61st International Congress of the European Society for Cardiovascular and Endovascular Surgery

Dear Colleagues,

It is my great pleasure to invite you to join us at the 61st International Congress of the European Society for Cardiovascular and Endovascular Surgery (ESCVS) to be held in Dubrovnik, Croatia from the 25th to the 28th April, 2012.

This is a unique opportunity to attend an ESCVS Congress which for the first time will be organised in this part of Europe. It is also an occasion to celebrate the restoration of peace in the region, following the troubles in the last decade of the 20th century. The European Congress of the ESCVS will also provide an excellent chance to reunite the medical community in the region on scientific and medico-technological grounds.

In the long history of the ESCVS this is the first time we are preparing the International Congress of the ESCVS as an integral event of cardiac, vascular and endovascular surgeons and cardiologists, along with the gathering of extracorporeal perfusionists. It is hence a perfect opportunity to bring together in one place and at the same time all our specialists.

The highlights of the 61st ESCVS, Dubrovnik 2012 include modern technologies and techniques in cardiovascular and endovascular surgery, cardiology and perfusion. TAVI DAY is devoted to detailed survey of this modern treatment of the aortic stenosis in elderly, representing a novel way of addressing the severe aortic disease with minimal or moderate surgical and medical risk. TAVI DAY is supposed to attract both cardiac surgeons and cardiologists, thus proving once more that integrated medical knowledge is a key to resolving difficul medical issues in the future. The Brano Radovančević Heart Failure Summer Workshop is another highlight of the 61st ESCVS in Dubrovnik. It is being organized by ESCVS and Texas Heart Institute, Houston, Texas, USA. The leading experts from Europe and USA are going to bring up the newest proved information on the treatment of end-stage heart disease by means of implantable devices, in combination with/or without heart transplantation. In addition, number of Lunch Symposia, sponsored by various medical companies, will enable the attendees of the 61st ESCVS to broaden their knowledge on new techniques and medications, especially in cardiology and transplantation. For the first time in the history of ESCVS annual meetings we are preparing one DRY LAB (Ethicon) and two WET LABS (Sorin and Terumo), thus allowing participating doctors to learn and be taught in detail new surgical and implantation techniques by the experts of corresponding companies. Last , but not least, more than 100 Invited Speakers from all over the world are spread through the program of this year’s ESCVS congress in order to ensure high quality of the program – they represent “the new breed“ of medical specialists, who made or will make their personal impact on trends in cardiovascular medicine of the 21st century.

The 61st ESCVS Congress is to be held in Dubrovnik, the Pearl of the Adriatic and one of the most beautiful cities in the Mediterranean. It is a place of splendid history, art and scientific achievements, including medical science. But it is also a modern city that caters for business and leisure requirements. Many say that visiting Dubrovnik is something that contemporary traveler – and members of medical profession fall in that category – must not miss.

With assistance and support from the region, the ESCVS local organisers in Croatia are genuinely ready to organize a modern and technologically advanced gathering. We and Dubrovnik wholeheartedly await your arrival and participation in the Congress.



Yours cordially,





Prof. Zeljko Sutlic,

Host of the 61st ESCVS Congress, Dubrovnik