A Cut Above: Cardiothoracic insights from EACTS

This month’s episode features Sam Heuts, the first author of a recent Editor’s Choice article published in ICVTS entitled ‘TAVR vs. SAVR – A Bayesian interpretation’. Our hosts, Can Gollmann-Tepeköylü and Miia L Lehtinen, find out more about the analysis of trials comparing transcatheter valve replacement and surgical aortic valve replacement. Including discussions of the fundamental statistics used and the effect upon 5-year all-cause mortality.

Following our joint publication of the highly anticipated Aortic Disease Guidelines, our hosts Can Gollmann-Tepeköylü and Miia L Lehtinen speak with Martin Czerny (University Clinic Freiburg, Germany) and Martin Grabenwöger (Clinic Floridsdorf, Vienna, Austria). This episode covers both the people involved in creating this influential document, as well as engaging detail regarding our current understanding of this fascinating organ.

This month, our hosts Can Gollmann-Tepeköylü and Miia L Lehtinen are joined by the esteemed Dr. Filip Casselman (of the OLV Clinic, Belgium) and Dr. Sabine Bleiziffer (of the Herz- und Diabeteszentrum NRW, Germany). Listen for an in-depth discussion on the often controversial, aortic valve, including key insight into current clinical practices as well as how these approaches are developing.

Join our hosts Can Gollmann-Tepeköylü and Miia L Lehtinen for the first episode of 2024. In this episode, our hosts chat to Dr. Patrick Myers, leading cardiothoracic surgeon and EACTS Secretary General (2022 – Present). Dr Myers talks about his journey to becoming the EACTS Secretary General and his experiences within the role including the merits and challenges.

In this episode, our hosts Can Gollmann-Tepeköylü and Miia L Lehtinen, chat to Prof. Dr. Matthias Siepe, leading cardiothoracic surgeon and EACTS Editor-in-Chief (2021 – Present). Prof. Siepe talks about his journey to becoming the Editor-in-Chief for the European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery and his experiences within the role. He provides an overview of the journal team structure and processes and shares tips for submitting to EJCTS.

Join our hosts Can Gollmann-Tepeköylü and Miia L Lehtinen for their late-breaking trials highlights presented at the 37th EACTS Annual Meeting in Vienna, including: (2:40 - 8:53) Subannular Repair for Secondary Mitral Regurgitation with restricted systolic leaflet Motion (type IIIb): 2-year results from REFORM-MR registry (8.53 - 13:47) Mechanistic insights from the CAST-HF trial: Transcriptomic analysis of human myocardial biopsies reveal biglycan as crucial mediator of angiogenesis(13.47 - 20:55) First-in-human experience with a novel custom-made double branch stent graft for aortic arch repair – The NEXUS DUO(20:56 - 25:28) Real World Experience of 510 On-X Aortic Valve Replacement Patients Treated with Low Dose Warfarin (25:28 - 32:1) CEASE-AF: Effectiveness and safety of hybrid epicardial and endocardial ablation in patients with persistent and longstanding persistent atrial fibrillation

Join our hosts Can Gollmann-Tepeköylü and Miia L Lehtinen, as they discuss where and how to train congenital cardiac surgeons with Prof. Mark Hazekamp, Prof. Jürgen Hörer and Dr Nabil Hussein. The speakers share their invaluable insights and experiences gained during their careers.

This month's episode features Prof. Klautz and Dr. Arabkhani, the first authors of a recent Editor's Choice article published in EJCTS entitled 'A multicentre, propensity score matched analysis comparing a valve-sparing approach to valve replacement in aortic root aneurysm: Insight from the AVIATOR database'. Our hosts Can Gollmann-Tepeköylü and Miia L Lehtinen, find out more about the AVIATOR Registry and the key findings of their research.

In this episode, our hosts Can Gollmann-Tepeköylü and Miia L Lehtinen, chat with leading female surgeons, Dr Ourania Preventza, Dr Daniela Molena and Dr Joanna Chikwe, about their career journeys, what took them to the United States, and the difference in working cultures and practices between the US and Europe.

Join our hosts Can Gollmann-Tepeköylü and Miia L Lehtinen, as they discuss the importance of driving innovation within cardiothoracic surgery to improve patient outcomes. Prof. Friedhelm Beyersdorf and Prof. Mark Hazekamp share some of their highlights from the EACTS Innovation Summit held in April 2023 and how EACTS is exploring ways to support innovation in the field.

Join our host, Miia L Lehtinen, as she speaks to Stephen Clark (Chairman of The European Board of Cardiothoracic Surgery (EBCTS)), Edu Quintana (Secretary, EBCTS) & Yvonne Hurst (Expert in examination science/educational advisor to EBCTS) about the history of the EBCTS, what the exam is like, why it’s important and how it supports the mission to ensure high standards for cardiothoracic surgeons.

In this episode, our hosts Can Gollmann-Tepeköylü and Miia L Lehtinen discuss the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) within cardiothoracic surgery (CTS) with Sandy Engelhardt, Simo Syrjälä and Volkmar Falk. From whether there is a clinical need for AI, to the role of AI in the future of CTS, and its potential pitfalls. Join us in the latest episode to find out more.

Join our hosts Can Gollmann-Tepeköylü and Miia L Lehtinen, as they discuss the future of mitral valve (MV) therapy with Nikolaos Bonaros and Patrick Perier. In this episode, Nikolaos and Patrick share their expertise and advice on valve preferences; the evolution of MV surgery, how young surgeons can develop their skills to perform complex MV surgical techniques; and much more.

In this episode, our hosts Can Gollmann-Tepeköylü and Miia L Lehtinen, chat to Prof. Dr. Friedhelm Beyersdorf, eminent cardiothoracic surgeon and past-President of the EACTS (2021 – 2022), about his career - how he got to where is today, the challenges he faced along the way, and his thoughts on the future of cardiothoracic surgery. Guest Speaker: Prof. Dr. Friedhelm Beyersdorf was born in Bochum, Germany and is a graduate from the Wolfgang-Goethe-University in Frankfurt/M. with clinical clerkship at Johns-Hopkins in Baltimore and Thomas Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. His residency was at Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt and University of California Los Angeles. From 1994 - 2022 he was Professor and Chairman of the Dept. of Cardiovascular Surgery in Freiburg, Germany.

The inaugural episode of A Cut Above features guest speakers, Dr Igor Mokryk and Dr Ihor Stetsyuk, describing the impacts of the war in Ukraine on their day-to-day practice as a cardiothoracic surgeon and resident. Dr Mokryk and Dr Stetsyuk talk to our hosts, Can Gollmann-Tepeköylü and Miia L Lehtinen, about the challenges they face as a result of this unimaginable situation and how we can support them during this difficult time. Guest Speakers: Dr Igor Mokryk has been Chief of the Department of Adult Cardiac Surgery at the Heart Institute in Kyiv since 2017. He has worked in both adult and paediatric cardiothoracic surgery for more than 20 years. Dr Ihor Stetsyuk is a 4-th year resident of the department of adult cardiac surgery at Heart Institute, Kyiv. He specialises at miniinvasive AVR, MVR and CABG off-pump.