2021 STS/EACTS/ESTS Latin America Thoracic Surgery Symposium

Virtual

The symposium was recorded and is available in the STS Learning Center at no charge.

The 2021 STS/EACTS/ESTS Latin America Thoracic Surgery Symposium features the latest research, innovations, techniques, and therapies that are driving improved care and patient outcomes. Attendees will connect virtually with experts from around the globe and learn about best practices and experiences in thoracic surgery while navigating the pandemic. A world-class international faculty will offer late-breaking findings in a number of clinical areas, plus new data and insights on: 

  • The impact of COVID-19 on general thoracic surgery practice
  • Implementation of lung cancer screening programs
  • Latest concepts in segmentectomy
  • Innovations in the treatment of chest wall trauma and rib fixation 

The program was presented in English, with simultaneous translation in Spanish and Portuguese.

Agenda

The symposium took place on Friday, November 19. 

The COVID-19 Pandemic: Thoracic Surgeons' Perspective (1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. ET)

Moderators: Fabian Doerr, MD, Cologne, Germany; Enrico Ruffini, MD, Torino, Italy; and Sara A. Salvatierra, MD, Guayaquil, Ecuador
1:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. ET Airway Complications: Perspectives from the US, Europe, and Latin America, Lack of Resources, and How to Pick Cases
Maninder S. Kalkat, FRCS, Birmingham, England, UK; and Alessandro W. Mariani, MD, PhD, São Paulo, Brazil
1:15 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. ET Panel Discussion
Lung Cancer Screening: How and Why? (1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. ET)

Moderators: Ilitch Diaz-Gutierrez, MD, Minneapolis, MN, USA/Mexico City, Mexico; Andre Miotto, MD, MsC, São Paulo, Brazil; and Betty C. Tong, MD, MHS, MS, Durham, NC, USA
1:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. ET New Studies, Lack of Resources, How to Start a Program
Carlijn van der Aalst, PhD, Rotterdam, Netherlands; and Adriana M. Serna Lozano, MD, Bogota, Colombia 
1:45 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. ET Panel Discussion
Segmentectomy Debate "Clash of Titans" (2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. ET)

Moderators: Jose Menendez, MD, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Davor Stamenovic, MD, Mainz, Germany; and Paula A. Ugalde Figueroa, MD, Boston, MA, USA 
2:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. ET Lobectomy Versus Segmentectomy for Early Stage NSCLC
Nasser K. Altorki, MD, New York, NY, USA; and Dominique Gossot, MD, Paris, France
2:15 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. ET Panel Discussion
What We Need to Know About Rib Fixation (2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. ET)

Moderators: Corina Ludwig, MD, Düsseldorf, Germany; Carlos A. Olivares-Torres, MD, Tijuana, Mexico; and Francisco Suarez, MD, Santiago, Chile
2:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. ET New Data, Pro/Cons, New Technology, Issues Around Price and Payment
José Antonio Chávez Peche, MD, Lima, Peru; and Leonidas Tapias Vargas, MD, Dallas, TX USA
2:45 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. ET Panel Discussion

Learning Objectives

At the end of this activity, participants should be able to:

  • Discuss the impact of COVID-19 on general thoracic surgery practice (with perspectives from Latin America, the United States, and Europe), especially in relation to airway complications, decision-making around case selection, and resource scarcity
  • Define strategies for implementation of lung cancer screening programs in Latin America and highlight best practices from the United States and Europe
  • Identify the best available, evidence-based surgical treatments of patients with early stage NSCLC
  • Demonstrate the latest innovations in treatment of chest wall trauma and rib fixation and discuss pros and cons of different approaches

Certificates of participation will be available, but no continuing medical education credit will be offered.

Target Audience

The symposium is designed for all members of the thoracic surgical team, including cardiothoracic surgeons, pulmonologists, anesthesiologists, physician assistants, nurses, respiratory therapists, trainees, and other health care professionals interested in the topic.

Course Directors

Rafael S. Andrade, MD, Minneapolis, MN, USA
Alessandro Brunelli, MD, Leeds, UK
Keith S. Naunheim, MD, St. Louis, MO, USA
Eric D. Roessner, MD, PhD, Mainz, Germany

Questions? Contact the STS Education department.