13th ANNUAL MEETING OF THE EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION FOR CARDIO-THORACIC SURGERY
Submission of Abstracts

 

ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION OF ABSTRACTS

The CTSNet/EACTS Online Abstract Submission System allows you to use your Web browser to complete a series of Web browser forms and submit your abstract via the Web for review. You will need a recent version of a Web browser (we recommend Netscape's Navigator or Communicator or Microsoft's Internet Explorer version 4.0 or higher) and an Internet connection.

INSTRUCTIONS TO AUTHORS

Please follow the instructions below, otherwise your abstract cannot be selected for review.

• The abstract language is English.
• The text should be single-spaced, not more than 250 words and fit in the area provided on the abstract form (the title and presenters are not included in the 250 words).
• The preferred font size is 11 and font type Helvetica or Arial.
• The use of 1-2 tables or graphs is possible.
• The abstract must consist of four paragraphs labelled: OBJECTIVE, METHODS, RESULTS, CONCLUSIONS.
• The text and the title should be free from abbreviations, except those most commonly used (e.g., LVEF, CABG, VSD, ASD etc). It should concisely address the problem and the purpose of the study (OBJECTIVE); how the study was performed (METHODS); the main findings with numerical data and statistical significance (RESULTS); and the principal conclusions drawn from the study (CONCLUSIONS).
• The title of the abstract should be printed in CAPITAL LETTERS; the name(s) of the author(s) is preceded by the initials (omit titles). There should be no more than 6 authors for abstracts from a single institution, 9 in multi-institutional papers. Underline the name of the presenter.
• Under the title and authors, type the name of the institution, city and country. Since the abstracts will be judged anonymously, the text may not reveal the institutional affiliation.
• Mark the category which best describes the subject of your abstract. If the paper is to be considered for a Young Investigator’s Award, mark the corresponding field.
• Read, accept and sign the declaration at the bottom of the abstract form.
• The material should not have been published or presented at any major meeting before.

SUBMISSION OF ABSTRACTS

Authors wishing to submit an abstract for presentation at the Annual Meeting, should send (in the envelope provided) the abstract with the Transmittal of Abstract Form and one (1) copy to the EACTS Executive Secretariat (see address on page 12). The copy should omit names of authors and institutions to enable anonymous reviewing. The receipt of abstracts via fax or e-mail will not be accepted.

Abstracts will not be accepted unless they are submitted according to the format and instructions to authors described above, and received by the EACTS Executive Secretariat before 1 April 1999.

Authors will be notified in writing in June 1999 whether or not the EACTS’99 Programme Committee has accepted their abstract.

All papers accepted for presentation at the Meeting (excluding films and posters) will be published, subject to editorial review, in the European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EJCTS). Posters may be published after going through the normal reviewing procedure for the Journal. Submission of an abstract implies a commitment on the part of all authors to submitting a full manuscript and three (3) copies to EJCTS (Publication Desk in SECC), at or before the 13th Annual Meeting, should it be accepted for oral presentation. This helps to speed up the processing and thereby the publication of the Journal.

The audiovisual recording of the scientific presentations will be the property of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery.

All presentations should be made with single projection slides (no dual projection will be available). Computer disc presentation will be possible provided that the speaker informs the Executive Secretariat by 15 August 1999 at the latest.

DELETION OF SUBMITTED ABSTRACTS

Authors cannot correct submitted abstracts but can delete them before the abstract submission deadline by contacting the EACTS Information Officer.

FILM SESSIONS

Authors are requested to send their abstracts (see instructions for abstract submission above) and a copy of their film, which should be no longer than 8 minutes, in VHS-PAL format, for review. Sound is acceptable but not necessary. However, live narration by the principal surgeon is a requirement of participation.

Guidelines to authors:

1. Films should be essentially technical movies.
2. Avoid time-consuming sequences showing conventional approaches and cannulations (cardiac surgery). Specific approach or cannulation should be briefly demonstrated only in very particular cases (e.g. minimally invasive, etc).
3. Indicate clearly the view that is being shown, e.g. surgeon’s view (as seen by the surgeon), overhead view, or view from the patient’s head.
4. When it is difficult to identify the details or orientation of a surgical view, an explanatory drawing may be helpful and should be shown within the film just before the operative view.
5. Should an author wish to report results of series, the film itself should be shortened to 5 minutes and “slides” incorporated in the film (not shown on separate projector).

TRANSMITTAL OF ABSTRACT FORM

• Complete the Transmittal of Abstract Form, with your exact mailing address, telephone, fax numbers and e-mail address and forward with each submitted abstract.
• Read, accept and sign the declaration.
• Abstracts and films should be sent (and received by the EACTS Executive Secretariat) by 1 April 1999 at the latest to the following address:

  EACTS Executive Secretariat

  Conference Associates & Services International Ltd.
  4 Cavendish Square
  London W1M 0BX United Kingdom

YOUNG INVESTIGATOR’S AWARDS IN CARDIAC AND THORACIC SURGERY

To stimulate research, the EACTS has instituted prizes for the best manuscripts on topics of clinical or experimental research in the fields of Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery presented by young investigators at the Annual Meeting of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery.

The Award is ECU3,000 for each prize, provided that contributions in both subjects have been selected by the Programme Committee.

Candidates for the prize must:

1. Be the first author of the paper.
2. Be under 35 years of age (in 1999).
3. Have nationality of, or be resident in a European country.
4. Submit a covering letter from the Director of Service or Laboratory in the European Institution at which the research programme has been undertaken, indicating the originality of the investigation and the proportion of the work performed by the candidate.
5. Clearly mark the entry on the transmittal form accompanying the abstract.
6. Present unpublished work not previously presented at a major (national or international) scientific meeting.

Candidates may be members or non-members of The European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery.

The first authors of the abstracts chosen by the EACTS’99 Programme Committee will be the finalists and will be notified in writing in May 1999. The finalists will have to submit five (5) complete copies of their manuscripts for final review by the Young Investigator’s Award Committee before 1 August 1999, in addition to the manuscript they should submit to the Journal. The Committee will make its selection and recommendation following the presentation of all papers and the authors whose abstracts, manuscripts and presentations are judged most outstanding, will receive a cash award of ECU3,000 and a certificate.

C WALTON LILLEHEI YOUNG INVESTIGATOR’S AWARD

St. Jude Medical, Inc. has established the “C Walton Lillehei Young Investigator’s Award” in recognition of its 20 year history of implanting the St. Jude Medical mechanical heart valve. The amount awarded is $10,000 and is intended to provide additional support to the cardiovascular community for research efforts.

YOUNG SURGEON’S CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE ANNUAL AWARD

Sulzer Carbomedics Inc has instituted an award for the best manuscript on a topic of clinical or experimental research in the field of Congenital Heart Surgery presented by a young investigator at the Annual Meeting of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. The Award is $10,000.

Will you be competing for either of these prizes? If you intend to submit an abstract for presentation at the 13th Annual Meeting of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery you are eligible for the awards if you meet the following criteria:

1. You are the first author of a paper within the subject of congenital heart or heart valve surgery.
2. You are under 35 years of age.
3. You have nationality of or residency in a European or Middle Eastern country.
4. You submit a covering letter from the Director of Service or Laboratory in the Institution at which the research programme has been undertaken, indicating the originality of the investigation and the proportion of the work performed by you.
5. You clearly mark the entry on the transmittal form accompanying the abstract that you wish to enter for either the C Walton Lillehei Young Investigator’s Award or the Young Surgeon’s Congenital Heart Disease Award.
6. You present unpublished work not previously presented at a major international scientific meeting.

Candidates may be members or non-members of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. The Instructions to Authors given on page 10 must be strictly followed, and your abstract received by the EACTS Executive Secretariat before 1 April 1999, otherwise it cannot be selected for review. You are also reminded that if selected as a speaker at either an oral or forum session you undertake to bring your manuscript to the Editorial Desk at the Meeting. The first authors of the abstracts chosen for presentations by the Programme Committee will be the finalists and they will be notified at the end of May 1999.

FRANCIS FONTAN PRIZE

The Francis Fontan Prize was instituted in honour of Professor Francis Fontan, leading founding father of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. The Prize is awarded to a cardiac, cardio-thoracic or thoracic surgeon with postgraduate training. It is not limited to European citizens.

The amount awarded at present is ECU30,000 and should cover the costs of one year’s stay at a major European department. The activities during this year are left to the discretion of the prize-winner and the Head of the department visited, but should primarily involve fields such as research training, research activities, advanced clinical education and/or departmental management.

The deadline for submission of applications is 1 March 1999.

Applicants are requested to send in the following documents:

• Curriculum vitae including:
  • Number and type of operations performed with and without senior assistance.
  • Scientific publications and work in progress.
  • An affidavit as to the proficiency of the applicant in English or in the language of the country to be visited.
• Proposed plans for the prize year including the name of the department to be visited, with a tentative time schedule.
• A letter of support from the Head of department which the applicant plans to visit.
• A video recording of the applicant with a brief (3 minute) presentation of the proposed plans in English.
• A letter of support from the applicant’s Head of department with an affidavit that the applicant is suitable for the Prize and welcome to return to his department.

The selection of the prize-winner is made by the Francis Fontan Prize Committee consisting of the President, Vice President, Secretary General and immediate past President of the Association.

The winner of the Francis Fontan Prize will be announced before the Honoured Guest Lecture at the Annual Meeting.

On completion of the Prize-funded activities, the prize-winner is required to report to the General Assembly describing his experiences, new knowledge and publications. The prize-winner should also report on the possibilities of making use of the new knowledge in the department to which he is returning.

Application forms are available from the Secretary General of the EACTS and on the EACTS homepage: http://www.eacts.org:

Torkel Åberg, M.D.
Heart Centre
University Hospital
90185 Umeå
Sweden
Tel: INT +46 90 785 3676
Fax: INT +46 90 785 3601 E-mail: eacts.secretary@mailbox.calypso.net