Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Colleagues,

I cordially invite you to the 40^th Annual Meeting of the German Society for Thoracic- and Cardiovascular Surgery which will take place once again in Stuttgart from February 13^th until 16^th 2011.

We have decided to choose “Panta Rhei - everything flows” as our motto for the forthcoming annual congress. This core principle of the ancient Greek philosopher Heraklit should not only be seen as an allusion to the cardiovascular system. Rather, “everything flows” may be interpreted as continuous biomedical and technical progress as well as the ongoing changes of our basic working conditions we have to cope with in a positive and creative manner. In response to shifting and overlapping borderlines of medical specialities modern structured Comprehensive Heart Centers have been founded at many places. The primary goals are to join the entire complexity of cardiovascular diagnostics to interventional and surgical therapies and to open the doors for completely new types of interdisciplinary cooperation. This important aspect is reflected in the scientific program by joint sessions with our cardiologic, pediatric and anesthesiologic colleagues and also with basic scientists.

Main scientific topics comprise “endovascular techniques for the treatment of aortic and valvular diseases”, ”long-term results”, “hybrid procedures in pediatric cardiovascular surgery” and “cell biology meets surgery”. Endovascular and the other less invasive techniques have, in previously unforeseen ways, opened up treatment options for cardiovascular disorders in the elderly and in patients with multiple diseases. Having said that, some impressive and rapid progress in basic science, despite the expectations of the public, have been quite slow to be transferred to the clinics. The antipode to these technical innovations is given by the topic “ethical problems in modern intensive care”. Especially cardiac surgery with its highly engineered techniques has to be balanced by the orientation on ethical standards “which do not flow”, the acceptance of still existing therapeutic limitations and adequate compassionate attention to the patients.

The objective of the annual meeting is to enable expert discussions and to provide an interactive platform to our young scientists to present their impressive scientific work. We also want to highlight the need for continuous medical and surgical education and training. Therefore, we emphatically encourage the submission of case reports and surgical videos.

We hope that the final scientific program, which strongly depends on your help and input will meet your expectations. Additionally we will prepare an attractive supporting program to enhance social get-togethers and dialogues.

After the last successful meetings in Stuttgart, I am very much looking forward to welcoming you there again in 2011.

Yours faithfully,
Armin Welz