New EACTS Academy Courses Introduced for 2015

Modern Perspectives on Atrial Fibrillation Surgery, 7-8 May, Windsor, UK

Until recently, surgical approaches have had higher rates of initial success than traditional cardiological electrophysiology, but at the expense of greater morbidity. This course will expose the recent developments in minimally invasive technology and describe the latest results that can be achieved with modern surgical approaches. By the conclusion of the course, participants will be able to understand the complications inherent in this type of surgery and how to avoid them, as well as appreciate the necessity of a heart team approach and how to build and maintain a tough-minded team.

Perioperative Skills in Cardiac Surgery, 22-23 June, Windsor, UK

While many units rely heavily on specialists in critical care to look after their postoperative cardiac surgery patients, the purpose of this course is to ensure that surgeons have the knowledge and insight to interact in a meaningful way with their intensive care staff at all levels, for the benefit of their patients. Within the operating room there are many critical events that may occur, and surgeons need to understand how to handle them. This course will provide the scientific and practical background to enable the surgeon to be fully involved in all aspects of the management of their patients. Senior trainees and consultants in the first ten years of practice are encouraged to register.

Minimally Invasive Surgery, Aortic Valve Replacement and Rapid Deployment Valves, 24-25 June, London

This two-day advanced course in minimally invasive surgery will focus on aortic valve replacement and rapid deployment valves. Various approaches and valves will be presented through live cases, pre-recorded videos, a "question time" panel session, and interactive case studies. An international faculty will address knowledge and technical skills, and guidance will be given to help manage challenging cases. Upon completion of the course, participants should feel comfortable to use what they have learned in their own environment.

Coronary Surgery, 29 June-1 July, Windsor UK 

This comprehensive course on coronary surgery will focus on providing guidance before, during, and after the operation. The course will examine when things go wrong and provide useful advice on how to avoid such problems in future. Aimed at experienced cardiac/cardiothoracic surgeons and residents in cardiac and surgical training, the course will entail a balanced combination of knowledge and technical skills. Participants will be invited to propose additional learning objectives during the course.

Endocarditis and Cardiac Infections, 2-3 July, Windsor, UK

Infection in the cardiovascular system is serious, often challenging to treat, and associated with a high mortality. This course will provide the knowledge to understand the principles of treatment and the need to have an extensive portfolio of different approaches available to cope with these problems. To the young surgeon, the twin challenge of removing all infected and damaged tissue and then reconstructing one or more valves can be very formidable. This course is designed to give participants the confidence to handle these problems effectively.

Transcatheter Aortic and Mitral Valve Interventions, 14-15 September, Windsor, UK

This interactive course introduces surgeons to the rapidly developing world of transcatheter mitral valve intervention. The heart team approach is critical to the long-term success of this field and the emphasis will be on interaction, given that some delegates may well already be engaged in transcatheter heart valve programs. Senior trainees and consultants with serious intentions to develop this subspecialty in their departments are encouraged to register.

Further details on the above courses and the remainder of the EACTS Academy program can be found via the Academy website.