Rafa Sádaba

🔜 The 40th EACTS Annual Meeting is on its way, taking place from 7-10 October in Barcelona, Spain. Take advantage of early-bird registration rates, available until 1 July, to connect with leading experts, explore the latest innovations and gain fresh perspectives. If you are looking to take a more active role, submit your work through the general abstract submission and be part of a high-quality scientific programme ➡️ Abstract submissions close on 30 April. You can also apply for EACTS awards: ➡️ Young Investigator, Hans G Borst, and EACTS/STS Awards ➡️ Residents’ Corner Award ➡️ EACTS/AATS Foundation Award Learn more and plan your attendance 👉 eacts.org/40th-eacts-ann…

This is a most important event for EACTS, and a priority during my presidency. Delivering top class education in Africa to improve patients’ outcomes in cardiac and thoracic surgery.

📣 Early bird registration is open for the 40th EACTS Annual Meeting. Join us in Barcelona from 7-10 October and get the most out of your Annual Meeting experience. Explore the latest science, research, and trends in cardiothoracic surgery. Hear from leading experts and take part in interactive sessions. Enhance your experience with our hands-on EACTS Learning Labs and our full-day Techno-College programmes - available through separate registration. 🤝 Reconnect with peers, expand your network and engage with industry leaders from around the world. Secure your early bird rate and plan your attendance today 🔐eacts.org/40th-eacts-ann…

📣 Exhibition bookings are now open for the 40th EACTS Annual Meeting. Showcase your innovations with cardiothoracic surgeons, trainees, allied health professionals and decision-makers from around the world. The exhibition will take place in Barcelona from 8-10 October 2026. This 40th-anniversary edition brings together the international cardiothoracic community in one place, making it the ideal platform to engage, collaborate and build meaningful partnerships. 👉 To book your exhibition space, contact industry@eacts.co.uk

Looking to get more involved with EACTS? We’re now recruiting across several committees and invite you to contribute to education, research, and community initiatives. Join us to help shape the future of cardiothoracic surgery. Open committee vacancies: ➡ Francis Fontan Fund (FFF) Committee ➡ Mentorship Committee ➡ Outreach Committee ➡ Pre-Trainee Committee ➡ Residents’ Committee ➡ Women in Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (WiCTS) Committee Whether you’re a trainee, early-career professional, or experienced surgeon, this is your chance to share your expertise and make an impact within the EACTS community. 🗓 Applications close: 30 May 2026 Find out more and apply now ⛓️‍💥 eacts.org/about/our-vaca…

Across Latin America and beyond, the cardiovascular surgery community will come together this December in Santiago, Chile for the 7th EACTS/STS/LACES Latin America Cardiovascular Surgery Conference. The meeting will bring together surgeons, cardiologists, anaesthesiologists, perfusionists, nurses and allied health professionals to exchange knowledge, share expertise and strengthen international collaboration. From scientific presentations and technical videos to interactive discussions and hands-on workshops, the conference offers opportunities to learn, connect and advance cardiovascular care together. 📅 3-5 December 2026 Learn more and get ready to join us in Santiago 🔗 latamcardiovascularconference.org

Under the guidance of Course Director Peyman Sardari Nia, the Endoscopic Port-Access Mitral Valve Repair Drylab Training advanced Level 3 course provides experienced surgeons with hands-on training using high-fidelity simulators that replicate a full endoscopic port-access environment. Participants will practise key techniques including annuloplasty ring implantation, while exploring topics such as patient selection, minimally invasive repair strategies and the management of complications. 🗓️ 11-12 May 2026 📍 Maastricht, The Netherlands 👉 Register today ⛓️‍💥 eacts.org/education/eact…

📍 Pay Windsor a visit this June and join us for two hands-on EACTS Academy courses. ▶️ Cardiac Intensive Care – Beyond Basic 🗓️ 3-4 June This interactive course focuses on the care of critically ill patients following cardiac surgery. Through expert-led lectures and small-group practical sessions, participants will explore key topics including haemodynamic optimisation, temporary pacing, cardiac tamponade, cardiac arrest after cardiac surgery, and mechanical circulatory support. ⛓️‍💥 eacts.org/education/eact… ▶️ Fundamentals in Thoracic Surgery 🗓️ 23-26 June Designed for trainees, this course provides a comprehensive overview of essential thoracic surgery topics, including lung cancer, management of pneumothorax, pleural disease, and emergency procedures. The programme combines expert teaching with hands-on training in techniques such as bronchoscopy, rib fixation and VATS procedures. ⛓️‍💥 eacts.org/education/eact…

Professor Teresa Kieser joins our anniversary celebration, congratulating EACTS on 40 years of advancing research and cardiothoracic surgery. Reflecting on the camaraderie of the community, Professor Kieser is proud of how EACTS members have always rallied together to improve patient care and outcomes. Don’t forget to share your EACTS story and use #40YearsOfEACTS for the chance to be featured in our anniversary campaign!

Abstract submission is now open for the 40th EACTS Annual Meeting in Barcelona. From 7-10 October 2026, thousands of professionals in cardiothoracic care will gather to explore the latest science advancing patient outcomes. This is your opportunity to contribute to a high-level scientific programme and share your work within the global EACTS community. 📝 Submit your abstract by 30 April 2026 ⛓️‍💥 eacts.org/40th-eacts-ann…

Francis Fontan Fund (FFF) Fellowships help surgeons gain specialised expertise that may not always be available at their home institutions. Among the opportunities available is the Atrial Fibrillation Fellowship in partnership with AtriCure, designed to develop advanced clinical insight and hands-on surgical expertise in treating AF. Fellows gain first-hand experience in AF correction procedures using a range of surgical approaches. Looking back on his experience as a 2024 Fellow, Mikko Mattila described how the programme helped him develop expertise in atrial fibrillation surgery, gaining skills that were previously unavailable at his home institution and enabling his hospital to begin offering guideline-level AF procedures. Applications are now open for the Acquired Cardiac Disease and Other Initiatives FFF Fellowships. 🔍 Find out more about the fellowships and apply by 1st May ⛓️‍💥 #fellowships" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">eacts.org/education/fran…

📊 What motivates cardiothoracic professionals to join EACTS? Insights from the recent EACTS Membership Survey reveal the key reasons why members choose to be part of our Association. For many respondents, EACTS stands out as their preferred professional organisation, while others value the opportunity to connect with peers across the global cardiothoracic community. Members also value contributing to the advancement of the specialty and improving patient outcomes, alongside benefits such as free access to the European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EJCTS). These insights help us better understand what matters most to our members and guide how we continue to strengthen the value of EACTS membership. Become an EACTS member today ⛓️‍💥 eacts.org/our-community/…

📢 Applications are now open for the Level 1 EBCTS and UEBTS Membership Examinations. These exams set a recognised European standard for early specialist practice and give you the opportunity to benchmark your knowledge against peers across the international cardiothoracic community. Last year’s MEBCTS candidate, Maria Nucera, described the exam as an important milestone in her surgical training and a valuable way to strengthen the core knowledge needed for daily clinical practice. ➡️ European Board of Cardiothoracic Surgery Level 1 (MEBCTS) For adult cardiac and congenital surgery. ➡️ Unified European Board of Thoracic Surgery Level 1 (MUEBTS) For thoracic surgery. Ready to take the next step in your training? Apply today ⛓️‍💥ebcts.org

New MMCTS tutorial! 📣 📊 Skill Level: 3. Innovative This case demonstrates that the tricuspid valve can be reconstructed in a severe form of Ebstein anomaly with rudimentary posterior and septal leaflets and multiple perforations in the anterior leaflet. 🎥 Watch here: mmcts.org/case-report/21… @konstantinov_ie

Take your minimally invasive mitral repair techniques to the next level at the Endoscopic Port-Access Mitral Valve Repair Drylab Training. Led by Course Director Peyman Sardari Nia, this two-day training gives you hands-on experience with a realistic endoscopic port-access setup. In small groups, you will practice important mitral valve repair techniques on high-quality simulators that closely mimic real tissue and surgical conditions. You will cover everything from patient selection and surgical planning to annuloplasty ring implantation and techniques. The course is designed to help you build precision, confidence and consistency in minimally invasive mitral repair. ⚠️ Only 15 spots are available to make sure everyone gets focused, hands-on learning. 🗓️ 11-12 May 2026 📍 Maastricht, The Netherlands Register now 🔗 eacts.org/education/eact…

The Fundamentals in Valvular Heart Disease Incl AFib course is intended for residents just starting out in cardiac surgery and provides practical training aligned with current guidelines, all in a supportive setting. ✔ Hands-on wetlab training in Windsor ✔ Multidisciplinary team discussions ✔ Expert-led lectures ✔ Hybrid format available, allowing participation either in person or online Whether you join us in Windsor or remotely, you’ll gain the knowledge and confidence to support better patient outcomes. 📅 15-17 April 2026 📍 Windsor, UK and online Register today 👉 eacts.org/education/eact…

Prepare to address real-world thoracic challenges and enhance your surgical expertise at the Fundamentals in Thoracic Surgery course. 🎥 This year, residents will take part in a more interactive programme, with small group sessions and expanded hands-on activities. Watch as Course Director, Francesco Di Chiara, highlights the key topics and techniques that will be covered. The programme will explore lung cancer, diaphragm and chest wall surgery, emergency procedures, pneumothorax management, emphysema treatment and pleural disease. Through sessions on rib fracture fixation, bronchoscopy, and video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) diaphragmatic surgery, participants will gain valuable knowledge as they prepare for the European Board Exam. 🗓️ 23-26 June 2026 📍 Windsor, UK and online Register now 🔗 eacts.org/education/eact…

New MMCTS tutorial! 📣 📊 Skill Level: 2. Advanced In this case report, a video presentation of a successful robotic-assisted left atrial appendage ligation in a frail octogenarian patient, who was high risk for thromboembolic events and had recurrent bleeding episodes precluding anticoagulation. 🎥 Watch here: mmcts.org/case-report/21… @RobinsonPoffo

✨ Marking forty years of advancing cardiothoracic surgery in one landmark meeting. Join us in Barcelona, Spain, from 7-10 October 2026 for the 40th EACTS Annual Meeting, as we Honour our History and look ahead to Inspire our Future. Over four days, you will gain direct insight into the latest surgical techniques, research and clinical developments, present your work to an international audience, explore emerging technologies, and engage in meaningful discussions with colleagues from across the globe. From hands-on learning to high-level scientific debate, this is where knowledge, collaboration and innovation come together. Be part of the conversations defining the next decade of cardiothoracic surgery. ⏳ Early bird registration opens this spring. Stay tuned for more details 👇 ⛓️‍💥 eacts.org/40th-eacts-ann…

New MMCTS tutorial! 📣 📊 Skill Level: 2. Advanced This case highlights the importance of thorough preoperative assessment, careful surgical planning, meticulous technique, and expertise to achieve successful outcomes. 🎥 Watch here: mmcts.org/tutorial/2138 @HElgharablyMD, @ahmedawadmd, @daniel_ragheb, @CleClinicHVTI, @CCF_CTSRes