TCT for Surgeons to showcase hybrid surgical, interventional techniques during TCT 2010

'Emerging Directions for the Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeon' to be co-sponsored by the American Association for Thoracic Surgery

TCT for Surgeons will showcase the expansion of hybrid surgical and interventional techniques in the field that are improving outcomes for patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Now in its 4th year, the course will run during Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) 2010 (September 21-25), the annual scientific symposium of the Cardiovascular Research Foundation.

"This meeting will drive forward the growing collaboration among interventional cardiologists and cardiac surgeons in the treatment of patients with structural and coronary artery disease," said Mathew Williams, MD, Course Director, and Surgical Director, Cardiovascular Transcatheter Therapies at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center. "The surgeon brings tremendous knowledge, a valuable skill set, and a unique perspective to the interventional environment and the cross-trained surgeon is positioned ideally to make the most informed and unbiased treatment decision for patients with coronary and endovascular disease."

One of the course highlights will be an overview of "hybrid coronary therapy," which involves a combination of traditional surgery along with the placement of coronary stents in patients with coronary artery disease. The chosen therapy, whether it is angioplasty, surgery, or a combination of the two, should be determined specifically for an individual patient, Williams said.

TCT for Surgeons will also include programs and sessions on:

• Valvular heart disease
• Minimally invasive surgery
• New surgical technologies
• Abdominal Aortic Endografting
• Aortic Aneurysmal Disease: Overview and Imaging
• Thoracic Aortic Endografting

The American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) is cosponsoring the program.