Dear CTSNet Member,

CTSNet Redesign Notes 

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

The CTSNet home page is designed to help you find new content quickly.  The four most recent "headlines" are posted at the top.  At times the four headline postings change rather quickly, so we suggest you make it a habit to also click on the "More Headlines" button, to make sure you have not missed any announcements. 

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INDUSTRY FORUM (PREVIOUSLY CALLED PRODUCT FORUM)

CTSNet welcomes The SORIN GROUP to the CTSNet Community as a Contributing Sponsor.  The Sorin Group is a medical technology leader focused on the development of products used to treat cardiovascular and renal diseases.  Its cardiovascular business units include a number of companies you have worked with over the years:  Dideco, Sorin Biomedica Cardio, Ela Medical, Sorin Biomedica CRM, Sorin Biomedica CID, Carbomedics, Cobe Cardiovascular, Sorin Group Deutschland, and Mitroflow.  We are grateful to The Sorin Group for its educational grant, which helps support our online community.  More information at:

http://www.sorin.com/eng/index.asp?NC=67574

BAXTER HEALTHCARE received approval from the Australia Regulatory authority (Therapeutics Goods Administration) to market CoSeal Surgical Sealant in Australia for the prevention or reduction of the incidence, severity and extent of post surgical adhesion formation in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.  This new indication of CoSeal was first approved in the European Union through an extension of the CE mark.  CoSeal is already approved for use as a sealant in arterial and venous reconstructions in US, European Union, Australia and New Zealand.  For more information:

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

EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES is sponsoring the following CME-accredited educational programs:

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

Space is limited and registrations will be accepted on a first come, first served basis.  Spaces are filling fast.  We suggest you not delay.  Program Directors: Alain Carpentier, MD, PhD and Michel Pellerin, MD.  For more information contact: Annenberg Center for Health Sciences (#4400), 39000 Bob Hope Dr., Rancho Mirage, CA 92270; FAX 1 760 773 4550.

Two new presentations have been added to the EDWARDS Fourth International Symposia Section:

"Tricuspid Valve Surgery: Forgotten and Unloved", Patrick M. McCarthy, MD, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH

http://www.ctsnet.org/symposia/mccarthy2/mccarthy2.html

"Asymptomatic Mitral Regurgitation", Maurice E. Sarano, MD, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN

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

View the presentations from the St. JUDE CARDIAC SURGERY Resident’s Symposia Scientific Sessions from 2002-2004.

http://www.ctsnet.org/sections/industryforum/symposia/index.html

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

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

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

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

and study design:

http://www.resolve-af.com/   

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

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

EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES has made available two CME-accredited Archived Webcasts:

(1) "Valve repair for Ischemic Mitral Regurgitation"  by Patrick M. McCarthy, MD. To access this program:

http://www.or-live.com/nmh/1300/

(2) "Operative and Long-Term Considerations in Aortic Valve Replacement Using Latest Generation Bioprostheses"  by Paul J. Corso, MD.  To access this program:

http://www.or-live.com/whcenter/1299/

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WHAT'S NEW

AmSECT Joins CTSNet

We are very pleased to announce that the American Society for Extra-Corporeal Technology (AmSECT) has joined CTSNet as a member organization.  Founded in 1964, AmSECT has over 2000 perfusionist members worldwide.  Check their website:

http://www.AmSECT.org

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Device Training Center Launched:  CTSNet launches Device Training Center to provide online training materials for cardiothoracic and vascular surgery devices.  Following review of materials, participants can complete online tests and print certificates to document achievement.  More information at:

http://www.ctsnet.org/sections/devicetraining/index.html

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AATS Meeting Notes

Actions taken at the 85th Annual Meeting of the AATS recently concluded in San Francisco are detailed here:

http://www.ctsnet.org/announcements/announcement83.html

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WTS Mentoring Program

The first phase of the Women in Thoracic Surgery mentoring program has been launched on WTSNet.  Forty-six percent of the WTS membership has signed up to become a mentor!  The biographies of these individuals are available on the Website for young faculty, residents and students to peruse: to assist them in finding a mentor.  Reading materials about mentoring are also on the Website.  WTS appreciates the leadership of Dr. Cindy Herrington on this important initiative.  For more information:

http://www.ctsnet.org/file/WTSaboutMentors122004.pdf

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The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Board of Directors for 2005-06 are posted. Click here:

http://www.ctsnet.org/announcements/announcement72.html

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STS Meeting Webcast Available

The full webcast of the January 2005 STS Annual Meeting held in Tampa, Florida, is now available for viewing:

http://www.sts.org/2005webcast/

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New In My Opinion Posting: "Energy Loss for Evaluating Valve Performance -- A Concept Whose Time is Past Due" by Cary  W. Akins MD.  An internationally known valve expert, Dr. Akins poses an ingenious new theory for evaluating prosthetic valve function.  View at:

http://www.ctsnet.org/sections/newsandviews/inmyopinion/articles/article-53.html

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New STSA Video Posted

A new video from last fall's STSA meeting is available: "Retro-Cardiac Ascending Aorta to Descending Aorta Bypass" by Drs. Clifton C. Reade, Theodore C. Koutlas, Curtis E. Bower, et al.  To view:

http://www.ctsnet.org/realmedia/vidgal/vg2005_reade.ram

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Lillehei Pioneer Interview Available

Another in the series of interviews with pioneers in cardiothoracic surgery by Dr. W. Gerald Rainer has been posted: Dr. C. Walton Lillehei.  To view and hear:

http://www.ctsnet.org/sections/residents/pioneerinterviews/article-8.html 

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A New Thoracic Techniques Article has been posted: "VATS Lobectomy for Early Stage lung Cancer" by Raja M. Flores MD of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center - Cornell University Medical College, New York.  To view:

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

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EACTS-Sponsored Meeting

"Health Care: A Successful Future", EACTS Health Management Course, a global view of leadership and management capabilities.  Co-Organized with Real Colegio-Complutense in Harvard, Madrid, Complutense University and Harvard University.  To be held 4-8 July 2005, El Escorial, Madrid, Spain.  More information:

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

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Important Information from the ABTS

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

http://www.abts.org

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The Society for Heart Valve Disease has posted the preliminary program for its Third Biennial Meeting, June 17-20, 2005 in Vancouver, Canada.  View online the outstanding set of abstracts and access the meeting registration information by clicking on:

http://www.shvd.org/

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WTSA 2005 Meeting program available

The program, including abstracts, for the 2005 meeting of the Western Thoracic Surgical Association (WTSA) to be held in Victoria, BC, June 22-25 is now available for viewing: 

http://www.westernthoracic.org/doc/4801

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Historic Images

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

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

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BOOKSTORE

Two New Books Featured in Bookstore

The Bookstore is featuring two new books:

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

(1) "Comprehensive Surgical Management of Congenital Heart Disease" by Richard A. Jonas, et al, and

(2) "Surgery for Coronary Artery Disease" by David J. Wheatley, Editor.  This book won 1st prize in the Surgery Section of the British Medical Association Medical Book Competition in 2004.  See:

http://www.bma.org.uk/ap.nsf/Content/LIB2004PicturesBookAwards2 

We urge you when purchasing books to use the CTSNet-Amazon outlet.  It is convenient AND the best price!

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INNOVATION CENTERS

Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery Center

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

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

Beating Heart Surgery Center

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

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

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VIDEOS

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

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

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

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

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ADULT CARDIAC EXPERT TECHNIQUES

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

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

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RESIDENTS SECTION

2004 Gibbon Lecture Now Available

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

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

Cooley Lecture

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

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

New Horizons

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

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

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

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

For all graduating cardiothoracic surgery residents: The "Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery Core Curriculum Review" provides comprehensive preparation for Part I of the ABTS Boards, to be given in September, 2005.  For further information:

http://www.corereview.org/

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

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

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JOURNALS

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

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

April's selection:

Louise Coats, Victor Tsang, Sachin Khambadkone, Carin van Doorn, Shay Cullen, John Deanfield, Marc R. de Leval, and Philipp Bonhoeffer, "The potential impact of percutaneous pulmonary valve stent implantation on right ventricular outflow tract re-intervention", Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2005 27: 536-543.

http://ejcts.ctsnetjournals.org/cgi/content/full/27/4/536

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

http://ejcts.ctsnetjournals.org/

EACTS has relaunched Interactive CardioVascular and Thoracic Surgery (ICVTS) on-line with CTSNet and HighWire Press to bridge the gap between the traditional technical journal and the interactive discussion forum.

The accepted papers for ICVTS volume 4, issue 3 (June 2005) have now been posted on the website and are open to discussion, see:

http://icvts.ctsnetjournals.org/papbyrecent.dtl

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' - these comments will be both posted on-line and subsequently published in print in ICVTS volume 4, issue 3. 

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

http://icvts.ctsnetjournals.org/

In the April 2005 issue of The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Halkos et al, present a preliminary experience with the use of recombinant factor VIIa.  Nine patients received rFVIIa for intractable hemorrhage after various cardiovascular surgical procedures in adults.  Four of the procedures were reoperations.  Aprotinin was used in all patients, and all underwent standard heparinization (300 IU/kg) before cardiopulmonary bypass and reversal with protamine.  The average transfusion requirement before rFVIIa administration was 9 U of blood, 7 U of plasma, 22 U of platelets, and 19 U of cryoprecipitate.  rFVIIa was administered as an intravenous bolus at 68 to 120 µg/kg.  At the time of activated rFVIIa administration, chest tube drainage averaged 640 mL/h.  In all patients, chest tube drainage was dramatically reduced to less than 100 mL/h within 5 hours after delivery.  None of the patients required re-exploration after treatment.  There were no postoperative complications.  When !

used as rescue therapy for intractable hemorrhage after surgery, rFVIIa may be effective in promoting hemostasis, preventing re-exploration, and reducing transfusion requirements, or so the authors concluded.  There is a developing experience with this form of therapy, although not many reports have made it into the literature.  Is VIIa safe for coronary surgery?  Should controlled trials be considered?  Is it likely to be cost-effective?  Will effects be additive to what is in our current armamentarium?

Please read the article at http://ats.ctsnetjournals.org/cgi/content/full/79/4/1303 and add your comments and experience to this Dilemmas in Adult Cardiac Surgery in the CTSNet Discussion Forum at http://forums.ctsnet.org:8080/ctsnet/forum.jspa?forumID=3.

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DISCUSSION FORUMS

Interesting discussion threads are developing in 2 areas:

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

http://forums.ctsnet.org:8080/ctsnet/thread.jspa?threadID=688&tstart=0

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

http://forums.ctsnet.org:8080/ctsnet/thread.jspa?threadID=852&tstart=0

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TRANSITIONS

The following AATS officers and Councillors for 2005-2006 were announced at the recent Annual Meeting in San Francisco:

President: Richard A. Jonas, MD - Washington, DC

President-Elect: Bruce W. Lytle, MD - Cleveland, OH

Vice President: D. Craig Miller, MD - Stanford, CA

Past President: Tirone E. David, MD - Toronto, Canada

Secretary: Irving L. Kron, MD - Charlottesville, VA

Treasurer: Alec Patterson, MD - St. Louis, MO

Editor: Andrew S. Wechsler, MD - Philadelphia, PA

Councillors:

Charles D. Fraser, Jr., MD - Houston, TX

Hartzell V. Schaff, MD - Rochester, MN

Craig R. Smith, MD - New York, NY

David J. Sugarbaker, MD - Boston, MA

Marko I. Turina, MD - Zurich, Switzerland

Deceased:  On December 21, 2004, the surgical community was saddened to hear on the death of pioneer surgeon Dr. W. Glenn Young, Jr.  He spent his entire professional career at Duke Medical Center, after receiving his undergraduate and medical degrees from Duke University.  Read the tribute to him by two colleagues at Duke:

http://www.ctsnet.org/announcements/announcement69.html

Honored:  Officers for the coming year for the German Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (GSTCVC) are as follows:

President - Prof. Arno Krian

1st Vice-President - Prof. Axel Haverich

2nd Vice-President - Prof. Hans Scheld

Secretary - Prof. Jochen Cremer

Treasurer - Prof. Jochim-Gerd Rein

Assessors

Prof. Sabine Daebritz

Dr. Christian Hagl

Prof. Andreas Markewitz

Prof. Ewe Mehlhorn

Prof. Thorsten Wahlers

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

http://www.ctsnet.org/announcements/announcement71.html

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ABSTRACT DEADLINES

May 1, 2005: SCANDINAVIAN ASSOCIATION FOR THORACIC SURGERY (SATS) and the 25th Meeting of the SCANDINAVIAN ASSOCIATION FOR EXTRA-CORPOREAL TECHNOLOGY (SCANSECT), Bergen, Norway

May 15,2005: Ninth PEDIATRIC INTERVENTIONAL CARDIAC SYMPOSIUM (PICS-IX) and third EMERGING NEW TECHNOLOGIES IN CONGENITAL HEART SURGERY (ENTICHS-III), Buenos Aires, Argentina

July 1, 2005: BELGIAN ASSOCIATION FOR CARDIO-THORACIC SURGERY (BACTS), Brussels, Belgium

July 8,2005:  PENNSYLVANIA ASSOCIATION OF THORACIC SURGERY, Bermuda

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

For more meeting abstract deadlines:

http://www.ctsnet.org/sections/newsandviews/eventpages/events_abstractdeadlines.cfm

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MAY MEETINGS

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

http://www.escvsannualcongress.org/

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

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

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

http://www.cme.utoronto.ca/education/registration.asp?courseid=SUR0507&Brochure=/PDF/SUR0507.pdf

To view program brochure:

http://www.cme.utoronto.ca/PDF/SUR0507.pdf

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FUTURE MEETINGS

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

http://www.ismics.org

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

http://www.asaio.com

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

http://ctscriticalcare.ws

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

http://www.shvd.org.

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

The 31st Annual Meeting of the WESTERN THORACIC SURGICAL ASSOCIATION will be held June 22-25, 2005 at the Fairmont Empress Hotel, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. The program can be viewed at:

http://www.ctsnet.org/file/WTSA05_PreliminaryProgram.pdf

Early bird rates are available until MAY 20, 2005.

Also early housing reservations are highly suggested. Obtain online at:

https://www.fairmont.com/FA/en/CDA/Home/Secure/Reservations/CDRMRsvnMain/0,3043,,00.HTML?sPromoCode=GRSUR1&lPropertySeq=100128

Check the WTSA website for more details:

http://www.westernthoracic.org/

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

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

or at the EACTS office, Windsor, UK, Phone: 44 1753 832166, Fax: 44 1753 620407, E-Mail: info@eacts.co.uk

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

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

The 54th Annual Meeting of the SCANDINAVIAN ASSOCIATION FOR THORACIC SURGERY (SATS) and the 25th Meeting of the SCANDINAVIAN ASSOCIATION FOR EXTRA-CORPOREAL TECHNOLOGY (SCANSECT) will be held August 25-27, 2005, in Bergen, Norway.  For more details:

http://flimra.intermedia.uib.no

The American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) First Ever Freestanding PostGraduate Course will be held September 9-11, 2005 at the Fairmont Hotel in Chicago: Valvular Heart Disease: Advanced Surgical and Interventional Therapies; Director: Delos M. Cosgrove, III, MD; Medical Director: Martin B. Leon, MD; Contact: Megan Tainer, Meeting Manager,  978-927-8330, mtainer@prri.com   For more information, please see http://www.aats.org/aatsdoc/?did=9907

The Ninth PEDIATRIC INTERVENTIONAL CARDIAC SYMPOSIUM (PICS-IX) and third EMERGING NEW TECHNOLOGIES IN CONGENITAL HEART SURGERY (ENTICHS-III) will be held at the Hilton Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina on September 15-18, 2005. Last year’s course was a huge success with more than 700 attendees from nearly 50 countries.  This year’s course is being held immediately preceding the World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery.  This will give the attendees an opportunity to attend both meetings at a reduced price.  Abstract deadline is MAY 15, 2005.  More information at:

http://www.picsymposium.com/

The 5th EUROPEAN CONFERENCE ON PERFUSION, EDUCATION AND TRAINING, CCIB, will be held September 24 in Barcelona, Spain.  Information: The  European Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery and Cardiovascular Perfusion, City Hospital Triemli Zurich, Birmensdorferstrasse 497, 8063 Zurich, Switzerland, Tel +41 1 466 2189, fax +41 1 466 2745, Email: gravesebcp@gmx.ch, website:

http://www.ebcp.org/

The PENNSYLVANIA ASSOCIATION OF THORACIC SURGERY 42nd Annual Meeting will be held September 29 - October 2, 2005 at Elbow Beach Resort, Bermuda.  To request information or submit abstract please contact: Director, Mary Ann Wertan, RN, email: WertanM@mlhs.org, ph: 610.89.9255 x 231 or contact Rohinton J. Morris, MD, Program Chairman or Joseph Bavaria, MD, President.  Abstract Deadline:  JULY 8, 2005.

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

The SOUTHERN THORACIC SURGICAL ASSOCIATION (STSA) 52nd Annual Meeting will be held November 10-12, 2005, at the Disney Yacht & Beach Club, Orlando, Florida.  See STSA website for further details:

http://www.stsa.org/

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

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

More information available either at the BACTS website:

http://www.bacts.org

or the Congress website:

http://www.medicongress.com

The 17th Biennial Congress of ASSOCIATION OF THORACIC AND CARDIOVASCULAR SURGEONS OF ASIA (ATCSA) will be held at the Makati Shangri-la Hotel, Manila, Philippines, November 20-23, 2005.  Abstract submission deadline: 31 JULY 2005.  For more information:

http://www.atcsa.org

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MEMBER SECTION

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

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

If you are attending the ISMICS meeting in New York City June 1-4, 2005, be sure to stop by our booth #37 for conversation, refreshments, and to have your picture taken for your home page.

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@wustl.edu

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