3^rd June 2004

Summary East European Committee, 1995 – 2004 

At the time of the Paris meeting of the EACTS in 1995, the undersigned suggested to the Council the establishment of a Committee dealing with the obvious needs of our Eastern European colleagues. This idea was accepted full-heartedly.

The purpose of this Committee was to bridge the trench between eastern and western cardio-thoracic surgery, persisting after the reunification of the Continent, by establishing close and lasting professional ties. This was to be achieved by granting fellowships to young surgeons, professorial visits, excursions of teams and performing workshops. As time went by, other activities were started, such as the support of attendance of junior surgeons at selected symposia and courses in the West as well as shipment of all kinds of medical equipment to the East.

Several cardiac and thoracic centers of excellence had existed in the countries bordering Western Europe. They were well known in the West and therefore could be contacted with ease. In contrast, cardio-thoracic surgery in the vast regions of the former Soviet Union, aside from certain centers located in the capital cities, were a closed book to us. Strong efforts therefore were made to identify units with a future potential in those regions.

As could be expected, the kind of support offered has varied: where as our efforts in the former satellite countries were focused on the transfer of advanced knowledge and techniques, support to the past-Soviet world encompassed the more basic aspects of surgery, even including work efficiency, clinic organisation and interdisciplinary organisation. This was particularly true for cardiac surgery, which, compared to thoracic surgery, was plighted by a grotesque lack of funding of its highly expensive equipment, thereby, until recently, severely hampering its growth. Again in contrast, cardiac surgery in most of the former satellite countries now is approaching the Western level.

The following program was sponsored by the East European Committee:

119 Fellowships of 1-24, mean 5.1 months duration. Seventy-seven fellowships (65 %) originated in the countries of the former Soviet union, 42 (35 %) came from other Eastern countries. One hundred and twelve of fellows (94 %) were hosted by western centers. Importantly, 5 fellows were accepted by units in Poland (3), Czech Republic (1) and Hungary (1).  The main purpose of fellowships was adult cardiac in 71 %, pediatric cardiac in 13 % and thoracic in 18 %.

53 Team Visits of 2 to 7, mean 2.8 persons, lasting from 1-12, mean 3 weeks. Teams sometimes included anesthetists, cardiologists, nurses, pump technicians and even hospital administrators. Fifteen teams originated in the West, 38 in the East. Host centers were located in 30 western and in 23 eastern countries. There were 9 team exchanges between Eastern European centers. Team cooperation often was multiple, mutual and usually long lasting.

Seven workshops/symposia: 2 thoracic, 5 cardiac, involving Russia in 5, Kyrgistan and Lithuania in 1 case each, western participants varying between 2 and 4 persons.

Attendance of selected symposia and courses. This was organized and/or funded for 76 colleagues

Finally, shipment of medical equipment of all kinds, including heart lung, machines, was sent to 6 centers in Eastern Europe.

Approximately € 1.1 million were generated for these endeavors, roughly 1/3 each coming from the EACTS, philanthropic foundations and our industrial partners.

Details on all the above as well as additional items can be found on EACTS website www.eacts.org in the East European Committee.

We have many reasons to believe that the efforts of the East European Committee have been a major success, for the persons benefiting from the program and also in terms of the image of the EACTS. This is exemplified, among others, by the fact that many of our fellows advanced in their careers, some in fact founding new units, with only a few staying in the West. On account of the exchanges of professors and in particular of teams as well as the workshops performed, new operative techniques were first introduced or improved in a large number of clinics. These included infant heart surgery, valve reconstruction, aortic surgery, coronary bypass and even transplantation, whereby off-pump procedures were of particular help in regions lacking funds for open heart surgery.

Most importantly, a climate of personal trust and friendship was created between colleagues in the East and West, in many cases resulting in continuing exchange of men and ideas beyond those sponsored by the East European Committee. In fact, several western centers, encouraged by our initiative, continued to support certain units in the East.

By the decision of the Council, the EEC was terminated on March 31, 2004, to be succeeded by the new International Co-operation Committee. The undersigned, who has had the privilege of chairing the East European Committee since its beginning, wishes to thank the Presidents and Council Members who have lent their helping hand to our efforts. Our thanks go, in particular, to the Committee Members V. Alexi-Meskishvili, M. Bugge, B. Hucin, E. Jansen, G. Massard, H. Neef, Z. Religa, J. Vaage, M. Wojtalik and E. Wolner. Likewise we would like to extend our cordial thanks to T. Aberg and M. Zingmark as well as to Kathy McGree and her team at Windsor. Finally, we are deeply indebted to all those, who have magnanimously provided the funding of our efforts.

It has been a pleasure and a matter of great personal satisfaction to serve the EACTS in this exciting venture!

Hans G. Borst

Chairman

East European Committee