SAN FRANCISCO THE FAIRMONT HOTEL JUNE 7-1O, 2OO6 WELCOME social and collegial environment. I am In this issue: delighted to conclude my term as TO ISMICS ISMICS President here. The Fairmont Invited Topic Sessions Page 2 provides a unique opportunity for ISMICS 2OO6! to “take over” the entire property and - Randall K. Wolf, MD enhances the familial atmosphere PG Course: Surgical Treatment ISMICS President 2006 among ISMICS members, non-member of Atrial Fibrillation physicians, spouses, invited guests, and Ralph J. Damiano, Jr., MD our industry partners. Page 3 As this year’s President of ISMICS, it At the end of WWII, this historic is my distinct pleasure to welcome the Fairmont Hotel was the site of the meeting back to the Fairmont Hotel in A Look Ahead: James D. Fonger, MD International Conference where the San Francisco. The last time we met in Page 4 San Francisco was in 2003 when I was (continued on page 14) privileged to serve with my friend A Look Back: Robert Emery, MD The Fairmont provides a unique Page 5 Vassilios Gulielmos as co-chair for that year’s Program Committee. Randolph opportunity for ISMICS to “take Chitwood was President, and we all had over” the entire property and Invited Entertainment: a great time. We enjoyed an excellent enhances the familial atmosphere. David Williamson, MD scientific program and an exceptionally - Randy Wolf Page 5 Invited Guest Speaker: Richard Satava, MD Page 6 WELCOME TO SAN FRANCISCO In addition to the obvious tourist attractions in San Francisco like Alcatraz and the Exhibit Hall Map Pages 8-9 Golden Gate Bridge, while in the Bay area, be sure to check out some of the city’s other fascinating sites. Wet Labs Schedule Page 10 Chinatown — San Francisco’s bustling Chinatown is a tightly packed warren of Industry Sponsored Luncheons Chinese restaurants, shops, temples and Page 11 street vendors. Enter at Dragon’s Gate at Grant Avenue and Bush Street. ISMICS Consensus Statement Fisherman’s Wharf — Popular with both Page 12 tourists and sea lions, Fisherman’s Wharf offers seafood markets, street performers Case Reports Page 13 and entertainment, souvenir shops, restau- rants and sidewalk vendors. Still a working wharf, its vendors sell thousands of tons of fish and shellfish. (continued on page 2) SAN FRANCISCO HIGHLIGHTS (continued from page one) The Haight — Center of the 1960s move- The Presidio — A military installation ment, it retains its hippie counterculture cre- from 1776 until 1994, the Presidio saw duty dentials and is dotted with Victorian houses, for Spain, Mexico and the United States. It bookstores, piercing salons and funky is now a national park with almost 1,500 shops. acres of hiking and biking trails, beaches and stunning views. Lombard Street — Known as the “crookedest” street in the world, the steep, Conservatory of Flowers-Located in hills and sharp curves of this one-way road Golden Gate Park is a spectacular living pass by grand Victorian mansions and at- museum of rare and beautiful tropical tract millions of tourists. plants from around the world that will en- gage visitors Mission District — The heart of San . Francisco’s predominantly Latino neigh- San Francisco Zoo - Northern borhood is 24th Street, a colorful collection California’s largest zoological park features of authentic restaurants, taquerias, Mexi- approximately 1,000 exotic and endangered can bakeries, markets, shops and murals. animals. Experience the wonders of the Mission Dolores at 16th and Dolores streets Children’s Zoo and visit Gorilla World, Pen- is the oldest structure in San Francisco. guin Island, AND Koala Crossing. North Beach — Most of this Wax Museum at Fisherman’s Wharf - neighborhood’s former beatnik charm is Over 250 wax likenesses of past and retained while adding fine cuisine to its present world leaders, entertainers, heroes claim to fame. and scoundrels delights visitors since opening in 1963. DON'T MISS THESE INVITED TOPIC SESSIONS ON SATURDAY... 8:15 – 8:45AM Nanotechnology—A Truly Minimally Invasive Technology Chair: Randall K. Wolf, MD Carlo Montemagno, PhD University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati 9:00A – 9:15AM Hybrid Approaches to Cardiac Procedures Ralph de LaTorre, MD, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston 9:15 – 9:30AM Articulating Endoscopic Instruments and 3D Videoscopy: Disruptive Technology or Tools Looking for an Application? William E. Cohn, MD Texas Heart Institute, Houston 2 POSTGRADUATE COURSE: SURGICAL THE COURSE AT-A-GLANCE TREATMENT OF ATRIAL FIBRILLATION Ralph J. Damiano, MD, Jr.. CONTROVERSIES IN THE Course Director INTERVENTIONAL TREATMENT OF ATRIAL FIBRILLATION: PRESENT STATE-OF-THE-ART Panel discussions will examine the current controversies regarding the Controversies in Our Mechanistic Under- The Postgraduate course, operative approach in the treatment of standing of Atrial Fibrillation: Does Clinical “Surgical Treatment of Atrial Fibrilla- atrial fibrillation. Presentation Imply Pathophysiology? tion”, will be held on Wednesday, June 7th. The course, directed by Ralph J. Catheter Ablation for Lone Atrial Fibrillation: Damiano, Jr., has been designed to cryoablation, microwave ablation, and Is Pulmonary Vein Isolation Necessary? demonstrate the latest developments in the high frequency ultrasound. surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation, with The final section of the postgraduate Surgery for Lone Atrial Fibrillation: Present emphasis on surgical techniques and course will consist of two panel discus- State-of-Confusion emerging technologies. sions examining the current controver- Surgery for Atrial Fibrillation and Valvular Participants will discuss the electro- sies regarding the operative approach. Heart Disease: What Should Be the physiological mechanisms underlying The course will conclude with a Correct Lesion Set? atrial fibrillation. Presentations will cover presentation by Dr. Damiano on traditional medical and surgical treat- “Perioperative Management of of LATEST ADVANCES IN ABLATION ments, as well as the role of emerging Patients After Atrial Fibrillation Surgery.” TECHNOLOGY technologies and new energy sources. Dr. Damiano makes several important After an introduction and welcome by points during his talk. Irrigated Radiofrequency Energy Dr. Damiano, Dr. Richard Schuessler will Surgery for AF has excellent long- Bipolar Radiofrequency Energy review the current literature of AF. “Over the term results and virtually eliminates Cryoablation last two years, over 3200 papers have been the risk of late stroke in this popula- Atrial Ablation Surgery with Laser Energy published on atrial fibrillation. Of these 693 tion. via Unilateral Thorascopic Approach have involved ablation. I will attempt to Less invasive operations have been summarize some of the relevant findings developed and have greatly simplified Biological Properties of Microwave Ablation and how they relate to the surgical the procedures. High Frequency Ultrasound treatment of AF. Specifically, I will briefly Virtually all patients with chronic AF review the most recent thinking on the undergoing coronary or valve CASE PRESENTATIONS: CURRENT underlying mechanisms of AF,” begins Dr. procedures should have a concomi- CONTROVERSIES REGARDING Schuessler. tant Cox-Maze procedure. OPERATIVE APPROACH Dr. Fred Morady reviews the rationale The Cox-Maze procedure needs to Panel Discussion: Surgical Treatment of Lone for pulmonary vein isolation in patients with be considered in medially refractory Atrial Fibrillation AF and provides evidence that complete patients with lone AF, particularly in Moderator: Ralph J. Damiano, Jr., MD isolation is not necessary. Dr. Damiano patients who develop a contraindica- Panelists: W. Randolph Chitwood, Jr., MD, Li takes a look at the current state of confu- tion to anticoagulation or a tachycar- Poa, MD , Niv Ad, MD, J. Crayton Pruitt, MD sion regarding surgery for AF. The final dia-induced cardiomyopathy. presentation will deal with the different Panel Discussion: Surgical Treatment of Atrial aspects of the surgical procedure to treat Fibrillation in Patients with Organic Heart atrial fibrillation in a subset of patients with Disease valvular heart disease. Registration for the Postgraduate Moderator: Takashi Nitta, MD The next session will review the latest Course will be open on Tuesday Panelists: Nicholas Doll, MD, A. Marc Gillinov, MD, Krishna Khargi, MD, PhD, John D. Puskas, MD advances in ablation technology and will from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm in the cover: irrigated radiofrequency energy, Grand Ballroom foyer and on Perioperative Management of Patients after bipolar radiofrequency energy, Wednesday at 6:30 a.m. Atrial Fibrillation Surgery 3 A LOOK AHEAD Several needs were identified ISMICS remains a society interested during ISMICS’ early years i.e., in cardiothoracic surgical innovation - James D. Fonger, MD recognition by other groups, ISMICS President-Elect methods of incorporating new at its earliest stages, providing both technologies into mainstream a meeting place and publication surgery, and an entity to deter- mine the role of emerging and opportunity for these ideas to be innovative technologies/tech- presented when they may still be The founding goals of the Interna- niques. We continue to pursue tional Society for Minimally Invasive this innovation in the opportuni- relatively undeveloped. Cardiothoracic Surgery centered on ties that ISMICS develops for our providing a forum for the exchange of industry partners. We constantly information in the subspecialty, working strive to create unique and different fiscal