Minimally invasive treatment of heart valve disease is rapidly developing and therefore merits continuous attention. This is especially important for surgeons as interventional therapies are growing and in some areas have already surpassed surgical techniques by numbers. As only cardiac surgeons can have the full and comprehensive knowledge of all available options it is of utmost importance to be familiar and experienced with all up to date techniques. Only then the most appropriate, i.e. curative, long-lasting and least traumatic treatment from a wide range of therapies can be offered to the individual patient.
This is why Focus Valve 2019 will comprise minimally invasive surgery of aortic, mitral and tricuspid valves as well as interventional treatment. Special attention will be given to minimally invasive mitral valve repair, aortic valve replacement and ablation of atrial fibrillation.
For this reason live surgeries performed by internationally renowned surgeons will be transmitted from our OR in 3D, workshops on specific topics are planned and multiple wetlab training opportunities will be provided on arrested heart and beating heart porcine models. These will comprise MICS mitral valve repair by direct vision and total endoscopic technique, interventional techniques for the aortic and mitral valve and hands-on training with innovative devices designed for minimally invasive valve surgery.
FOCUS Valve is part of a four module educational program in minimally invasive valve surgery offered by the Department of Cardiac Surgery of Medical University Innsbruck comprising presentations and live surgeries (Module I), wetlab training (Module II), team visits to our OR by separate appointment (Module III) and local proctoring on request (Modul IV).
Ludwig Müller,
Michael Grimm,
Nikos Bonaros
Course directors
Daniel Höfer
Scientific secretary
Öztekin Oto
Scientific Partnership
Ottavio Alfieri, Italy
Jose-Luis Pomar, Spain