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Monthly Newsletter - September 2007

Table of Contents

What's New

Thoracic Expert Technique

"Thoracotomy for Exposure of the Spine" by Christopher B. Komanapalli, MD, Jorge L. Eller, MD and Mithran S. Sukumar, MD, all of Portland, Oregon.

Thoracic New Technology

AIRFIX®: Technical Features of the First Digital Airflow Measurement Device for Bedside Use by Udo C. Anegg, MD, Jörg Lindenmann, MD, Veronika Matzi, MD, Alfred Maier, MD, Lukas Fritz, MD, Freyja-Maria Smolle-Juettner, MD, all of University Medical School, Graz, Austria.

Cardiothoracic Safety Reporting System - 2 New vignettes

Two new case vignettes have been posted:
"Mislabelled IV Solution"
""Near-miss" of a Left IMA after Bleeding Control due to a Dislodged Hemostatic Clip by Means of a 8-0 Suture"

Read these interesting clinical accounts, as well as the critical assessments of the situations, and then share an experience of your own by sending a vignette to this valuable repository.

Thoracic Literature Watch - Second Quarter 2007

The Thoracic Literature Watch for the second quarter of 2007 (Articles published 04/01/07-06/30/07) is now available. Articles for this Section are selected by Thoracic Portal Editor Mark Ferguson.

EACTS Council 2007-2008

At the recently concluded Annual Meeting in Geneva, the following slate was elected for Council 2007-2008:

President Paul T. Sergeant
Vice President Erino Angelo Rendina
Secretary General Bruce E. Keogh
Treasurer Jose Luis Pomar
Editor Ludwig Karl von Segesser
Information officer Raffaele De Simone
Past President Siegfried Hagl
Councilor Ottavio R. Alfieri
Stefano Elia
Bohdan Maruszewski
Ralph Alexander Schmid
Pascal R. Vouhe
Andrew S. Wechsler
Member Maciej Karol Kolowca

NEWERA CARDIAC CARE RESIDENT SCHOLARSHIPS

NEWERA CARDIAC CARE RESIDENT SCHOLARSHIPS

For cardiothoracic surgery and cardiology residents in good standing, ten scholarships are available to attend the 11th Annual NewEra Cardiac Care conference, January 10 - 13, 2008, at the Four Seasons Aviara Resort in North San Diego, California.

-Five scholarships, sponsored by Edwards Lifesciences, include a full tuition waiver, complimentary hotel accommodations for four nights at the conference hotel, a $500 travel stipend, and a personal visit to the Edwards facility.

-Five scholarships include a full tuition waiver only.

All recipients must arrange their own travel.

To be considered for any of the above scholarships, the applicant must submit to Susan Westwood (susan@amainc.com) a current CV and nomination letter from his or her resident director.

To be considered for the Edwards-sponsored scholarship, each applicant must also submit a topic that he or she would present at the Edwards facility. The focus of this twenty-minute presentation would be on one of the following areas: a) an area of unmet clinical need, the prevalence of that need, and potential ways to address it; b) an area of personal research and its importance to the clinical community; or c) an idea for a product or product improvement and what issue it addresses.

The deadline for scholarship applications is November 11, 2007. Program Committee members will choose the scholarship recipients, and applicants will be notified of their decision by December 1, 2007. For additional information, contact Susan Westwood: phone 805.541.3118 or email susan@amainc.com.

Women in Thoracic Surgery (WTS) 2008 Scholarship

The Women in Thoracic Surgery 2008 STS Scholarship application process is now open.

WTS is proud of its scholarship program, which has awarded $23,500 and 18 scholarships since 2005. In awarding the annual WTS scholarships, Women in Thoracic Surgery is fulfilling one of its stated missions, "to enhance the education of women thoracic surgeons."

This is the fourth year that WTS will be aiding women who are interested in pursuing a career in thoracic surgery to attend the annual Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) meeting. The 44th Annual Meeting is to be held in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida USA, January 28-30, 2008. The scholarship is open to women residents in an accredited thoracic surgery or general surgery program. International applicants in approved surgical training programs are also welcome. This year's essay topic was chosen to encourage the applicant to reflect on how her career decision will affect the person closest to her - be it a spouse, friend or family member.

The scholarship, a $1,500 stipend, will be given to the recipient at the WTS Membership meeting held in conjunction with the STS meeting on Sunday, January 27, 2008 in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. THE APPLICATION DEADLINE IS NOVEMBER 1. Recipients will be notified by November 19, 2007.

CLICK HERE FOR APPLICATION FORM

Bergamo Conference

A one-day conference entitled "The Transfer of Knowledge and Technical Skills to the Young Cardio-Thoracic Surgeons" will be held November 17th, 2007, at the Centro Congressi Giovanni XXIII in Bergamo, Italy. This meeting is organized by Humanitas Gavazzeni Hospital (40 years of Cardiac Surgery) and by the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS). It will also celebrate the distinguished career of Prof. Lucio Parenzan, as a pioneer of the modern Cardiac Surgery in Italy. Prof. Parenzan, constantly present in the Humanitas Gavazzeni Hospital, in which he was able to create the International Heart School and give enormous support to the European School for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, today known among the cardiothoracic surgeons around the world as the Bergamo School.

It is our wish to invite not only all current specialists but particularly the young cardiothoracic surgeons of tomorrow, those who will be involved in the new discoveries, the new techniques and the great hopes of cardiology and cardiac surgery, those who should keep in mind "how much has been done by who preceded you and that this outstanding and hard journey never ends."

The conference is totally free. No CME credits will be given.

For more information, a brochure of the meeting, and hotel and meeting registration, please go here.

MEETING REGISTRATION DEADLINE: OCTOBER 24, 2007.

SCTS Now Receiving Abstracts for 2008 Annual Meeting

The Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery in Great Britain and Ireland (SCTS) is now receiving abstracts for their 2008 Annual Meeting, to be held 9-12 March, 2008 in Edinburgh, Scotland. DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION IS MIDNIGHT 5TH NOVEMBER 2007. To submit an abstract. For further meeting information.

EACTS Presents the First Thoracic "Toolkit"

EACTS presents the first Thoracic "Toolkit" on Lung Cancer Staging and Pleural Disease November 1-3, 2007, at the Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine (IKEM) Congress Center, Prague, Czech Republic.

For information, contact: EACTS Executive Secretariat; 3 Park Street, Berkshire, SL4 1LU, UK; Phone: +44 1753 832166; Fax: +44 1753 620407; Email: info@eacts.co.uk For more information.


THORACIC SURGERY SYMPOSIUM

The Department of Thoracic Surgery of the University Hospital, Leuven, Belgium, will hold a THORACIC SURGERY SYMPOSIUM on Friday, November 16. 2007. Symposium Director: T. Lerut

Morning Session topics: Invasive mediastinal staging of NSCLC: controversies or consensus.

Afternoon Session topics: The role of surgery in multimodality treatment for IIIA (N2) NSCLC

The 5th Huub and Imelda Spierings distinguished lecturer in Thoracic Surgery: "The leadership role of the thoracic surgeon in the TNM staging of thoracic malignancies" by Valerie Rusch, MD, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York USA.

Information and registration: Secretariaat Thoraxheelkunde, Bea Libert, UZ Gasthuisberg, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Tel.: +32 16 34.68.22; Fax : +32 16 34.68.21 Email: Bea.Libert@uzleuven.be

21ST CENTURY TECHNIQUES FOR COMPLEX VALVE SURGERY

The 21ST CENTURY TECHNIQUES FOR COMPLEX VALVE SURGERY will be held October 25-27, 2007, at the Nashville Marriott at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee USA. There will be a live OR presentation "David IV Valve Sparing Aortic Root Replacement" by Tirone E. David, MD, Toronto, Canada. To register and learn more about the symposium

TSRA 2007-2008 Officers

TSRA Executive Committee 2007-2008

President
Faraz Kerendi

Immediate Past President
Daniel Boffa

Vice President
John Stulak

Secretary
Bret A. Mettler

Executive Committee Members

David T. Cooke
Peter Ellman
Cherie Parungo Erkmen
Daniel Leite Cardoso Fortes
James Huang
Robert Merritt
Rishi M. Reddy
T. Brett Reece
Sreekumar A. Subramanian
Joseph W. Turek

World Society of Cardio-Thoracic Surgeons New Officers

World Society of Cardio-Thoracic Surgeons (WSCTS)
Slate of Officers approved on July 13, 2007

Honorary Chancellor & Founder
J. Wada (Tokyo)

Chancellor
S. Jamieson (San Diego)

Vice Chancellors
F. Unger (Salzburg)
W. R. E. Jamieson (Vancouver)

Honorary Founding Members
C.E. Cabrol (Paris)
D.A. Cooley (Houston)
C.J. Hahn - deceased
N.E. Shumway - deceased

President
M. Matsumoto (Yamanashi)

Immediate Past President
T. Mussivand (Ottawa)

Incoming Chairman
S. Prapas (Athens)

Secretary-General
W. R. Ade (Tokyo) 2005-2010
M.M. Madani (San Diego) 2007-2012

Historian
F. Robicsek (Charlotte)

Honorary Editor
A. Gunning (Oxford)

Executive Councillors
F. J. Benetti (Buenos Aires)
W. Dembitsky (San Diego CA)
R. R. Favaloro (Buenos Aires)
O. H. Frazier (Houston TX)
H. Osada (Kawasaki)


Announcement from the Retiring Chancellor:

Dear Colleagues,

After extensive consideration I came to the conclusion to ask Stuart W. Jamieson, M.B., F.R.C.S. to succeed me in the office of Chancellor with effect of July 13th, 2007. Stuart hosted the XIIIth World Congress in the year 2003 and served then as President of the Society. Under very challenging conditions in the aftermath of the September 11 tragedy and threatened by unprecedented wild fires, he organized a superb meeting which was a big step forward for our WSCTS. His broad international background and his strong commitment for the Society give me the conviction that Stuart is the right person to lead our Society in this changing environment.

I do ask you to give him every support.

J. Wada, M.D., F.C.T.S.
Honorary Chancellor and Founder WSCTS

Message From the Editor of ICVTS

As from 2007 Interactive CardioVascular and Thoracic Surgery (ICVTS) is indexed in MEDLINE/PubMed. All ICVTS articles published to date are now in PubMed.

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

You are cordially invited to join-in with the interactive discussion at ICVTS.

The accepted papers for ICVTS volume 6/issue 6 (December 2007) have now been posted on the website and are open for discussion.

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

To submit an article to ICVTS

Many thanks for your support, interest and cooperation.

Yours sincerely,

Ludwig von Segesser - Editor-in-Chief ICVTS

ICVTS Editorial Office
av. Gd. St. Bernard 69B (app. 6)
CH-1920 Martigny
Switzerland

tel: +41 27 7236171
fax: +41 27 7236173
e-mail: info@ejcts.ch

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Industry Forum

TERUMO CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEMS NOW SELLS VASCUTEK® VASCULAR GRAFTS

Terumo Cardiovascular Systems recently became the exclusive distributor and provider of clinical support in the U.S. for vascular grafts manufactured by its sister company, Vascutek Ltd. Vascutek® vascular grafts are available for thoracic, thoracoabdominal, vascular and peripheral surgical applications and vascular access. This includes the popular Gelweave Valsalva(TM) graft, the world's only anatomically designed aortic root graft.

Read the press release at Terumo CVS News and Events.

Vascutek's reputation for performance, innovation and service is worldwide; Terumo CVS' sales and distribution network provides easy access to the products and clinical support. See the complete line and many of the US and international vascular and thoracic surgical association meetings we will attend at Vascutek vascular grafts.

Less is More: Medtronic's EOPA 3D(TM) diffuse flow arterial cannulae

Medtronic's EOPA 3D(TM) diffuse flow cannula demonstrates up to 50% less flow velocity* than standard arterial cannulae. The 3D arterial design features a centralized flow pattern, a unique tapered tip configuration that diffuses the flow through multiple outlets and the versatility for either minimally invasive procedures or traditional median sternotomy approaches.
*Data on file at Medtronic.

TERUMO CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEMS ADDS NEW LOW PRIME OXYGENATOR

Terumo offers a full line of hollow fiber oxygenators in the US. The new CAPIOX® RX15 Oxygenator is designed for use with children, minimized circuits and small adults. Combined with the CAPIOX Baby RX(TM) Oxygenator for neonates and the RX25 for adults, the RX15 rounds out the CAPIOX RX series which now covers a wide range of needs with a consistent product design to assure high performance.

Terumo's line of RX oxygenators features superb gas exchange, low pressure drop and low prime volume, all optimally balanced for best performance. Oxygenators feature X Coating(TM), Terumo's biopassive surface coating that reduces platelet adhesion and minimizes platelet activation, and TOTM, an alternative plasticizer that provides outstanding physical properties, such as flexibility, to the material and low plasticizer elution.

See the complete range at CAPIOX RX oxygenators.

MEDTRONIC EDGE UPDATE

Medtronic is pleased to announce that the EDGE Advanced Endosurgical Training Course for Cardiac Surgery Teams has now been endorsed by the STS!

We are excited to bring to you a newly developed EDGE course:

Advanced Endosurgical Training for Cardiac Surgery Teams Course

The course is designed for both cardiac surgeons and their surgical team members to include perfusionists, scrub techs, PAs and other OR personnel. The surgeons will participate in hands-on training via advanced simulation as well as procedural complication management and advanced endosurgical device study.

The surgery team member will be participating in a simultaneous track on the basics of endosurgery. The two tracks will then be brought together near the end of the course to work as a team on simulation.

*** This course is specifically designed for the cardiac surgeon who has completed the EDGE Basic Guidewire, Catheter and Imaging Skills Course or has significant experience in endosurgical procedures as the primary operator. Significant experience would include > 15 endograft cases or other interventional experience. For more details contact Melanie Anderson at 763-391-9908.

General information on this new EDGE Course

Disclaimer: These courses offer skills-based training and case analysis only and do not provide training on any specific Medtronic product or related therapy.

General Information on the Medtronic EDGE Basic Guidewire, Catheter and Imaging Skills Course

Dates Available Include:
September 20-21
October 25-26
November 15-16

Reducing the incidence rate of new-onset post-operative atrial fibrillation

Clinicians are adopting a variety of therapies to reduce the incidence rate of new-onset post-operative atrial fibrillation, estimated at 30 to 40 percent in U.S. cardiac surgery patients.

Studies suggest that using leukocyte filtration can reduce the incidence of new onset post-op Afib up to 72%. Visit Terumo Cardiovascular Systems to learn more about leukocyte filtration for CPB.

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books

Featured Title Available in CTSNet Bookstore

Thoracic Surgery Atlas by Mark K. Ferguson, MD of Chicago, Illinois USA. Dr. Ferguson is the Editor of the Thoracic Portal on CTSNet, and a frequent contributor to the website. Take advantage of the price saving offered by Amazon.com for books purchased through the CTSNet Bookstore.

New Title Available in CTSNet Bookstore

"Amazing Adventures of a Heart Surgeon: The Artificial Heart. The Frontiers of Human Life" by Domingo S. Liotta, M.D.

A new volume that records the development and clinical use of one of the earliest mechanical hearts at the Texas Heart Institute. Dr. Liotta is now Dean of the School of Medicine at the University of Morón, Morón, Argentina. The book is available through the CTSNet Bookstore.

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In My Opinion

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Clinical Resources

NEW FEATURE - Cardiothoracic Safety Reporting System (CTSRS)

Drawing on the experience of the aviation industry, CTSNet, with generous financial support from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS), announces the opening of the CTSNet Cardiothoracic Safety Reporting System (CTSRS). Similar to the well-known "Aviation Safety Reporting System," the CTSRS serves as the central location for capturing information on adverse events and close calls ("near-misses") that occur in the cardiothoracic environment. The safety reporting system was conceived by the STS Workforce on Patient Safety and jointly developed with CTSNet.

The purpose of the CTSRS is to enable all who work in the CT environment to learn from a full range of patient safety issues and events that are submitted anonymously by cardiothoracic care-providers (surgeons, nurses, perfusionists, surgical assistants, and ICU staff) who observed or participated in the events. The system presents case studies of events encountered in the cardiothoracic setting. Each report receives an editorial review (Thoralf M. Sundt, M.D. and Thomas B. Ferguson, M.D.) and comments from patient safety experts (Sarah E Henrickson, M.S., and Douglas A. Wiegmann, Ph.D.).

Coming soon are a discussion forum to engage comments from readers and a rating system to note the usefulness of the reports. Overall supervisors of the Project are Thoralf M. Sundt, M.D., Chairman, STS Workforce on Patient Safety, and CTSNet Board Member, and Richard P. Anderson, M.D., CTSNET Board President.

We urge all CTSNet readers to visit the site often and read new vignettes as they are posted. We also encourage you (must have member ID and Password) to submit an experience of your own that taught you a lesson. In this way we can learn and teach each other new ways to improve the quality of care for and the safety of our patients.

Access the Cardiothoracic Safety Reporting System (CTSRS) home page from the left menu (under Clinical Resources) of the CTSNet home page, or in the New Community Tool box at the top of the right gutter. The vignettes are accessible from the CTSRS home page. Instructions for submitting a case study are also there.

CTSNet Launches e-Learning Center

The CTSNet e-Learning Center is the result of a 3-year effort by the Joint Council for Thoracic Surgery Education, The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS), the American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS), the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS), and the Children's Memorial Hospital (Chicago, IL) to identify and implement an online Learning Management System to deliver innovative e-learning modules for cardiothoracic surgeons.

The goals of the project were:
- To deliver effective e-learning modules on specific topics for target audiences of thoracic surgeons,
- To enable the thoracic surgery community (including learners, educators, and organizational leaders) to acquire experience with developing and supplying effective e-learning,
- To gain from a knowledge transfer from experts in instructional design and e-learning delivery, and
- To minimize and coordinate the risks of e-learning program development across several thoracic surgery organizations.

Currently, two modules are available publicly. The first module, "Off Pump Coronary Artery Bypass: Positioning and Stabilization," was developed by John D. Puskas, M.D., and Joseph F. Sabik III, M.D. The purpose of the module is to educate cardiothoracic surgeons and residents on the techniques and devices used in cardiac positioning and stabilization during the performance of off-pump coronary revascularization. The module is sponsored by the American Association for Thoracic Surgery and awards CME credit and certificate for successful completion.

A second module is "Off Pump Coronary Bypass Debriefing," by Paul Sergeant, M.D. In this module, the Off Pump Coronary Bypass Team of the Katholieke Universiteit of Leuven presents a debriefing exercise of the learner's OPCAB procedures versus their Standard Operating Procedures. The module is sponsored by the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery.

Additional modules are under development and will be available soon.

As part of the e-learning project, CTSNet has developed templates for use by Participating Organizations and the CTSNet community for effectively developing sophisticated e-modules for delivery through the CTSNet Learning Management System. For more information on developing online e-learning modules, contact Ray Everngam, CTSNet Managing Publisher.

Access the CTSNet e-Learning Center from the left menu (under Clinical Resources) of the CTSNet home page, or in the New Community Tool box at the top of the right gutter.

Videos

Literature Watch

Expert Techniques

Thoracic

Cardiac

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Organizations

AATS Abstracts Now Being Accepted

Abstracts for presentation at the 88th Annual Meeting of The American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) are now being accepted. Mark your calendar now for this five-day educational program, to be held May 10-14, 2008 at the San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, CA USA.

Electronic submissions only, please.
ABSTRACT DEADLINE: MONDAY, 11:59 AM EDT, OCTOBER 1, 2007.
For more information, visit the website.

The AATS website has detailed instructions for electronic abstract submission and developing information about the 2008 program. We look forward to reviewing your original research.

CTSNet Welcomes a New Member Organization

CTSNet welcomes the Association of Physician Assistants in Cardiovascular Surgery (APACVS) to the CTSNet Community.

Begun in 1981 as an educational organization, the APACVS represents the professional interests of the Cardiovascular Physician Assistants, with the primary objective of promoting the clinical and academic excellence of its members, and enhancing the quality of medical care to their patients.

Today, the APACVS is the educational, scientific, and political subspecialty organization representative of the Surgical Physician Assistant practicing in the field of cardiovascular and thoracic surgery. The APACVS is over 700 members strong and is recognized and endorsed by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) and The American Association for Thoracic Surgeons (AATS).

Check out their new website!

STS Third Annual Legislative Advocacy Workshop

STS Third Annual Legislative Advocacy Workshop will be held September 30-October 2, 2007, in Washington, DC.

Sponsored by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS), this year's Workshop features a variety of graduate-level sessions that will educate attendees on current and future issues. Invited speakers include:

HHS Secretary Michael O. Leavitt will discuss new directions on quality and transparency, and how they will redefine health care in the future.
A discussion of comparative effectiveness policy with AHRQ Director Carolyn Clancy - including CABG vs. PCI.
U.S. House Ways and Means Chairman Pete Stark will discuss the reform of Medicare payment. Will the cuts continue and how can they be managed?
Congressional Budget Office Director Peter Orszag will discuss how continued cost increases in Medicare will force dramatic changes in the way health care is purchased and financed, and what can be done about it.

Following these informative sessions, you will have the opportunity to meet face-to-face with your representatives on Capitol Hill and emphasize the implications of their decisions on patient care and the future of cardiothoracic surgery.

To learn more about the Legislative Advocacy Workshop. For additional information, e-mail advocacy@sts.org or call (202) 481-1027.

Looking to the Future: STS Scholarship for Aspiring Cardiothoracic Surgeons

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) and its Workforce on Graduate Medical Education and Thoracic Surgery Resident Issues are pleased to announce the 2008 Looking to the Future Scholarship Program, designed for second, third, and fourth year general surgery residents within the United States and Canada. The scholarship seeks to identify and encourage general surgery residents who are considering but not yet committed to a career in cardiothoracic surgery.

Twenty scholarships will be awarded and will cover the registration fees to the STS 44th Annual Meeting in Fort Lauderdale, FL, January 28-30, 2008. The scholarship will also include up to four nights at an STS-designated hotel and reimbursement of up to $500 in related travel expenses. Each scholarship recipient will be assigned a mentor in cardiothoracic surgery to assist in planning a schedule of educational programming, to answer questions and to facilitate introductions. Scholarship awardees will also have the opportunity to participate in STS/AATS Tech-Con 2008, January 26-27, 2008, at no cost. In addition, special events will be available for scholarship recipients throughout the Annual Meeting.

Program Directors are invited to recommend general surgery residents from their institutions who have expressed an interest in pursuing a career in cardiothoracic surgery. (Note; there can be only one scholarship winner from each institution.) Applicants must ask their Program Director or CT mentor to provide a letter, on university letterhead, giving a brief description of the candidate's strengths and qualities, and fax it to (312) 202-5829. Applicants must complete an online application form. CVs are also required and should be submitted to residents@sts.org. Scholarship recipients will also be expected to provide a brief follow-up letter with comments on the value of the experience and how this scholarship program might be improved. In addition, they may be asked in the future to participate in activities with the program and/or STS, and to provide follow-up information concerning their career plans.

All materials (application form, CV, and letter of recommendation) must be received by October 1, 2007. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Scholarship awardees will be announced by November 15. If you have questions, please contact Sharon Porta at (312) 202-5844 or sporta@sts.org.

TSFRE 2008 Research Funding Cycle

The Thoracic Surgery Foundation for Research and Education (TSFRE) is now accepting online applications for the 2008 Research Funding Cycle. The following research awards are available:

Research Fellowship Award:

Support of up to $35,000 per year for up to two years for surgical residents who have not yet completed cardiothoracic surgical training.

Research Grants:

Operational support of original research efforts by cardiothoracic surgeons who have completed their formal training and who are seeking initial support and recognition for their research program. Awards of up to $30,000 a year for up to two years are made each year to support the work of an early-career cardiothoracic surgeon (within five years of first faculty appointment).

Career Development Award:

Salary support of up to $50,000 a year for up to two years for applicants who have completed their residency training and who wish to pursue investigative careers in cardiothoracic surgery.

Nina Starr Braunwald Award:

Provides a biennial award of $110,000 for two years to support the research career development of a woman cardiac surgeon who holds a full-time faculty appointment and who is within ten years of completion of thoracic surgery residency.

Application Timeline:

OCTOBER 15, 2007 - APPLICATION DEADLINE

Early January 2008 - applications reviewed
by TSFRE's Research Committee

Late January 2008 - recommendations approved
by TSFRE's Board of Directors

TSFRE Award Announcements are made in February 2008

For more information visit the TSFRE website.

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Residents Section

New Horizons Contribution

Another New Horizons offering has been posted: Letter to a Young General Thoracic Surgeon by Dr. Mark R. Katlic, Director of Thoracic Surgery, Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, Wilkes-Barre, PA USA. This feature is a regular part of the Resident's Section of CTSNet. Dr. Walter H. Merrill, of the University of Cincinnati in Ohio USA, is the Editor.

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Journals

Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery - September issue

CME Articles

Surgery for Acquired Cardiovascular Disease

Rafael San Juan, Fernando Chaves, Maria Jesus López Gude, Carmen Díaz-Pedroche, Joaquin Otero, Jose María Cortina Romero, Juan Jose Rufilanchas, Jose Maria Aguado.
Staphylococcus aureus poststernotomy mediastinitis: Description of two distinct acquisition pathways with different potential preventive approaches.
J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2007;134:670-676.

Surgery for Congenital Heart Disease

Kilian Ackermann, Gunter Balling, Andreas Eicken, Thomas Günther, Christian Schreiber, John Hess.
Replacement of the systemic atrioventricular valve with a mechanical prosthesis in children aged less than 6 years: Late clinical results of survival and subsequent replacement.
J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2007;134:750-756.

General Thoracic Surgery

Hong Kwan Kim, Min Soo Park, Yong Soo Choi, Kwhanmien Kim, Young Mog Shim, Joungho Han, Byoung Joon Kim, Jhingook Kim.
Neurologic outcomes of thymectomy in myasthenia gravis: Comparative analysis of the effect of thymoma.
J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2007;134:601-607.

Selected Articles of Interest

Dr. Didier de Cannière and colleagues report the results from a multicenter European study of the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass grafting. In an accompanying editorial, "Robotics in cardiac surgery: The emperor's new clothes," Dr. Ralph Damiano looks at clinical experience from the recent past and examines whether the application of robotics in cardiac surgery has lived up to its potential. Dr. de Cannière continues the debate in his response to Dr. Damiano's editorial. Dr. Mäkelä, et al, present data on the effect of bone marrow-derived mononuclear cell transplantation on myocardial recovery by enhancing cellular recruitment and differentiation at the infarction site. Dr. Walther, et al, look at the incidence and outcome of surgical atrial septal defect closure after interventional occluder placement. Please browse the table of contents to find many other topics of interest.

Annals of Thoracic Surgery - September Issue

CME

General Thoracic

Schuchert MJ, Pettiford BL, Keeley S, D'Amato TA, Kilic A, Close J, Pennathur A, Santos R, Fernando HC, Landreneau JR, Luketich JD, Landreneau RJ.
Anatomic Segmentectomy in the Treatment of Stage I Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.
Ann Thorac Surg 2007;84:926-933.

Adult Cardiac

Hayward PAR, Buxton BF.
Contemporary Coronary Graft Patency: 5-Year Observational Data From a Randomized Trial of Conduits.
Ann Thorac Surg 2007;84:795-799.

Pediatric Cardiac

Karamlou T, Gurofsky R, Bojcevski A, Williams WG, Caldarone CA, Van Arsdell GS, Paul T, McCrindle BW.
Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors for Intervention in 313 Children With Subaortic Stenosis.
Ann Thorac Surg 2007;84:900-906.

OTHER ARTICLES OF INTEREST

ETHICS IN CARDIOTHORACIC SURGERY

Oberheu K, Jones JW, Sade RM.
A Surgeon Operates on His Son: Wisdom or Hubris?
Ann Thorac Surg 2007;84:723-728.

EDITORIAL

Edmunds Jr LH.
Journal Ethics.
Ann Thorac Surg 2007;84:717-719.

ATS Discussion Paper - September 2007

Parolari et al: Systemic inflammation after on-pump and off-pump coronary bypass surgery: a one-month follow-up. Ann Thorac Surg 2007;84:823-8.

In the September 2007 issue of The Annals, Parolari and associates from University of Milan present their study of systemic inflammation following OPCAB, as compared to standard on pump techniques used in the past. Thirty candidates for coronary surgery were randomized to undergo CABG (n = 16) or OPCAB (n = 14). Blood samples were collected before the intervention, after protamine administration, and 4, 8, and 30 days after surgery.

Plasma TNF-{alpha} and IL-6 levels significantly increased with respect to baseline from protamine administration up to eight postoperative days, whereas high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and fibrinogen increased after surgery up to eight postoperative days in both groups. Neutrophil elastase levels were higher than baseline from protamine administration up to four postoperative days in CABG, and at the time point eight days after surgery in OPCAB. The only significant differences between CABG and OPCAB in inflammatory markers occurred intraoperatively, after protamine administration, when TNF-{alpha} and elastase levels were higher in CABG. Postoperative increases in fibrinogen and hs-CRP were positively correlated with increases in IL-6, but not with postoperative changes in TNF-{alpha} both in CABG and OPCAB.

The authors concluded that after coronary surgery, there is a protracted activation of inflammation persisting several days. This postoperative activation is not affected by the surgical strategy (on-pump versus off-pump). This finding challenges the belief that CPB is the main factor in producing the postoperative inflammatory picture that has been well characterized in on-pump surgery.

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

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

EACTS Publications - September

EJCTS: October issue now published, including 3 CME articles.

ICVTS: is now included in PubMed as from Volume 1, Issue 1 (2002). October issue now published.

MMCTS: over 100 surgical procedures now on-line

New Contributions to the MultiMedia Manual

Three new contributions have been added to the Multimedia Manual of Cardiothoracic Surgery:

Viktor Hraska, Joachim Photiadis and Claudia Arenz.
Surgery for subvalvar aortic stenosis - resection of discrete subvalvar aortic membrane.
MMCTS (July 23, 2007). doi:10.1510/mmcts.2006.002303.

Gaetano Gargiulo, Guido Oppido, Emanuela Angeli and Carlo Pace Napoleone.
Neonatal aortic arch surgery.
MMCTS (July 23, 2007). doi:10.1510/mmcts.2006.002345.

Ralph J. Damiano Jr and Marci Bailey.
The Cox-Maze IV procedure for lone atrial fibrillation.
MMCTS (July 23, 2007). doi:10.1510/mmcts.2007.002758.

Asian Annals - August Issue

The August issue of the Asian Annals is now available. There are many excellent and thought-provoking articles in this issue. A representative sampling follows:

EDITORIAL

Endovascular Aortic Stent Grafting for Thoracic Diseases: Current Status.
Stephen WK Cheng.
Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann 2007;15:275-277.

ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTION

Surgical Results in Bronchiectasis: Analysis of 149 Patients.
Thomas Stephen, Roy Thankachen, Andrew P Madhu, Nithya Neelakantan, Vinayak Shukla, and Roy J Korula.
Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann 2007;15:290-296.

REVIEW PAPER

Mitral Valve Repair: Is There Still a Place for Suture Annuloplasty?
Pino Fundarò, Paolo M Tartara, Emmanuel Villa, Pasquale Fratto, Salvatore Campisi, and Ettore O Vitali.
Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann 2007;15:351-358.

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Transitions

SCTS Executive Committee 2007-2008

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

President: Bruce E. Keogh
President-Elect: Leslie Hamilton
Secretary: James Cathcart Roxburgh
Treasurer: Babulal Sethia
Editor: Sunil Kumar Ohri

Members:

Tara Bartley
Benjamin Bridgewater
Graham Cooper
Malcolm John Dalrymple-Hay
Steven Hunter
Jonathan A.J. Hyde
Simon William Henry Kendall
Eilis Maire McGovern
Jim A. McGuigan
Samer A. M. Nashef
John R. Pepper
David Paul Taggart
Alfred Edward Wood

William M. Novick, MD Annnounced A Winner of Passion Award

In a previous announcement, it was reported that William Novick, MD, Pediatric Cardiac Surgeon from the University of Tennessee, Memphis, TN, and Director of the International Children's Heart Foundation, had been nominated for the Passion Award. The award, given yearly by Frederique Constant of Geneva, recognizes a commitment to and success in one's chosen field. We are pleased to announce that at the annual ceremony June 28, 2007, Dr. Novick was selected as a co-winner from a group of 10 finalists representing 7 countries. For more details.

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Abstract Deadlines

More meeting abstract deadlines are available.

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Upcoming Meetings

Cleveland Clinic Innovations 2007 Medical Innovation Summit

Cleveland Clinic Innovations 2007 Medical Innovation Summit State of the Heart: Cardiovascular Technologies will be held October 1-3, 2007 at the InterContinental Hotel & Bank of America Conference Center, Cleveland, Ohio USA.

Join Kerry Clark, Cardinal Health; Sidney Taurel, Eli Lilly; Tony Zook, AstraZeneca; and many other top CEOs, venture investors, medical leaders and journalists as they highlight new technologies, economics and trends in cardiovascular technologies. Also featured will be the Cleveland Clinic's annual selection of the "Top 10" health care innovations, interactive surgeries and in-depth debates on industry challenges. 900 top-level senior industry executives, entrepreneurs, investors and clinicians will attend the 5th annual Medical Innovation Summit on the Cleveland Clinic campus.

The summit is geared toward:

-Senior executives at medical device firms
-Clinical, medical affairs, regulatory and business development executives and their teams
-Venture capitalists and angel investor groups
-Investment bankers
-Buy-side and sell-side researchers
-Consulting, legal and other service providers

To register, or call 1-800-884-9951.

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

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

POSTINTERVENTIONAL BLOOD-RELATED COMPLICATIONS IN CARDIAC SURGERY AND PCI

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

AmSECT Best Practices in Perfusion Meeting

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

Translational Research in Thoracic Malignancies: How Cancer Management Will Change in the Next Five Years

Translational Research in Thoracic Malignancies: How Cancer Management Will Change in the Next Five Years. A symposium, will be held October 4, 2007 from 2 to 6 pm at The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois USA. Approved for 4 category 1 CME credits. Additional information and registration is available at the address and number below:

Mark K. Ferguson, M.D., Professor of Surgery, The University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Avenue, MC5035, Chicago, IL 60637; Phone: 773-702-3551; FAX: 773-702-2642; mferguso@surgery.bsd.uchicago.edu

JOINT MEETING

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

YORKSHIRE CHEST IMAGING COURSE

5 OCTOBER 2007, Friday. Venue: Radiology Academy, Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds LS1 3EX, UK.

A comprehensive 1-day course aimed at developing an understanding of radiological pattern recognition and providing an outline for evaluating chest radiographs. It is aimed at specialist registrars in radiology, general and respiratory medicine, cardiothoracic surgery, and those working in the ICU and A & E. A significant portion of the time will be spent viewing films. The faculty is comprised of Consultant Radiologists from Yorkshire, with a special interest in chest radiology. Course convenor: Dr. RJH Robertson, Consultant Radiologist, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS trust.

Email: radiologycourses@hotmail.co.uk for the information pack and application form. Places limited to 45, reserved on a first-come first-serve basis. Course fee: £80.

The Failing Heart: a Paradigm for Multidisciplinary Approach

The Failing Heart: a Paradigm for Multidisciplinary Approach will be held 13 October, 2007, at the Palzaao dei Congressi (Piazza Indipendenza 4) in Lugano, Switzerland. This is a Lugano Cardiosurgical Postgraduate Course. For information, contact: Annapaola Sürder-Boschet, Congress Manager, Cardiocentro Ticino, Via Tesserete 48, 6900 Lugano; Phone: 41/91/805.31.92; Fax: 41/91/805.31.67; Email: annapaola@cardiocentro.org. For more information.

VIII Annual International Symposium On Advances In Understanding Aortic Diseases

The VIII Annual International Symposium on Advances in Understanding Aortic Diseases - Joint Symposium with the 15th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society for Aortic Surgery - will be held 13 - 14 October, 2007, at the Kieo Plaza Hotel, Tokyo, Japan. For information, contact: Secretary General: Tetsuro Morota, M.D., Ph.D.; Phone: +81 3 5800 9155; Fax: +81 3 5800 9156; Email: office@8auad.com Additional information

5th INTERNATIONAL MEETING ON CARDIAC INTENSIVE CARE

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

2007 Australasian Society of Cardiac & Thoracic Surgeons Annual Scientific Meeting

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

European School for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, Thoracic Course level C

The European School for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, Thoracic Course level C will be held October 15-20, 2007 at Villa Elios, Bergamo. For information, contact: EACTS Executive Secretariat, 3 Park Street, Windsor, Berkshire SL4 1LU, UK; Phone: +44 1753 832166; Fax: +44 1753 620407; Email: info@eacts.co.uk Additional information

Heart Lab 2007 - Focus on Valved Stents for Surgeons

Heart Lab 2007 - Focus on Valved Stents for Surgeons will be held October 17-21, 2007, in Zurich, Switzerland. For more information, ludwig.von-segesser@chuv.ch or go to website.

Human Factors in Health Care: A Mayo Clinic Symposium

This Mayo Clinic Symposium will be held October 17-19, 2007, at The Saint Paul Hotel, 350 Market Street, St. Paul, Minnesota USA.

This course is an introduction to the practical use of human factors and the practical application of its principles to improve patient care.

Human Factors science explores how humans behave physically, psychologically, socially, and biologically in relation to the particular environment in which they live and work. It can be used to determine how the systems that combine human behavior with technology can be designed to maximize safety and efficiency in the healthcare environment.

Human Factors in Health Care provides a forum to examine the core elements of human factors in science, how each element influences system safety, and methods for appropriately utilizing the tools, methodologies and teamwork required to improve the quality and safety of patient care.

Course Directors are Thoralf M. Sundt, MD and Douglas A. Wiegmann, PhD, Rochester Minnesota.

Course endorsed by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS).

Contact: (800)-323-2688 More Information

Contemporary General Thoracic Surgery

Contemporary General Thoracic Surgery will be held 18 - 19 October, 2007, at the Eric P. Newman Education Center, St. Louis, MO USA. For information, contact: Washington University School of Medicine Continuing Medical Education, CME - WUSM, Campus Box 8063, 660 South Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA. Phone: 1 314 362-6891; Fax: 1 314 362-1087; Email: cme@wustl.edu Additional information

Swedish Association for Cardiothoracic Surgery

The Swedish Association for Cardiothoracic Surgery will have its next annual meeting October 18-20, 2007 in Örebro, Sweden. For more information.

21st Century Treatment of Heart Failure

21st Century Treatment of Heart Failure: Synchronizing Surgical and Medical Therapies for Better Outcomes will be held 18-20 October, 2007, at the InterContinental Hotel and Bank of America Conference Center, Cleveland, Ohio, USA. For information, contact: Laura Sears or Jamie Belkin. The Heart Failure Summit, The Cleveland Clinic Educational Foundation, P.O. Box 931653, Cleveland, Ohio 44193-1082; Phone: 1 216 932-3448; Fax: 1 216 445-9406; Email: laura@jamieblekin.com Additional information

Applied Cardiothoracic Basic Sciences Course

Applied Cardiothoracic Basic Sciences Course will be held 25-26 October, 2007, at The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, The Adamson Centre, 3 Hill Place, Edinburgh , Scotland, UK, EH8 9DS. For information contact: Laura McQuade; Phone: 44 (0)131 668 9238; Fax: 44 (0)131 668 9241; Email:l.mcquade@rcsed.ac.uk Additional Information.

21ST CENTURY TECHNIQUES FOR COMPLEX VALVE SURGERY

The 21ST CENTURY TECHNIQUES FOR COMPLEX VALVE SURGERY will be held October 25-27, 2007, at the Nashville Marriott at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee USA. There will be a live OR presentation "David IV Valve Sparing Aortic Root Replacement" by Tirone E. David, MD, Toronto, Canada. To register and learn more about the symposium

NOVEMBER

Eighth Biennial Congress of the Syrian Cardiovascular Association

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

The Thoracic Toolkit: Pleural and Staging Issues

The Thoracic Toolkit: Pleural and Staging Issues will be held November 1-3, 2007 at IKEM Congress Centre, Prague Czech Republic. For information, contact: EACTS Executive Secretariat, 3 Park Street, Windsor, Berkshire SL41LU, UK; Phone: +44 (0)1753 832166; Fax: +44 (0)1753 620407; Email: info@eacts.co.uk Additional information

The 2nd Annual Meeting of International Chinese Society of Thoracic Surgery (ICSTS)

The 2nd Annual Meeting of International Chinese Society of Thoracic Surgery (ICSTS) in conjunction with The Third International Chinese Forum of Thoracoscopic Surgery will be held 1-4 November, 2007, at the Xiamen International Seaside Hotel, Xiamen, China. For information, contact: Division of Thoracic Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, 199 Tun-Hwa North Road, Taipei, Taiwan 105; Phone: 886-3-3281200, ext 2118, 2104; Fax: 886-3-328-5818; Email: chestsurgery@icsts.com More information.

Society of Clinical Perfusion Scientists of GB & Ireland Congress 2007

The Society of Clinical Perfusion Scientists of Great Britain & Ireland 2007 Congress will be held 2-3 November, 2007, at the Newcastle Hilton Hotel, Gateshead, Newcastle United Kingdom. ABSTRACT SUBMISSION DEADLINE: 1 OCTOBER, 2007. For information, contact: Email: john.campbell@nuh.nhs.uk Additional information

STSA Annual Meeting

Register now for the upcoming STSA 54th Annual Meeting, to be held November 7-10, 2007 in Bonita Springs, Florida. Many will remember the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point as the site of STSA's 50th anniversary celebration. The tropical gardens, warm breezes and sparkling gulf coast waters will provide a breathtaking background for another stimulating, scientific session.

The 2007 Program Committee has selected a robust program that provides a balance between education, opportunity for thoughtful discussion and time to renew friendships and enjoy camaraderie - all of which make the Southern special.

The advance registration deadline is October 11, 2007. If you are unable to register by this date you may register on-site, but please note, there will be an additional $50 charge for attendees registering on-site in Bonita Springs.

For information, contact: Katie McAuliff, 633 North Saint Clair, Suite 2320, Chicago, IL 60611; Phone: 1 800 685-7872; Fax: 1 312 202-5801; Email: stsa@stsa.org

AmSECT Meeting Announcements

NNJAECT & I-SECT's 16th International Symposium, CARDIAC SURGERY, BEYOND, meeting will be held November 7 - 11, 2007, at the Naples Grande Resort & Club, Naples, Florida USA. Anyone needing immediate information, please contact Paul Cappola, Craig Vocelka or Travel Unlimited New Jersey USA, (Official coordinator for registration & accommodations). The travel center will also assist you with any travel needs.

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

European School for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, Cardiac Course Level C

European School for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, Cardiac Course Level C will be held November 12-16, 2007 at Villa Elios, Bergamo Italy. For information, contact: EACTS Executive Secretariat, 3 Park Street, Windsor, Berkshire SL4 1LU, UK; Phone: +44 1753 832166; Fax: +44 1753 620407; Email: info@eacts.co.uk Additional information

International Symposium on Lung and Pleural Malignancies

International Symposium on Lung and Pleural Malignancies will be held on 15-17 November, 2007, in Istanbul, Turkey. Eighteen foreign speakers will be attending this 3-day symposium. The language of the symposium is English and Turkish with simultaneous translation. The symposium program is available in English. This event is organized by Turkish Thoracic Society, European Respiratory Society (ERS) and International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC). For more details, contact: Hasan F. Batirel, MD, PhD; email: hbatirel@marmara.edu.tr Tel: 90 216 325-9133; Fax: 90 216 325-2426.

12th Annual Perspectives in Thoracic Oncology

The 12th Annual Perspectives in Thoracic Oncology will be held November 16-17, 2007 at the Westin New York Times Square Hotel in New York, New York USA. With a vibrant mix of oncologists, surgeons, and pulmonologists, this conference provides a great forum to interact with your colleagues and to learn from internationally renowned faculty. Click here to view program. Click here to register

THORACIC SURGERY SYMPOSIUM

The Department of Thoracic Surgery of the University Hospital, Leuven, Belgium, will hold a THORACIC SURGERY SYMPOSIUM on Friday, November 16. 2007. Symposium Director: T. Lerut

Morning Session topics: Invasive mediastinal staging of NSCLC: controversies or consensus.

Afternoon Session topics: The role of surgery in multimodality treatment for IIIA (N2) NSCLC

The 5th Huub and Imelda Spierings distinguished lecturer in Thoracic Surgery: "The leadership role of the thoracic surgeon in the TNM staging of thoracic malignancies" by Valerie Rusch, MD, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York USA.

Information and registration: Secretariaat Thoraxheelkunde, Bea Libert, UZ Gasthuisberg, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Tel.: +32 16 34.68.22; Fax : +32 16 34.68.21 Email: Bea.Libert@uzleuven.be

Bergamo Conference

A one-day conference entitled "The Transfer of Knowledge and Technical Skills to the Young Cardio-Thoracic Surgeons" will be held November 17th, 2007, at the Centro Congressi Giovanni XXIII in Bergamo, Italy. This meeting is organized by Humanitas Gavazzeni Hospital (40 years of Cardiac Surgery) and by the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS). It will also celebrate the distinguished career of Prof. Lucio Parenzan, as a pioneer of the modern Cardiac Surgery in Italy. Prof. Parenzan, constantly present in the Humanitas Gavazzeni Hospital, in which he was able to create the International Heart School and give enormous support to the European School for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, today known among the cardiothoracic surgeons around the world as the Bergamo School.

It is our wish to invite not only all current specialists but particularly the young cardiothoracic surgeons of tomorrow, those who will be involved in the new discoveries, the new techniques and the great hopes of cardiology and cardiac surgery, those who should keep in mind "how much has been done by who preceded you and that this outstanding and hard journey never ends."

The conference is totally free. No CME credits will be given.

For more information, a brochure of the meeting, and hotel and meeting registration, please go here.

MEETING REGISTRATION DEADLINE: OCTOBER 24, 2007.

Surgery of the Thoracic Aorta, Fourth Postgraduate Course

Surgery of the Thoracic Aorta, Fourth Postgraduate Course will be held November 19-20, 2007 at Boscolo Hotel Towers, Bologna Italy. Course approved by EACTS. For information, contact: Noema Srl, Via Orefici, 4, 40124 Bologna, Italy; Phone: +39 051 230385; Fax: +39 051 221894; Email: info@noemacongressi.it Additional information

Society of Cardiothoracic Surgeons of South Africa

The Society of Cardiothoracic Surgeons of South Africa will hold its 'Heart 2 Heart/Africa Congress 2007' November 22-25, 2007 in Sun City, South Africa. More information.

The 9th Annual Conference of the Paediatric Cardiac Society of India

The 9th Annual Conference of the Paediatric Cardiac Society of India will be held 23-25 November, 2007, at Swabhumi, The Heritage Plaza, Kolkata, West Bengal India. For information, contact: Dr. Biswajit Bandyopadhyay, Rabindranath Tagore International Institute of Cardiac Sciences, 124, Mukundapur, Off E M Bypass, Kolkata-94 India; Phone: +91 332 436 4000; Fax: +913 324 26 4204; Email: bisban@rediffmail.com Additional information

Asian Cardiothoracic Surgery Specialty Update Course

The Second Asian Cardiothoracic Surgery Specialty Update Course will be held 23-24 November, 2007, at Esther Lee Building, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China. For information, contact: Secretariat: c/o Conference Team, Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 3/F, Li Ka Shing Specialist Clinic (North Wing), Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong; Phone: (852) 2632 2951; Fax: (852) 2632 4708; Email: cardio-update@surgery.cuhk.edu.hk Additional information

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. 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

The International Society for Minimally Invasive Cardiothoracic Surgery (ISMICS) Winter Workshop/3rd Congress of Update in Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery will be held 28 November - 2 December, 2007, at the Sungate Port Royal Resort in Antalya, Turkey. The abstracts will be published in the Heart Surgery Forum. For more information about the meeting.

DECEMBER

Third Annual Heart Failure Holiday Symposium

The Third Annual Heart Failure Holiday Symposium will be held November 30-December 1, 2007, at Northwestern Memorial Hospital's Conference Center, Chicago, Illinois USA. Sponsored by The Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute's Center for Heart Failure, Northwestern Memorial Hospital. The 2007 symposium assembles several leading cardiologists and cardiac surgeons with expertise in heart failure and cardiac surgery to provide updates on the latest scientific and technological advances along with practical treatment strategies for those with heart failure syndromes. Course Directors: Patrick M. McCarthy, MD, John B. O'Connell, MD, and Kathleen L. Grady, PhD, APN. This conference is endorsed by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS). For more information about program, accommodations and registration.

Asian Thoracic Surgical Club

The 4th Meeting of the Asian Thoracic Surgical Club will be held 1-2 December, 2007 at the Grand Hotel, Taipei, Taiwan. For information, contact: Jin-Shing Chen, No. 7, Chung-Shan S. Rd, Taipei 100, Taiwan; Phone: 886-2-23123456 Ext. 5070; Fax: +886-2-33933989; Email: chenjs@ntu.edu.tw; For additional information

5th Live Teleconference: Latest Techniques in Cardiac Surgery

The 5th Live Teleconference: Latest Techniques in Cardiac Surgery will be held December 6-7, 2007, in Leipzig Germany. See brochure for Program, Registration, and Accommodations. Dr. Friedrich W. Mohr, Course Director.

Ultrasonography: Fundamentals in Critical Care

Ultrasonography: Fundamentals in Critical Care - A meeting sponsored by the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) - will be held December 7-10, 2007, at the Hyatt Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA. CME approved. For more information, contact ACCP Customer Relations, 800-343-2227, e-mail accp@chestnet.org, or visit the ACCP website.

Focus on Adenocarcinoma

Focus on Adenocarcinoma. AIDAcp (Italian Association of Women Against Lung Cancer)/EACTS Joint Meeting will be held December 7-8, 2007, at San Giuliano Terme, Pisa Italy. For information, contact: EACTS Executive Secretariat, 3 Park Street, Windsor, Berkshire, SL4 1 LU, UK; Phone: +44 (0)1753 832166; Fax: +44 (0)1753 620407; Email: info@eacts.co.uk Additional information

JANUARY 2008

11th Annual NewEra Cardiac Care: Innovation & Technology

The 11th Annual NewEra Cardiac Care: Innovation & Technology meeting, co-chaired by W. Randolph Chitwood, Jr., MD and Robert C. Robbins, MD, will be held January 10-13, 2008, at the Four Seasons Aviara Resort & Spa in North San Diego, California. The DEADLINE FOR ABSTRACTS IS NOVEMBER 11, 2007. For further information, please click here, or email Susan Westwood at s.westwood@amainc.com

2nd EACTS Course on Thoracic Robotic Surgery

The 2nd EACTS Course on Thoracic Robotic Surgery will be held January 17-19, 2008, in Strasbourg France. For information, contact: EACTS Executive Secretariat, 3 Park Street, Windsor, Berkshire SL4 1LU, UK; Phone: +44 (0)1753 832166; Fax: +44 (0)1753 620407; Email: info@eacts.co.uk Additional information

Association of Physician Assistants in Cardiovascular Surgery 27th Annual Educational Meeting

Association of Physician Assistants in Cardiovascular Surgery 27th Annual Educational Meeting will be held 25-27 January, 2008, at the Bahia Mar Radisson Hotel, Fort Lauderdale, FL USA. For information, contact: APACVS, P.O.Box 4834, Englewood, CO 80155; Phone: 877-221-5651; Fax: 303-771-2550. Additional information.

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

The 44th Annual Meeting of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons will be held 28-30 January 2008, in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, USA. For information, contact: The Society of Thoracic Surgeons, 633 N. Saint Clair Street, Suite 2320, Chicago, Illinois 60611-3658; Phone: 1 312 202-5800; Fax: 1 312 202-5801; Email: sts@sts.org Additional information.

4th Asian Pacific Congress of Heart Failure

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

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

FEBRUARY

Scandinavian Society for Research in CardioThoracic Surgery (SSRCTS)

The 18th Annual Meeting of the Scandinavian Society for Research in CardioThoracic Surgery (SSRCTS) will be held 7-9 February, 2008, at the Norlandia Geilo Hotel, Geilo Norway. ABSTRACT SUBMISSION DEADLINE: 15 DECEMBER, 2007. For information, contact: J. Michael Hasenkam, Dept. of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Aarhus University Hospital, Skejby, DK-8200 Aarhus N; Phone: ++4589495480; Fax: ++4589496016; Email: hasenkam@ki.au.dk Additional information

28th Annual San Diego Cardiothoracic Surgery Symposium

The 28th Annual San Diego Cardiothoracic Surgery Symposium, chaired by Julie A. Swain MD, will be held February 14-17, 2008, at the San Diego Marriott Hotel and Marina in San Diego, CA USA. THE ABSTRACT DEADLINE IS DECEMBER 30, 2007. For further information, please visit here or email Susan Westwood at s.westwood@amainc.com

Indian Association of Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgeons

The 54th Annual Conference of the Indian Association of Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgeons will be held 21-24 February, 2008, at the Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, India. ABSTRACT SUBMISSION DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 30, 2007. For information, contact: Conference Secretariat: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Military Hospital (CTC), Golibar Maidan, Pune 411040, Mah India; Phone: +91 020 26306171; Fax: +91 9822891284; Email: info@ctcon2008.com Additional information

MARCH

26th International Cardiovascular Surgical Symposium

The 26th International Cardiovascular Surgical Symposium will be held 1 - 8 March, 2008, at Zurs/Arlberg, Austria. ABSTRACT SUBMISSION DEADLINE 10 JANUARY, 2008. For information, contact: Secretary General: M. Deutsch, M.D., European Heart Institute of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts, Monchsberg 2, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; Phone: +43 662 841345; Fax: +43 662 841343; Email: congress@herzchirurgie.at Additional information

Florida Valve 2008

Florida Valve 2008 will be held 7 - 9 March, 2008, at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA. For information, contact: Carole Erickson, Program Administrator, 6006 49th Street North, Suite 320, St. Petersburg, Florida 33709. Phone: 1 406 370-8555; Email: siestavc@aol.com Additional information.

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

The 2008 Annual Meeting of the Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery in Great Britain and Ireland (SCTS) will be held March 9 - 12, 2008 at the Edinburgh International Convention Centre, Edinburgh, Scotland. ABSTRACT DEADLINE: 5 NOVEMBER, 2007. For further details, contact sctsadmin@scts.org or +44 (0)20 7869 6893, and check the website periodically.

ASIAN SOCIETY FOR CARDIOVASCULAR AND THORACIC SURGERY

The 16th Annual Meeting of the Asian Society for Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery will be held 13-16 March, 2008, at the Raffles City Convention Centre, Stamford Ballroom, Singapore, Singapore. ABSTRACT SUBMISSION DEADLINE: 30 OCTOBER, 2007. For information, contact: ASCVS Congress Secretariat c/o The Meeting Lab Pte Ltd, 176 B Joo Chiat Road, Singapore 427447. Phone: +65 63464402 Fax: +65 63464403 Email: mice@themeetinglab.com Additional information

APRIL

The Houston Aortic Symposium - Frontiers in Cardiovascular Diseases

The Houston Aortic Symposium - Frontiers in Cardiovascular Diseases will be held 4 - 6 April, 2008, at The Westin Galleria, Houston, Texas, USA. ABSTRACT SUBMISSION DEADLINE 22 FEBRUARY, 2008. For information, contact: Laura Steigerwald, Promedica International CME, a California Corporation, 2333 State Street, Suite 203, Carlsbad, California 92008; Phone: 1 760 720-2263; Fax: 1 760 720-6263; Email: lsteigerwald@promedicacme.com Additional information

European Society for Cardiovascular Surgery

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

18th WSCTS World Congress - World Society of Cardio-Thoracic Surgeons

18th WSCTS World Congress - World Society of Cardio-Thoracic Surgeons will be held 30 April-3 May, 2008 at the Kos International Convention Centre, Kos Island, Greece. Early registration. Abstract submission. Abstract Deadline: 30 November 2007. For information, contact: 18th WSCTS Congress Secretariat, 29 Sinopis Str. 115 27, Athens, Greece; Phone: +30 210 7799261;Fax: +30 210 7711768; Email: secretariat@wscts2008.com; Additional information

MAY - ON

AORTIC 2008 COURSE ABSTRACT SUBMISSIONS NOW BEING ACCEPTED

Course chairs Randall B. Griepp, M.D. and Steven L. Lansman, M.D. have announced that abstracts representing videos for presentation are now being accepted for the 2008 Aortic Symposium. This symposium, sponsored by the AATS, will primarily feature "How To Do It" videos.

Mark your calendar now for this two-day postgraduate course: May 8-9, 2008, Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers, New York, NY USA. This course will be held immediately prior to the 88th Annual Meeting of the AATS, May 10-14, 2008, in San Diego, California USA.

The abstract submission site contains complete submission instructions and guidelines.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2007.

American Association for Thoracic Surgery

The 88th Annual Meeting of The American Association for Thoracic Surgery will be held 10-14 May, 2008, at the San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, California, USA. ABSTRACT SUBMISSION DEADLINE: 1 October 2007. For information, contact: Megan Tainer, 900 Cummings Center, Suite 221-U, Beverly, Massachusetts 01915. Phone: 978-927-8330. Additional information.

Association of Physician Assistants in Cardiovascular Surgery 9th Annual Summer Educational Meeting

Association of Physician Assistants in Cardiovascular Surgery 9th Annual Summer Educational Meeting will be held 30 June - 2 July, 2008, at the Keauhou Bay Hotel, Kailua Kona, Hawaii USA. For information, contact: APACVS, P.O.Box 4834, Englewood, CO 80155; Phone: 1 877 221-5651; Fax: 1 303 771-2550. Additional information.

World Congress on Controversies in Cardiovascular Diseases

The World Congress on Controversies in Cardiovascular Diseases: Diagnosis, Treatment and Interventions will be held July 3 - 6, 2008, at the InterContinental Hotel, Berlin, Germany. DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF ABSTRACTS: APRIL 1, 2008. For more information on registration, housing and program, please go here.

World Congress on Heart Disease International Academy of Cardiology

The 14th World Congress on Heart Disease International Academy of Cardiology: Annual Scientific Sessions will be held July 26-29, 2008 at The Fairmont Royal York, Toronto, ON, Canada. ABSTRACT DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 25, 2008. Inquiries: Asher Kimchi, M.D., Chairman, International Academy of Cardiology, PO Box 17659, Beverly Hills, CA 90209, USA; Tel +1 (310) 657 8777; Fax +1 (310) 659 4781; Email: klimedco@ucla.edu
More information

XI. World Congress of International Society for Diseases of Esophagus (ISDE)

The XI. World Congress of International Society for Diseases of Esophagus (ISDE) will be held September 10-13, 2008, in the Novotel Budapest Congress Center, Budapest Hungary. For information, contact: Peter Horvath, MD; Phone: +36 72536126; Fax: +36 72536127; Email: Peter.O.Horvath@aok.pte.hu Other Information