Editorial Archive Jouko Jalonen Scientific Secretary of EACTA Excellent presentations win prizes in EACTA 2003 in Prague Altogether 142 abstracts (of 170 submitted) were accepted for presentation in EACTA 2003 in Prague, 68 as oral presentations and 74 as posters. As tradition is, three oral presentation prizes and three poster presentation prizes were given. The magnitude of the prize is 250 Euros for the first, 150 Euros for the second and 100 Euros for the third prize, same amounts in both categories. Of course the recipients also get a diploma. As criteria we used chairman evaluation of the overall value of the presentation (scientific value, quality of presentation and response to emerged questions) and the original scoring by the Abstract Committee. In other words, even a high-ranked abstract could remain without a prize if the presentation was not excellent as well. This made the selection process quite exciting, not least for the prize jury (J. Jalonen and K. Skarvan), who had to calculate the final scores in the last minute, after last oral presentation session. The first oral presentation prize went to Victor Aboyans et al. (Limoges, F) who had developed in 825 patients a logistic model to predict significant carotid stenosis based on anamnesis and clinical status and then studied the applicability of the model in further 218 patients. They found that the overall sensitivity of the approach was 90 % and negative predictive value is 96 %. Application of this model will potentially decrease dramatically the need of duplex scanning of carotid arteries in atherosclerotic patients undergoing procedures like CABG. Janos Gal et al. (London, UK) won the second oral presentation prize with their study of heparin-induced endothelial dysfunction in isolated saphenous vein rings. They showed that heparin induces an ongoing NO production and cyclic GMP accumulation in human saphenous vein endothelial cells. This is maybe not an entirely unexpected effect, but it was nicely demonstrated in the study of Gal et al. The third prize-winning presentation, of Isabelle Michaux et al. (Basel, CH) tested if the echocardiographic Tei index (the sum of isovolumetric contraction and relaxation divided by the ejection time) could be used to characterise right ventricular function in open-heart surgery. First, they could measure the index adequately in all 39 patients of their study. Second, the index increased markedly after cardiopulmonary bypass, compare to pre-bypass values, whereas there was no change in the OPCAB patients. Application of this measurement has potentially importance in guiding the haemodynamic treatment in patients undergoing CPB procedures. Posters were exhibited throughout the meeting and they were also presented in short (three slides) orally. This form proved to be quite successful and the poster sessions were well attended. The problem with poster rounds in previous meetings has been that the overall noise prevented other than those in the first row to hear clearly. The first poster prize-winning study of Steve Allen et al. (Belfast) showed that the initial blood pressure drop at the beginning of cardiopulmonary bypass is significantly reduced if the bypass circuit is treated with surface-modifying material, especially in patients who used ACE inhibitors preoperatively. Even though the blood pressure fell significantly even in the surface-modifying material treated group initially, the effects of vasoactive mediators can be attenuated by avoiding direct contact of the blood with plastic materials. The second poster prize was awarded to Jörg Raumanns et al. (Leipzig) of a study on haemodynamic effects of heart lifting during suture of posterior left ventricular wall anastomoses in OPCAB surgery. MAP decreased below 70mm Hg and CI below 2.0 during the posterior wall anastomosing, similarly irrespective whether the X-pose stabiliser or simple pericardial sticehs were used for the exposure of the anastomosis site. Zerrin Sungur et al. (Ankara) won the third poster prize with a study of paediatric cardiac anaesthesia, showing that complications could be significantly reduced by modifying the ultrafiltration technique during cardiopulmonary bypass. Bleeding, mechanical ventilation time and ICU time were all approximately halved with this technique. These changes were also associated with a significantly attenuated response in plasma IL-8 concentration. The winners have been appropriately congratulated during the meeting but nevertheless they deserve another congratulation. Likewise all the numerous others who could not be given a prize (there are only six of them!) but nevertheless gave excellent presentations on excellent studies, deserve an applaud. It is delighting to see that all fields of cardiac anaesthesia, perfusion, intensive care and even cardiac surgery, adult and paediatric patients alike, are presented in EACTA meetings. This shows the importance of our multidisciplinary team approach to all the problems that encounter during the process of cardiac surgical procedures. From a referee point of view, even though it is extremely difficult to pick the prize winner, it is even more enjoyable to see the high standard of our research and presentations. The future of EACTA as an organisation of scientific discussion seems very much alive and prosperous.

18th National Congress of the Cardiovascular and Thoracic Anesthesia and Intensive Care Society
12-15th April 2012
Bodrum Turkey
» Read more

EACTA NEWS LETTER
October 2011

» Click here

EACTA on Linkedin
» Click here

EACTA ICU on Facebook
» Click here

17th Annual Update on Cardiopulmonary Bypass
March 11 - 16, 2012
Aspen/Snowmass Village, CO
» Read more

Thoracic Anesthesia Symposium
April 27 - 28, 2012
Boston, MA
» Read more

34th Annual Meeting & Workshops
April 28 - May 2, 2012
Boston, MA
» Read more

Cardiothoracic Symposium
Iguazu Falls, Argentina
March 19th-21st 2012
» Read more

Abstracts from EACTA 2011
Abstracts from EACTA 2011 are published online by the Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia. Please go to:
» www.JCVAonline.com

2012 Combined Meeting of the 13th International Congress of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anaesthesia and the New Zealand Anaesthesia Annual Scientific Meeting, to be held 14 - 17 November 2012, Auckland, New Zealand.
» Read more

EACTA Perioperative Echocardiography DVDs now available
Buy your copy as an EACTA member for €50.
» Read more

JCVA



The Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia (JCVA) is now the official journal of the European Association of Cardiothoracic Anesthesiologists (EACTA)......
» Read more

ACTA Autumn Meeting
Holywell Park
Loughborough, Leicestershire
16th - 18th November 2011
» Homepage
» Brochure