General thoracic surgery--optimising opportunities at a European level.

Abstract

Eighteen years after the foundation of the European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery (EACTS) and 10 years after a number of thoracic surgeons left to form the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons (ESTS), a strong movement towards closer collaboration between these two societies has developed. The goal of this new strategy is to achieve a concentration of resources and opportunities for thoracic surgeons as well as to provide a common platform for general thoracic surgery in Europe. Until now ESTS has held its annual meetings close to EACTS meetings; the European forum for thoracic surgery has been divided. Many thoracic surgeons would say, necessarily so, since at that time they did not feel well represented within the large cardio-thoracic community of EACTS. Membership of ESTS has been rising during these years. However, a substantial number of non-cardiac, thoracic surgeons still remain as members of EACTS or are members of both societies. This has continued to divide the scientific and practical potential of a united body of thoracic surgeons at a European level. General thoracic surgery, already disadvantaged by the variety of different settings it is practiced in, has been burdened by a lack of common representation. The disharmony of this situation has not been satisfactory for surgeons, for authors, for patients or for the thoracic part of the cardio-thoracic industry. There has been competition between two European meetings for authors submitting their work, as many surgeons have been unable to attend both meetings. Funding opportunities have been dispersed and partially lost. This unsatisfactory state of affairs has been recognised by the leadership of the two European societies representing the majority of general thoracic surgeons in Europe and strong initiatives have been implemented to improve the situation. A well thought-through plan for the future has been negotiated, which is of mutual benefit to thoracic, cardiothoracic and cardiac surgeons. The challenge has been to present a coordinated platform for thoracic surgery whilst at the same time preserving the distinct speciality of thoracic surgery within a much larger ‘cardio-thoracic umbrella‘. This new era of symbiosis, of happy cohabitation, has already begun and the fruits of cooperation and synergy are becoming more and more evident.