Bleeding and Thrombosis in Mechanical Circulatory Support

Program Description

Who should attend?

Cardiac surgeons, cardiologists, anesthesiologists, intensivists, nurses, perfusionists, VAD-coordinators, biomedical engineers, and scientists involved with mechanical circulatory support are invited to attend.

Course Overview

This program is designed to facilitate and foster discussion and collaboration between leading experts in the fields of hematology, hemostaseology, bioengineering, anesthesiology, intensive care medicine, cardiology and cardiac surgery to provide new ideas and potential solutions to the bleeding and thrombus complications associated with mechanical circulatory support in general and in specific patho-physiological states of the coagulation system.

It will provide a detailed overview on the basics, but also the complexity of the coagulation system and the functional involvement of platelets and von Willebrand Factor, presented by distinguished experts in their fields. The second day of the meeting is dedicated to the clinical issues of patients with mechanical blood pumps; bleeding and clotting problems and their prevention.

This meeting will differ considerably from other conferences in the field of circulatory support as it seeks an interdisciplinary approach to address the problems of bleeding and thrombosis.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this program, participants will be able to:

• Recognize the engineering principles leading to hemostasis and thrombosis.

• Summarize advances in thrombosis and hemostasis research.

• Describe traditional and emerging options for detection of hemostatic disorders.

• Understand state-of-the-art antithrombotic therapeutic options including application of new anticoagulation therapies.

• Determine the utility of coagulation and platelet function monitoring tests and treatment options for individual patients.

• Identify bleeding and thrombosis prevention strategies for mechanical circulatory support.

Abstract Submission

Please share with the audience your personal experience with bleeding and clotting issues and their prevention in mechanical circulatory support patients.
Deadline for abstract submission is March 31st, 2008 (Must complete online form)

Notification of Acceptance: April 5th, 2008

Program Sponsorship and Support

This program is sponsored by the Medical University of Vienna, The International Society for Rotary Blood Pumps, The Austrian Society for Implantology and Tissue Integrated Prosthetics, and the Ludwig Boltzmann Cluster for Cardiovascular Research, and through educational grants from commercial supporters.