Fundamentals in Thoracic Surgery

The Fundamentals in Thoracic Surgery will run from 24 – 27 June 2025 in Windsor. This Course will be available online and in-person, all times shown below are local UK times. We are excited to announce the EACTS Thoracic Surgery Fundamentals Course, designed to provide a comprehensive learning experience for trainees. This course covers essential topics such as lung cancer, diaphragm and chest wall surgery, emergency procedures, pneumothorax management, emphysema treatment, and pleural disease. It emphasises both theoretical knowledge and hands-on training, featuring practical modules on rib fracture fixation, bronchoscopy, and VATS diaphragmatic surgery. Designed to enhance surgical skills and promote multidisciplinary collaboration, the program prepares participants for real-world thoracic surgical challenges and the European Board Exam.

24 – 27 Jun 2025
Windsor, UK
Hybrid

Event Information

DATE/DURATION

24-27 June 2025 (4 day course)
LOCATION

Windsor, UK
COURSE DIRECTORS

D Waller, Leicester
F DI Chiara, Oxford
COURSE FORMAT

Mix of online and in-person interactive lectures
Surgical case videos
Hands-on simulation sessions
COURSE FEE

This course is available online and in-person.

In-person registration fees include all sessions, breaks, lunch and dinner on Tuesday 24th June.

In-person fees (Windsor, UK):
Members: €450 inclusive of VAT
Non-Members: €550 inclusive of VAT

Online registration fees include all sessions, except for 3, 6 and 9 Hands on sessions. Kindly note there is no interactive function, and you will not be able to interact with Faculty and other attendees.

Hybrid fees (online only):
Members: €150.00 inclusive of VAT
Non-Members: €200.00 inclusive of VAT
TARGET AUDIENCE

Residents in training with the course content closely allied to the EBCTS syllabus.
ACCREDITATION

This course is Ethical MedTech compliant and full details can be found HERE

EACTS Academy terms and conditions.

course registration

Programme and faculty subject to change.

09:50	Welcome and case discussion F Di Chiara, Oxford
	Thoracic Benign Disease
	Session 1: Pneumothorax
10:00	Spontaneous: Primary vs Secondary – Indications/operative techniques D Waller, London
	Acquired: Persistent air leak/chest drain management To be confirmed
	Catamenial pneumothorax/Endometriosis F Di Chiara, Oxford
11:00	BREAK
	Session 2: Emphysema
11:30	Principles – S Tenconi, Manchester
	LVR – patient selection
	LVR – techniques
	2.1 Debate – Audience participation – two teams A and B (delegates will be assigned to each team in advance to prepare their case) In patients suitable for both
	Pro lung volume reduction surgery To be confirmed
	vs
	Pro Endobronchial valves S Kemp, Nottingham
	Conclusion
	2.2 LVR MDT All Faculty
13:00	LUNCH
	Session 3: Hands-On Sessions 2 workshops running parallel in rotation
14:00	3.1 Case studies – applied physiology/anatomy D Waller, London; Tbc 3.2 Bronchoscopy simulator – rigid/flexible – endobronchial valve insertion S Kemp, Nottingham; S Tenconi, Manchester
17:00	CLOSE

	The Pleural Space
	Session 4
09:00	Oesophageal Cancer T Stupnik, Ljubljana
09:30	Pleural Infection
	Pleural Empyema – assessment G Cardillo, Rome Pleural Empyema – stage-specific management N Rahman, Oxford Surgery for pleural empyema S Tenconi, Manchester Pleural Effusion Diagnostic criteria/methods – fluid analysis/imaging/ medical thoracoscopy N Rahman, Oxford
10:30	BREAK
11:00	Malignant Pleural Effusion
	Malignant effusion – management G Cardillio, Rome
	Mesothelioma – staging/management D Waller, London
12:00	Debate – Audience participation – two teams A and B (delegates will be assigned to each team in advance to prepare their case) In Mesothelioma There is no longer a role for the surgeon N Rahman, Oxford vs There is still a role for the surgeon D Waller, London
13:00	LUNCH
	Session 6: Hands-On Sessions 2 workshops running parallel in rotation
14:00	VATS simulator
	Open simulator T Stupnik, Ljubljana
17:00	CLOSE

	Chest Wall/Trauma
	Session 7
09:00	Diaphragm R Milton, Leeds
	The raised hemidiaphragm – different diagnosis – anatomy of herniae
	Physiology of plication/surgical methods
	Diaphragmatic rupture
09:30	Chest Wall K Bostanci, Istanbul
	Pectus deformities
	Chest wall tumours
	Emergency Surgery K Athanassiadi, Athens; M Kalkat, Birmingham
	Airway injury/principles of airway surgery
	Perforated oesophagus
10:00	Mediastinitis
10:30	BREAK
	Session 8
11:00	Chest wall trauma
	Initial management of haemothorax – Rib fracture management F Di Chiara, Oxford
12:00	Debate – Audience participation – two teams A and B (delegates will be assigned to each team in advance to prepare their case)
	Rib fixation is overused M Kalkat, Birmingham & Team A
	vs
	Rib fixation should be more widely used F Di Chiara, Oxford & Team B
	Conclusions
13:00	LUNCH
	Session 9: Hands-On Sessions 2 workshops running parallel in rotation
14:00	Diaphragm plication/diaphragm suturing R Milton, Leeds; D Waller, London
	Rib fixation – wet lab F Di Chiara, Oxford
17:00	CLOSE

	Thoracic Malignant Disease
	Session 10
09:00	Thymic Epithelial Tumours E Ruffini, Torino
09:30	Lung Cancer Surgery –
	Management of common complications/how to avoid them (ERAS) K Athanassiadi, Athens
	Resectability – Nodule risk management/TNM staging R Benamore, Oxford
	Operability – assessing fitness for operation M Ibrahim, Rome
10:30	BREAK
	Session 11 – Audience participation – two teams A and B (delegates will be assigned to each team in advance to prepare their case)
11:00	1. In stage 1A: Sublobar D Waller, London & Team A Vs Lobar resection M Ibrahim, Rome & Team B
11:30	2. In stage T1/2 N1: Neoadjuvant Y Summers, Manchester & Team A Vs Adjuvant therapy D Waller, London & Team B
12:00	Lung MDT -stage IIIA disease cases (N2a, N2b, N3) R Benamore, Oxford; Y Summers, Manchester & All Faculty
12:30	Course debriefing D Waller, London; F Di Chiara, Oxford
13:00	CLOSE

Fundamentals in Thoracic Surgery

Level 1

Event Information

Course Programme

Tuesday 24 June

Wednesday 25 June

Thursday 26 June

Friday 27 June

Faculty

David Waller

Francesco Di Chiara

Kalliopi Athanassiadi

Korkut Bostanci

Giuseppe Cardillo

Mohsen Ibrahim

Maninder Singh Kalkat

Samuel Kemp

Richard Milton

Najib Rahman

Enrico Ruffini

Tomaž Štupnik

Yvonne Summers

Sara Tenconi