Bridging Expertise Across Borders
PULSE Issue 45 | July 2025
The 33rd Annual Meeting of the Asian Society for Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery (ASCVTS 2025), led by Congress President, Prof Theodoros Kofidis, took place from 14th - 17th May 2025 at Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre.
NUHCS is honoured to be on the global stage with its team of medical professionals contributing across multiple educational tracks - including adult cardiac, congenital cardiac, thoracic, critical care and nursing specialties - to lead and participate in various symposiums, hands-on workshops, and panel discussions.
Under the theme of "Progress, Innovation and Fellowship", ASCVTS 2025 aimed to provide a dynamic platform for surgical specialists to share innovative ideas, update clinical knowledge, and explore emerging trends and controversies in the field. With participation from more than 1000 healthcare professionals from over 50 countries, the conference fostered meaningful exchange across academia, clinical practice, and technology.
The Asian Society for Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery (ASCVTS) is a professional organisation for surgeons, researchers and healthcare professionals involved in cardiovascular and thoracic surgery, with a focus on the Asian region. With annual meetings held every year at selected countries, the ASCVTS brings together experts to network, share advancements, and shape the future of the field.
A significant highlight was the array of pre-congress workshops on 14th May, designed to provide hands-on training in advanced surgical techniques. Among these, the Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery (MICS) Endoscopic Mitral Repair workshops, led by Prof Filip Casselman, Dr Nuttapon Arayawudhikul and Dr Chang Guohao, Scientific Chair of ASCVTS and Consultant, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery (CTVS), NUHCS, provided hands-on training in endoscopic mitral valve repair1 techniques using state-of-the-art simulators. This environment of dry and wet lab simulation is designed to facilitate and transition surgeons from ‘textbook’ to ‘bedside’.
The Aortic workshops led by Adj A/Prof Sorokin Vitaly, Head of Division of Adult Cardiac Surgery, Department of CTVS, NUHCS, attracted numerous participants to an immersive session. The workshop provided information on the latest treatments for disease of the body’s main artery – the aorta – and offered cutting-edge, hands-on experience in advanced aortic surgery techniques, including frozen elephant trunk deployment2.
NUHCS also introduced a brand-new Perfusion Crisis Simulation workshop, led by its team of perfusionists – specialists who operate the heart-lung machine during surgery. Through realistic simulations of emergency situations in the operating room, participants practised making quick decisions, working as a team, and staying calm under pressure. ASCVTS 2025 provided an invaluable platform for knowledge exchange and a hub for both regional and global networking. The bonds and friendship forged during the congress pave the way for future collaborations, ultimately contributing to improved patient outcomes.
As one of Singapore’s national centres for tertiary care, NUHCS is proud to be at the forefront of cardiovascular and thoracic surgery – shaping the future of medicine and driving transformative outcomes for patients across the region.
