: ++4589496016; Email: hasenkam@ki.au.dk; Additional information: http://www.ssrcts.org

German Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery

The 36th Annual Meeting of the German Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery will meet February 11-14, 2007 in Hamburg, Germany. For information, contact: Interplan Congress, Meeting & Event Management AG, Albert-Rosshaupter-Strasse 65, 81369 Munich, Germany, Tel.: +49 89 54 82 34 0;Fax: +49 89 54 82 34 43; e-mail: thorax@interplan.de; Website: www.dgthg-jahrestagung.de/2007

CardioVascular Solutions 2007

CardioVascular Solutions 2007 - A Three Day Multi-Disciplinary Educational Forum will be held Feb 21-23, 2007, at the Macon Centriplex, Macon, Georgia, USA.

CardioVascular Solutions 2007 is directed to primary caregivers of patients with cardiovascular disease. Multidisciplinary specialty experts will provide an educational forum that will benefit all levels of caregivers including primary and specialty care physicians, PAs, NPs, nurses, operating room and cath lab personnel, and respiratory support services. There will be opportunity to learn more about vascular and cardiac imaging modalities and medical, endovascular and surgical management of cerebrovascular and renovascular diseases. There will be presentations on medical and surgical rhythm control, valvular heart disease, and thoracic and abdominal aortic endovascular therapy. The conference includes didactic lectures, live case demonstrations and interactive discussions. Technical exhibits will allow first-hand observation of state-of-the-art devices and techniques.

MARCH

AATS Grantsmanship Workshop 2007

AATS Grantsmanship Workshop 2007 will be held March 2, 2007 from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.

This workshop, organized by Dr. Pedro J. del Nido of Children's Hospital Boston and Chair of the AATS Scientific Affairs and Government Relations Committee, is designed to help professionals who are applying for grants, including current and previous grant recipients, to better understand the complex nature of preparing and submitting grant proposals. Invited faculty will include NHLBI representatives, current research investigators, and leaders in the field of cardiothoracic research.

Vail Symposium on Pediatric Cardiac Diseases

The 11th Vail Symposium on Pediatric Cardiac Diseases will be held March 4-7, 2007, in Vail Colorado, USA. This symposium is hosted by The Children's Hospital, Denver, Colorado. Contact Name:  Jeannie Dixon, 1056 E. 19th Ave. B175, Denver, CO 80218-1088; Phone:  303-861-6123; Fax:  303-861-6169;E-mail:  Dixon.Jeannie@tchden.org

Advanced Techniques in Thoracic Surgery

Advanced Techniques in Thoracic Surgery, 8-10 March 2007, Aula S. Domenico, Ospedale SS. Giovanni e Paolo, Complesso Canal del Pianto, Venice, Italy. Local organizer: F. Rea. Topics: Tracheal Stenosis, Carinal Resection, Bronchial and Vascular Sleeve Resection, Lung Transplantation and Bronchial Anastomosis, Bronchial Stump Fistula, Mesothelioma, Pectus Excavatum. For information, see www.eacts.org or contact the EACTS Executive Secretariat, 3 Park Street, Windsor, Berkshire SL4 1LU, UK, Phone: +44 1753 832166, Fax: +44 1753 620407, Email: info@eacts.co.uk

General Thoracic Surgical Club

The 20th Annual Meeting of the General Thoracic Surgical Club will be held March 8 - 11, 2007 at the South Seas Island Resort, Captiva Island, Florida, USA. For more information.

SOCIETY FOR CARDIOTHORACIC SURGERY IN GB & IRELAND (SCTS)

The Annual Meeting for 2007 of the SOCIETY FOR CARDIOTHORACIC SURGERY IN GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND will be held March 11-14, 2007 in the Manchester International Convention Centre (MICC), Manchester, UK. For information, contact: Isabelle Ferner 35-43 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, WC2A 3PE; Phone: +44 20 7869 6893; Fax: +44 20 7869 6890; Email: sctsadmin@scts.org.

CREF 27 - THE SAN DIEGO CARDIOTHORACIC SURGERY SYMPOSIUM

The 27TH ANNUAL SAN DIEGO CARDIOTHORACIC SURGERY SYMPOSIUM, chaired by Julie A. Swain MD, will be held March 15 - 18, 2007, at the San Diego Marriott Hotel and Marina in San Diego, California. THE ABSTRACT DEADLINE IS JANUARY 25, 2007. For further information, please email Susan Westwood at susan@amainc.com.

CardioThoracic Surgical Critical Care 2007

CardioThoracic Surgical Critical Care 2007: Multi-Disciplinary Synergy & Technology to Increase Clinical Precision, Effectiveness, Safety & Patient Comfort will be held March 22nd - 24th, 2007 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC, USA. 

With the rapid evolution in critical care methodology & technology, and with the continuing efforts to resolve controversies and achieve answers to challenging clinical problems, this conference is dedicated to presenting the latest information and innovative concepts & technology in CTS Critical Care.  Work hand in hand with representatives of the entire CTS Critical Care team to develop the finest care possible for your patients. Contribute your perspective to an active dialogue helping to optimize outcomes and direct the future of this emerging specialty.  Sponsored by the Foundation for the Advancement of CTS Care (FACTS-Care), a 501(c)(3) charitable non profit.

To register and for complete information, please click above, or contact Alexander Taft at alextaft@facts-care.org, 202.536.4822

25TH INTERNATIONAL CARDIOVASCULAR SURGICAL SYMPOSIUM

The International Cardiovascular Surgical Symposium Annual meeting will be held March 9-10 2007 in Zurs/Arlberg Austria at the Hotel Robinson Select Alpenrose Zürs. For information, contact: European Heart Institute Mönchsberg 2, 5020 Salzburg, Austria. Phone: +43-699-10510497. Fax: +43-662-841343; Email: congress@herzchirurgie.at.

CURRENT CONTROVERSIES IN VALVE MANAGEMENT

Dr. Vinay Badhwar and Dr. Randolph P. Martin are co-chairing the first Annual Florida Valve Symposium - "CURRENT CONTROVERSIES IN VALVE MANAGEMENT" to be held March 28-30, 2007 at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Cardiac Surgery Faculty: Steven F. Bolling, MD; W. Randolph Chitwood, Jr, MD; Lawrence H. Cohn, MD; Tirone E. David, MD; Carlos M. G. Duran, MD, PhD; Irving L. Kron, MD; Michael J. Mack, MD, Sir Magdi Yacoub, FRS

Cardiology Faculty: David S. Bach, MD; Peter C. Block, MD; Philipp Bonhoeffer, MD; Robert O. Bonow, MD; Blase Carabello, MD; Alain G. Cribier, MD; Maurice E. Sarano, MD; John G. Webb, MD

Contact information: Tampa Bay Heart Institute Foundation, 6006 49th Street North - Suite 320, St. Petersburg, FL 33709. Phone: 727-522-9379; Fax: 727-522-9386; Carole Erickson, Program Administrator; Email: siestavc@aol.com.

APRIL

Applied Science for Cardio-Thoracic Surgeons

Applied Science for Cardio-Thoracic Surgeons. Meeting to be held in  Prague, Czech Republic, 19-21 April 2007. See the interesting programme of this course organized by the International Co-Operation Committee of EACTS.

XII CONGRESS OF THE CATALAN SOCIETY FOR CARDIAC SURGERY

THE CATALAN SOCIETY FOR CARDIAC SURGERY will be held April 19-21, 2007 in Barcelona, Spain. ABSTRACT DEADLINE 16 FEBRUARY, 2007. For information, contact: Jordi Bosch i Grau, Ramoni Cajal, 39, 08339 Vilassar de Dalt, Tel +34 93 753 24 67, Mobil +34 620 26 74 39, email: jordiboschgrau@hotmail.com.

27th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation

The 27th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation will be held April 25 - 28, 2007, at the Hilton Hotel, San Francisco CA. USA.

For information, contact; ISHLT, 14673 Midway Road, Suite 200, Addison TX 75001, USA. Phone: 1 972 490 9495; Fax: 1 972 490 9499;Email: meeting@ishlt.org

AmSECT 45th International Conference

AmSECT's 45th International Conference will be held April 25-28, 2007 at the Omni CNN Center in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.  A separate, pre-conference VAD (didactic/hands-on) workshop is scheduled for Wednesday, which offers a special certificate of completion.  For more information. 

Netherlands Association for Thoracic Surgery

The Annual Spring meeting of the Netherlands Association for Thoracic Surgery will be held on April 27, 2007 at the Okura Hotel, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. For more information contact: Netherlands Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, Postbus 19141, 3501 DC  Utrecht, The Netherlands, tel: 31-30-2380324, fax: 31-30-2380325, e-mail: nvt@tiscali.nl. Abstract deadline is FEBRUARY 14, 2007.

MAY

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

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.

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

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. Abstract submission deadline: 31 January 2007.  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: 717-531-6483.

THE ASIAN SOCIETY FOR CARDIOVASCULAR SURGERY

The 15th Annual Meeting of the Asian Society for Cardiovascular Surgery will be held on May 17-20, 2007 in Beijing, China. For more information, contact; ASCVS 2007 Secretariat, Chinese Medical Association, 42 Dongsi Xidajie, Beijing 100710, China; Phone: +86 (10) 8515 8149; Fax: +86 (10) 6512 3754; E-mail: ASCVS2007@cma.org.cn; Website: www.ascvs2007.com.

Abstract Submission Deadline: February 15, 2007
Notification of Abstract Acceptance: March 15, 2007
Pre-congress Registration Deadline: March 31, 200

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

February 8, 2007 Notification of Abstract acceptance
March 1, 2007 Low pre-registration fee

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

MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL POSTGRADUATE COURSE 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. For information/registration, please contact Harvard Medical School, Division of Continuing Education (617) 384-8600.

JUNE

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. Abstract submission deadline: 1 February 2007.  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

ISMICS

The INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR MINIMALLY INVASIVE CARDIOTHORACIC SURGERY (ISMICS) will celebrate its 10th Anniversary during its Annual Scientific Meeting scheduled 6-9 June 2007 at the Aurelia Convention Centre & Expo in Rome, Italy. Special guest speakers will address the rapid development and innovation in techniques and technology over the past 10 years and provide insight into the direction technology is taking in the future. The scientific meeting will feature original research presentations, panel discussions, post graduation education and much more. Visit the website for information on abstract submission, meeting registration, hotel reservations and links to Rome visitor information.  Abstracts are now closed.

  • Make your Rome hotel reservations at the special ISMICS rate. New this year, ISMICS has contracted space at three different hotels on the campus of the Aurelia Convention Centre. The Torre Rosa Park Hotel is attached to the Centre and offers convenient mid-market accommodations. The Crown Plaza St. Peter's is a 5-minute walk from the Centre and offers indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a spa and other conveniences. The Grand Hotel Palazzo Carpegna is a 4-star boutique hotel featuring modern guest rooms in an historic building; also a 5-minute walk from the Aurelia Convention Centre.

    • 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.

    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.

    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. ABSTRACTS ARE NOW BEING ACCEPTED. Submission is only online at the Society's web site. ABSTRACT DEADLINE HAS BEEN EXTENDED: 15 FEBRUARY 2007. SHVD Executive Secretariat: Heart Science Centre, Harefield Hospital, Harefield, Middlesex. UB9 6JH United Kingdom. Telephone: 44 (0)1895-828977; Facsimile: 44 (0)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.

    Western Thoracic Surgical Association 2007 Meeting

    The 33rd Annual Meeting of the Western Thoracic Surgical Association (WTSA) will be held June 27-30, 2007, at the Hyatt Regency Tamaya, Santa Ana Pueblo, NM.  For information, contact: Megan Tainer, 900 Cummings Center, Suite 221-U, Beverly, MA 01915; Phone: 1 978 927-8330; Fax: 1 978 524-8890; Email: WTSA@prri.com

    2nd Polish-Ukrainian Cardiac Surgery Congress

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

    Abstract submission deadline: 28 February 2007. 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 World Society of Cardio-Thoracic Surgeons

    The 17th World Congress World Society of Cardio-Thoracic Surgeons will be held 11 - 13 July 2007, in Kyoto, Japan at the Kyoto International Conference Hall. Abstract submission deadline: 28 February, 2007. 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.

    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 deadline: 21 February 2007. 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

    The 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. More information coming soon.

    OCTOBER - DECEMBER

    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 Best Practices in Perfusion Meeting will be held October 4-6, 2007 at the Le Centre Sheraton Montreal Hotel, 1201 Boulevard Rene-Levesque, West Montreal, Quebec H3B 2L7, Canada. More information coming soon.

    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. ABSTRACT DEADLINE: 15 March 2007.  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

    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. Abstract submission deadline: 6 April 2007. 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 

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    Member Section

    German Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery

    We invite you to visit the EACTS/CTSNet booth if you attend the German Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery meeting February 11-14, 2007 in Hamburg, Germany. Maud Zingmark will be there to greet you and take your picture for your CTSNet home page.

    STS Meeting

    The STS meeting is next week in San Diego.  If you are planning to attend, be sure to stop by the CTSNet booth (1002) to say hello, and get your picture taken for your home page.  See you there!

    Thomas B. Ferguson, M.D.
    Senior Editor

    Carol L. Blasberg
    Managing Editor

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