Behind the scenes: The daily life of the EACTS Secretary General

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 by Dr Jonas Pausch   (8.53 - 13:47) Mechanistic insights from the CAST-HF trial: Transcriptomic analysis of human myocardial biopsies reveal biglycan as crucial mediator of angiogenesis by Dr Johannes Holfeld   (13.47 - 20:55) First-in-human experience with a novel custom-made double branch stent graft for aortic arch repair – The NEXUS DUO by Prof Mario Louis Lachat & Dr P Buyl   (20:56 - 25:28) Real World Experience of 510 On-X Aortic Valve Replacement Patients Treated with Low Dose Warfarin by Prof Aungye OO   (25:28 - 32:1) CEASE-AF: Effectiveness and safety of hybrid epicardial and endocardial ablation in patients with persistent and longstanding persistent atrial fibrillation by Dr Piotr Suwalski.

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.