Dear CTSNet Member,

October has come and gone, which means 2004 will not very long be with us. Below are some of the more important news and activities of the past 30 days. If this Newsletter is not bringing you the items you wish to read about, please let us know at the e-address below.

WHAT'S NEW:

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. His latest interview is with Dr. Clarence Dennis, pioneer in the field of extracorporeal circulation:

http://www.ctsnet.org/doc/9697

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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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EACTS will be attending the XXII Italian Society for Cardiac Surgery Meeting in Bologna November 6-9, 2004. For membership application, information about the Barcelona meeting, the European School for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery in Bergamo, and all other EACTS matters, please stop by the booth. They will also be offering free copies of the EJCTS and the ICVTS at the booth.

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The Thoracic Literature Watch for the third quarter of 2004 has been posted at:

http://www.ctsnet.org/doc/9695

Dr. Mark K. Ferguson of Chicago is the Editor of this Section.

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Nationally recognized surgeons and cardiologists will debate the merits of a new, innovative procedure to treat Atrial Fibrillation (AF) with minimally invasive techniques via the Internet at 12 noon on Tuesday, November 16, 2004. Drs. Randall K. Wolf, Professor of Surgery and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Cincinnati, and his colleague Dr. E. William Schneeberger, Associate Professor of Surgery, will demonstrate this new procedure and lead a discussion of its merits with noted electrophysiology cardiologists, Dr. Warren Jackman, Professor of Medicine at University of Oklahoma and Dr. Richard Henthorn of Greater Cincinnati Cardiovascular Consultants.

The surgical demonstration and debate can be accessed by going to http://www.or-live.com/healthalliance/1217/

The broadcast, which is expected to last one hour, is free for all viewers around the world with Internet access.

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

REMINDER: Abstract deadline for the spring meeting of The SOCIETY OF CARDIOTHORACIC SURGEONS OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND (SCTS) London, UK, is November 5, 2004.

Submit abstracts here:

http://www.ctsnet.org/abstracts/scts/1047

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BOOKSTORE

A new book "Operative Cardiac Surgery" by Timothy Gardner and Thomas L. Spray, is now available as a featured title in the Bookstore:

http://www.ctsnet.org/bookstore/

Order your copy now!

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IN MY OPINION

In this month's IMO, Dr. Lawrence I. Bonchek MD, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, comments on the current political football on stem cell research. His cogent remarks are up to date, and right on target. Read his essay, entitled "Federal Funding of Stem Cell Research, and the War Against Disease" at

http://www.ctsnet.org/doc/9510

and then participate in the Discussion, which is sure to be lively:

http://www.ctsnet.org/fusetalk/messageview.cfm?catid=83&threadid=20000847&forumid=1

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INNOVATION CENTERS

Arrhythmia Center

As an introduction to this New Section, read the Editors' Comments by Dr. John P.Boineau, entitled "Our Purpose" and by Dr. Krishna Khargi, entitled "Why Do We Need an Arrhythmia Innovation Center?" Then read the comprehensive article by Drs. Vinod H. Thourani and John D. Puskas, entitled "Atrial Fibrillation: A Brief Review of Classification Systems." All found here:

http://www.ctsnet.org/innovation/arrhythmia/

Beating Heart Surgery Center

Three commentaries seek to expand the horizons of Beating Heart Surgery, (1) an Editor's Note by Gianni Angelini entitled, "CABG in the awake patient: an ego trip or pioneering surgery?"

http://www.ctsnet.org/doc/9668

(2) a Guest Commentary entitled, "CABG in the Awake Patient? Are You Nuts?" by Dr. Haldun Y. Karagoz, of Ankara, Turkey

http://www.ctsnet.org/doc/9582

and (3) another Guest Commentary entitled, "Thoracic epidural anaesthesia for off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery without intubation: view from the middle of 2004" by Doctors Tomas Vanek and Zbynek Straka, both of Prague, Czech Republic.

http://www.ctsnet.org/doc/9583

Read these interesting articles, and then add your thoughts to the Discussion:

http://www.ctsnet.org/fusetalk/messageview.cfm?catid=85&threadid=20000872

Also Editor Mercedes Dullum has introduced a new topic: HYBRID REVASCULARIZATION with an editorial, plus three Commentaries by Drs. Howard S. Bush and Rafael Cabrales, a cardiologist and an anesthesiologist respectively, of Cleveland Clinic, Florida in Weston FL, and Johannes Bonatti, of Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck Austria. Access at:

http://www.ctsnet.org/doc/9460

Valve Technology Center

The topic for this month discusses the thorny problem of anticoagulation in valve-replacement patients. Editor Jose Revuelta MD has contributed an essay entitled "Anticoagulation therapy after aortic valve replacement: Is there one single answer?"

http://www.ctsnet.org/doc/9564

and a Guest Commentary by Raul Garcia-Rinaldi, MD, PhD is titled "Clopidogrel-ASA combination inhibits the thrombogenicity of St. Jude Medical mechanical Aortic Prostheses."

http://www.ctsnet.org/doc/9565

Add your comments on this subject in the discussion:

http://www.ctsnet.org/fusetalk/messageview.cfm?catid=87&threadid=20000871

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

Resident Scholarship Information

Ten resident scholarships are available to attend the 8th Annual NewEra Cardiac Care conference, January 7-9, 2005, at the Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, in Dana Point, California. The scholarships include waived conference registration and two nights' complimentary hotel accommodation. All recipients must arrange and pay for their own travel.

To be considered for a scholarship, the resident's director must email Susan Westwood (susan@amainc.com) with his or her nomination. The Program Committee will make final selections. For additional information, call 805.541.3118 or e-mail susan@amainc.com

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

"An Interesting Source of Hemoptysis," a case study by Dr. Vinod Thourani, introduces the new CTSNet Resident's Case study section. Individuals interested in contributing should contact Dr. Thourani for information.

http://www.ctsnet.org/doc/9396

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 STS 41st ANNUAL MEETING from January 24-26, 2005 in Tampa, Florida. Please visit

http://www.sts.org

New this year, the Society launches STS UNIVERSITY, an exciting educational line-up that includes wet labs and live surgical procedures on Wednesday, January 26. Courses will cover congenital, general thoracic and adult cardiac surgery topics. And for the first time, the STS Annual Meeting will present four live operative procedures: mitral valve repair, thorascopic sympathectomy, minimally invasive atrial fibrillation ablation, and 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, January 26. In addition, the congenital video demonstrations will run simultaneously with the live sessions.

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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HUMANITARIAN NEWS

A thirteen-person cardiac care team involved in the Minneapolis-based international charity, Children’s HeartLink, is preparing for a seven-day volunteer medical mission to Lviv, Ukraine.

During the mission from Nov. 6-13, the team of doctors, nurses and technicians from hospitals across the United States will focus on training their overseas colleagues while providing life-saving charity surgeries. Children’s HeartLink doctors also will provide education, technical assistance and critical medical supplies. Additionally, the volunteers will serve as expert resources by providing professionals in Ukraine with advanced education and support.

For more information on how to travel with Children’s HeartLink to Ukraine, or interview a participating doctor, please call Catherine Higgins at 952-928-4860 extension 16.

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JOURNAL NEWS

The EACTS Symposium on the Future of Cardiac Surgery, held July 1-2, 2004 in Frankfurt, will be carried as a journal Supplement in the European Journal of Cardio-thoracic Surgery (EJCTS), with the expected publication December, 2004.

The EUROPEAN SOCIETY FOR CARDIOVASCULAR SURGERY for (ESCVS) adopts Interactive CardioVascular and Thoracic Surgery (ICVTS) as official journal. For more:

http://www.icvts.org/pdf/icvts387.pdf

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DISCUSSION

There is an interesting thread developing concerning the proposed changes being developed by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery in the length of training for future cardiothoracic residents. Access here:

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

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ABSTRACT DEADLINES

November 5, 2004: The SOCIETY OF CARDIOTHORACIC SURGEONS OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND (SCTS) London, UK.

Submit: http://www.ctsnet.org/abstracts/scts/1047

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 31, 2005: THE SOCIETY FOR HEART VALVE DISEASE, Vancouver, Canada.

Submit: http://www.shvd.org

February 15, 2005: EUROPEAN SOCIETY FOR CARDIOVASCULAR SURGERY (ESCVS), Athens, Greece.

Submit: http://www.escvsannualcongress.org

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NOVEMBER MEETINGS

The 51st Annual Meeting of the SOUTHERN THORACIC SURGICAL ASSOCIATION (STSA) will take place November 4-6, 2004, at the Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Beach Hotel, Cancun, Mexico. For details, visit the website:

http://www.stsa.org/

Harvard Medical School Department of Continuing Education will offer a Course on MULTIMODALITY MANAGEMENT OF TUMORS OF THE AERODIGESTIVE TRACT: Photodynamic Therapy and Other Strategies including Hands-on Sessions in the use of laser, PDT and Stents, November 5-6, 2004, at Harvard Conference Center & Brigham and Women’s Hospital. The Course Director is Dr.Raphael Bueno. For more information, contact:

http://cme.med.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/hmscme.cgi?SECTION=CLASSES&ID=00241686&SO=N

or call 617-384-8600 between 10 am and 4 pm EDT

The ITALIAN SOCIETY FOR CARDIAC SURGERY XXII National Meeting will be held in Bologna, Italy, November 6-9, 2004, in the Palazzo della Cultura e dei Congressi. For more information please visit these websites:

http://www.cardiochirurgiaitalia.it and http://www.sicch.org

A Course on CONTEMPORARY GENERAL THORACIC SURGERY will be given November 11-12, 2004 at the Eric P. Newman Education Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis Missouri. Course Chair is Dr. Alexander Patterson. For more information, contact: Continuing Medical Education, Campus Box 8063, 660 South Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110, Phone: 1 314 362-6891, Fax: 1 314 362-1087, Email: CME@msnotes.wustl.edu And visit this Website:

http://cme.wustl.edu/Seminars/BROCHUREThoracic2004.doc

The annual INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON THORACIC SURGERY will be held November 19, 2004 at the University Hospitals in Leuven, Belgium. Program and details of meeting here:

Bea.Libert@uz.kuleuven.ac.be

The 9th Annual Congress of the BELGIAN ASSOCIATION FOR CARDIO-THORACIC SURGERY (BACTS) will be held in Brussels, Belgium, November 20, 2004. The invited speaker will be Prof. Philippe Menasché (Paris); his topic "Cellular Therapy in Cardiac Surgery." Application forms available on the BACTS website:

http://www.bacts.org/

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FUTURE 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

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 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 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

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TRANSITIONS

At its meeting on October 19-24, 2004, The American Board of Thoracic Surgery elected the following slate of officers and new directors:

Timothy J. Gardner, Chairman for the second of two years,

Carolyn E. Reed, Vice-Chairman for the second of two years, after which she will become Chairman.

The following were elected as Directors, each to serve a six-year term:

Mark S. Allen, Rochester MN

Edward L. Bove, Ann Arbor, MI

David A. Fullerton, Denver, CO

David H. Harpole, Durham, NC

Douglas E. Wood, Seattle, WA

DECEASED: Donald B. Effler, MD on August 24, 2004, at the age of 89. A giant in cardiothoracic surgery, he was the head of the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic from 1949 to 1975. There he and his colleagues developed tachniques for visualizing the coronary arteries and then surgically bypassing the obstructions. A native of New York City, he received his undergraduate and medical training at the University of Michigan, receiving his MD degree in 1941. He was the 5th President of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.

Deceased: Demetre M. Nicoloff, MD., PhD on August 5, 2003 at age 69. Master surgeon, inventor and businessman, he practiced in both academic and private practice settings for 43 years in Minnesota's twin cities of Minneapolis - St Paul. Read the tribute to Dr. Nicoloff by his colleague Dr. Robert Emery:

http://www.ctsnet.org/doc/9754

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PRODUCT FORUM

At the time of the American Heart Association meeting in New Orleans, Medtronic will sponsor a symposium entitled, "Innovations for Treatment of Valvular Disease -- Stentless to Transcatheter" on November 8, 2004, 7 to 9 PM, in Salon A, Hilton New Orleans Riverside. The Speakers are Doctors Carlos Duran, Carlos Ruiz, Philipp Bonhoeffer and Magdi Yacoub. The event can also be viewed via live internet broadcast at:

http://www.healthcast-live.com/medtronic/1214

St. Jude Medical provides CTSNet with videotapes of its 2004 Cardiac Surgery Residents’ Symposium Scientific Session. The first two presentations are posted:

Joseph E. Bavaria, MD: Circulation Management During Type-A Dissection and Great Vessel Surgery: http://www.ctsnet.org/symposia/Bavaria-web.html

Lawrence H. Cohn, MD: Mitral Valve Repair and Replacement, 1902-2003: The Evolution of Thought and Technique: http://www.ctsnet.org/symposia/Cohn-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 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, INC. has provided CTSNet with content from its Fourth International Forum: Controversies and Innovations in Cardiac Surgery and Cardiology held early last year. Here are the two most recent releases:

"Late Outcomes of Myxomatous Mitral Valve Repair"

Lawrence H. Cohn, MD

http://www.ctsnet.org/edwards/cohn/cohn.html

"Repair Techniques for Myxomatous Mitral Regurgitation"

Delos M. Cosgrove, MD

http://www.ctsnet.org/edwards/cosgrove1/cosgrove1.html

CTSNet also welcomes as a participant in the Product Forum BAXTER BioSurgical, a division of Baxter BioScience. Baxter provides a comprehensive line of biological products, preparation/delivery devices, and physician resources. Learn more about the CoSeal Surgical Sealant, including "Instructions for Use", Visualization of CoSeal in Action", and Clinical Trial information, plus a video titled, "CoSeal Surgical Sealant – Educational Video":

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

CTSNet welcomes ATS MEDICAL, Inc. http://www.atsmedical.com/ and INTUITIVE SURGICAL, Inc. http://www.intuitivesurgical.com/ to the CTSNet Product Forum. We look forward to learning more about ATS Medical's ATS Open Pivot® Heart Valve, Intuitive Surgical's da Vinci® Surgical System, and both companies' other products over the next many months.

ST. JUDE MEDICAL introduces the SJM Tailor® Flexible Annuloplasty Repair System.

http://www.ctsnet.org/stjude/product/920

The SJM Tailor® Band is a flexible partial ring, offering a convenient and time-saving alternative for surgeons who desire posterior annuloplasty support. It complements the SJM Tailor® Ring, which is designed for surgeons who usually implant full rings, but like the option of customizing to a band. The SJM Tailor® Delivery System makes the new band convenient and easy to implant, with a one-step, push-button release. The ergonomic handle quickly and securely attaches and detaches, and an extension handle offers the option of added maneuverability during minimally invasive procedures. A malleable section of the holder and sizers can be easily bent during the procedure for more flexibility, but revert to their original shape during heat sterilization.

SYNOVIS SURGICAL posts its Peri-Strips Dry® Staple Line Reinforcement as a Featured Product. See product information and literature review:

http://www.ctsnet.org/synovissurgical/product/923

CARBOMEDICS, INC. posted the Top Hat® Supra-annular Aortic Valve as a featured product, the first bileaflet mechanical valve designed for supra-annular placement.

http://www.ctsnet.org/carbomedics/product/297

TERUMO CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEMS features its Khuri® Myocardial pH Monitoring System, an early warning system for intraoperative myocardial acidosis, enabling pH-guided Myocardial Management.

http://www.ctsnet.org/terumo/product/905

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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.

We will be registering members and taking photos at the 51st Annual Meeting of the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association in Cancun, Mexico (Nov 4-6), and the XXII Italian Society for Cardiac Surgery Meeting in Bologna (Nov 6-9). If you are attending these meetings, stop by and see us.

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.

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

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