
The Scientific Programme
Three Action-packed Days in Milan
This year’s annual meeting sees the launch of the new 3-day programme. Each day of the annual meeting will feature Techno-College, Professional Challenge Sessions, Focus Sessions, Abstract Sessions, and Hands-on Training. To ensure you maximize your time at EACTS, we have hand-picked some key sessions each day for the cardiac surgeon community, including the Edwards-sponsored Focus Session taking place on Friday afternoon – not to be missed!
In the build-up to EACTS, we also had the opportunity to speak with Prof. Domenico Pagano, the General Secretary of EACTS, and Prof. Hendrik Treede, Chair of the New Technology Taskforce. Read what they had to say about this year’s programme.
Interview with Prof. Domenico Pagano, General Secretary of EACTS

Prof. Domenico Pagano
The 2018 EACTS Annual Meeting has a new 3-day format.
Why has the format changed, and what can attendees expect?
The main reason for the change from 5 to 3 days was the new Code of Ethical Business Practice adopted by Eucomed, particularly the rules around indirect sponsorship of healthcare professionals to attend educational events. We saw it as an opportunity to improve
the meeting and make it even more successful than it has been in the past. For example, we have incorporated Techno-College into the main programme under the same fee as the rest of the meeting, so all delegates can take part. In addition, delegates have to pay for fewer nights’ accommodation, so the meeting is better value for money overall.
The meeting has a busy and exciting programme. What do you see as some of the main highlights?
The programme is comprehensive, covering all areas of cardiothoracic surgery. The high educational value has been acknowledged: the EACCME® has accredited the meeting with 23 EACCME credits.
The EACCME® has accredited the meeting with 23 EACCME credits.
The coronary artery revascularisation programme is strong, which is especially important because this procedure makes up 40–50% of the average surgeon’s workload. Other highlights include a new session on rare and uncommon diseases, a new joint session with the European Association of Cardiothoracic Anaesthesiology, and sessions on managing clinical trials and assessing clinical evidence. We’ll be launching a new initiative: our collaboration with the Comprehensive Clinical Trials Unit at University College London to form the Analytical Support Unit. The Unit will educate and support the next generation to improve the credibility of the evidence we produce.
We’ll be launching a new initiative: our collaboration with the Comprehensive Clinical Trials Unit at University College London to form the Analytical Support Unit.
What are you most looking forward to about this year’s EACTS Annual Meeting?
This is the first meeting that I have helped to organise from the beginning, so I’m looking forward to seeing a vibrant meeting with lots of people participating, learning and building relationships. And it is in Italy, which, as an Italian, I’m delighted about!
Note: Expert opinions, advice and all other information expressed represent contributors’ views and not necessarily those of Edwards Lifesciences
Interview with Prof. Hendrick Treede, chair of the New Technology Taskforce

Prof. Hendrick Treede
Techno-College is no longer a full-day event. Tell us about the changes.
The EACTS Annual Meeting now takes place over 3 days, so we changed the format of the Techno-College to a new 3-day format, with one 3-hour session per day. This maintains the same total time, and gives delegates the opportunity to attend Techno-College within a single fee. We have tried to avoid conflicting sessions, so we will still reach the same audience. We’ll possibly even reach a new audience who previously couldn’t attend EACTS for an additional day for Techno-College.
Why is it important for Techno-College to include new technologies, the Heart Team, and interventional and emerging therapies? What can attendees expect from these sessions?
Techno-College has always been different from the scientific-focused EACTS. We try to encompass the newest technologies and innovations of the past year, and make it as visual and interactive as possible. Attendees can expect an interesting mix of live cases transmitted from two centres, live-in-a-box cases and video-based presentations by leaders in our field. We will dedicate one session to the Heart Team, highlighting the newest upcoming interventional technologies. The other sessions will not only show the latest and greatest in cardiac surgery, but will also give practical tips on how to enhance your surgical skills and how to implement these techniques in your daily practice.
Attendees can expect an interesting mix of live cases transmitted from two centres, live-in-a-box cases and video-based presentations by leaders in our field.
What are the highlights from the Techno-College programme?
The main highlight will always be the live case transmissions. This year, for only the second time ever, we will broadcast a transcatheter mitral valve implantation live from the University Heart Center in Hamburg. Another highlight will be our ‘Lion’s Den’ session, where 6–8 applicants for the Techno-College Award will present their innovations and defend their business case to an expert panel of surgeons, cardiologists, chief executive officers and venture capitalists. The auditors, on-stage panel and the audience will then decide which presenter deserves the Techno-College Award.
Note: Expert opinions, advice and all other information expressed represent contributors’ views and not necessarily those of Edwards Lifesciences
Edwards-sponsored Focus Session & debate
Tough clinical decisions for improved sAVR therapies
This session has been designed to support surgeons in making the best decisions for patients in a variety of situations. Split into two parts, the first part of the session will explore a number of challenging patient groups, and facets that support decision-making for sAVR. In the second part, our panel will review evolving treatments and treatment strategies. Join us, in what is sure to be a fascinating debate.
Post-EACTS, we are delighted to be able to offer the Focus Session recording on-demand – we will email you when this becomes available.
Chairpersons | Prof. Michael Borger (Leipzig) Prof. Hermann Reichenspurner (Hamburg) |
---|---|
Date | Friday 19 October |
Time | 16:30 – 18:00 |
Location | Brown 2 |

Part 1: Difficult decisions
|
Jan-Malte Sinning, University of Bonn |
|
Dr. Christian Frerker, Hamburg |
|
Jeorg Kempfert, Heart Center Berlin |
|
TBC |
Part 2: New definitions for evolving treatments
|
Thomas Senage, CHU de Nantes |
|
Bart Meuris, UZ Leuven |
|
Thierry Bourguignon, Tours University Hospital |
|
Ruggero de Paulis, European Hospital |
Key Abstract Sessions On Adult Cardiac Surgery
Thursday 18 October
Friday 19 October
Saturday 20 October
Thursday 18 October
Time | Session title |
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8:15 – 09:15 | Degenerative mitral regurgitation: Bespoke management |
8:15 – 09:15 | The Ross procedure solves all problems! |
8:15 – 09:15 | Conflicting evidence on patient-prosthesis-mismatch |
8:15 – 09:15 | Modern antithrombotic therapy after cardiac surgery |
14:15 – 15:45 | The tricuspid valve dilemma: between confirmations and denials |
Friday 19 October
Time | Session title |
---|---|
8:15 – 09:45 | SAVR from bench to bedside |
8:15 – 09:45 | Repeat before you treat |
8:15 – 09:45 | Late-breaking clinical Trials |
10:00-11:30 | Surgery for functional mitral regurgitation: potential for improvements! |
Saturday 20 October
There are no abstract sessions on Adult Cardiac Surgery.
For more information on the focus sessions, please visit EACTS website.
Key Focus Sessions On Adult Cardiac Surgery
Thursday 18 October
Friday 19 October
Saturday 20 October
Thursday 18 October
Time | Highlights |
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12:45 – 15:45 | TAVI Training |
14:15 – 15:45 | Functional mitral valve disease Moderator: R. Klautz, Leiden Panellists: M. Palmen, Leiden, R. Haaverstad, Bergen, P. Denti, Milan |
14:15 – 15:45 | Transcatheter valve-in-valve implantation 2018 Moderators: T. Modine, Lille, D. Dvir, Vancouver Panellists: E. Charitos, Halle (Saale), D. Mylotte, Galway, T. Folliguet, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy |
16:00 – 17:30 | Minimally invasive mitral valve surgery – start up tool box Moderator: J. Sjogren, Lund Panellists: P. Modi, Liverpool, P. Sardari Nia, Maastricht, N. Doll, Stuttgart |
16:00 – 17:30 | Prediction and avoidance of complications in transcatheter procedures Moderators: J. Seeburger, Leipzig, O. Wendler, London Panellist: H. Schröfel, Freiburg |
Friday 19 October
Time | Highlights |
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08:15-09:45 | Standard of care for P2 Prolapse? Moderator: M. Borger, Leipzig Panellists: P. Svenarud, Stockholm, P. Suwalski, Warsaw, T. Folliguet, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy |
10:00-11:30 | Choosing the best valve-sparing technique and how they compare with Bentalls Moderator: H.-J. Schäfers, Homburg/Saar Panellists: M. Shrestha, Hanover, M. Jahangiri, London, G. Melina, Rome |
16:30-18:00 | From basics to challenges in mitral valve surgery |
16:30-18:00 | Tough clinical decisions for improved sAVR therapies: sponsored by Edwards Lifesciences View Agenda Moderator: M. Borger, Leipzig, H. Reichenspurner, Hamburg |
Saturday 20 October
Time | Highlights |
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08:15-09:45 | Evidence based decision making in TAVI Moderators: S. Bleiziffer, Munich, M. Antunes, Coimbra Panellists: G. Dahle, Oslo, N. Van Mieghem, Rotterdam, M. Taramasso, Zürich |
08:15-09:45 | Aortic valve surgery made cosmetic Moderator: T. Folliguet, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy Panellists: S. Canovas, Murcia, M. Glauber, Milan, A. Kocher, Vienna |
10:00-11:30 | From tricuspid valve repair to transcatheter replacement Options Moderator: T. Walther, Frankfurt am Main Panellists: B. Pfannmueller, Leipzig, N. Buzzatti, Milan, J. Sjogren, Lund |
10:00-11:30 | BAV repair: I do the best technique for my Patient Moderator: T. Modine, Lille Panellists: J. Vojacek, Hradec Kralove, A. Forteza, Madrid, C. Antona, Milan |
For more information on the focus sessions, please visit EACTs website.