Lessons Learned in Humanitarian Medicine

Filmed at the 2018 EACTS Annual Meeting in Milan, Italy, Vinicius Nina of the University Hospital of the Federal University of Maranhão in Brazil moderates a discussion on approaches for success in humanitarian heart surgery. Dr Nina is joined by Marcelo Cardarelli of the Inova Children’s Hospital in Falls Church, Virginia, USA, and William Novick of the University of Tennessee in the USA and Medical Director of the Novick Cardiac Alliance. The panel discusses the process of preparing for a surgical mission with the local team, deciding between valve repair and replacement with patients and families, and the importance of maintaing close follow-up with patients. Drs Novick and Cardarelli describe the process for assembling the volunteer team and share the advice they give to first-time volunteers. In closing, they offer their thoughts on the biggest challenge facing humanitarian surgery efforts.