Left-Handed Cardiac Surgery Learning Lab - An EACTS Annual Meeting Initiative

Sep 30, 2026

Left-handed cardiac surgery is increasingly discussed, yet tailored training and mentorship remain critical for left-handed surgeons. In collaboration with EACTS, experienced left-handed cardiac surgeons established a left-handed learning lab at the EACTS annual meeting to provide hands-on technical development and career networking. This brief communication summarizes lessons learned and future insights into left-handed cardiac surgery education enabled by practical skills-lab training.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages3

Reading Time8 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Introduction

The Left-Handed Learning Lab Initiative

Coronary Disease

Interdisciplinary CardioVascular and Thoracic Surgery 2025, 40(12), ivaf279 BRIEF COMMUNICATIONS [https://doi.org/10.1093/icvts/ivaf279](https://doi.org/10.1093/icvts/ivaf279) Advance Access publication 26 November 2025 Cite this article as: Vinck EE, Bickel-Dabadghao M, Zientara A, Emrich AL, G€obel N, Bleiziffer S et al. Left-Handed Cardiac Surgery Learning Lab: An EACTS Annual Meeting Initiative. Interdiscip CardioVasc Thorac Surg 2025; doi:10.1093/icvts/ivaf279. Left-Handed Cardiac Surgery Learning Lab: An EACTS Annual Meeting Initiative Eric E. Vinck􀀃 ,1,2; Mona Bickel-Dabadghao3; Alicja Zientara4; Anna Lena Emrich5; Nora G€obel6; Sabine Bleiziffer3; Peyman Sardari Nia1; Roman Gottardi 4,7 1 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht University, Maastricht, 6229 HX, The Netherlands 2 Department of Cardiac Surgery, International Hospital of Colombia, Cardiovascular Institute, Floridablanca, 81001, Colombia 3 Department of Cardiac Surgery, Central Hospital Bad Berka, Bad Berka, 99438, Germany 4 Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Heart Center Freiburg–Bad Krozingen, Freiburg, 79106, Germany 5 Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, 55131, Germany 6 Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Robert Bosch Hospital, 70376, Stuttgart, Germany 7 Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Westpfalz Klinikum, 67655, Kaiserslautern, Germany 􀀃 Corresponding author. Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Center, P. Debyelaan 25, 6229 HX Maastricht, The Netherlands ([evinck518@gmail.com](evinck518@gmail.com)). Received: October 31, 2025; Revised: November 20, 2025; Accepted: November 24, 2025 Abstract Left-handed cardiac surgery has been a rising topic. Training necessities pertaining to left-handed cardiac surgery education and mentorship are crucial to this group of surgeons. Through initiatives of experienced left-handed cardiac surgeons in association with the EACTS, a left-handed learning lab at the EACTS annual meeting was developed. This skills lab training is dedicated to offering left-handed surgeons a space which offers both technical development and career networking. In this short communication, we detail lessons learned and future insights into left-handed cardiac surgery education through hands-on training. Keywords: left-handed; cardiac surgery; learning lab; EACTS. INTRODUCTION Medical and surgical societies play a crucial role in fostering professional development through annual scientific meetings. These meetings encourage networking, education, and hands-on training by offering both dry and wet labs. In a right-hand-dominated specialty, only about 5% of cardiac surgeons operate exclusively with their left hand.1–3 Consequently, few educational resources and training tools exist to support left-handed (LH) cardiac surgeons. A recent survey found that 78.1% of cardiac surgery residents had no exposure to LH mentorship during training.1–3 Furthermore, 63.5% reported being pressured to operate righthanded, and 47.3% expressed a need for LH faculty guidance.1–3 Among LH surgeons, 52.8% are left-handed operators, 73% remain true left-hand operators, while 18.1% converted to righthanded surgery due to external pressure.1–3 In response to a growing demand for mentorship and training tailored to lefthanded surgeons, a wet lab designed exclusively for left-handers was created. At the 2024 European Association for CardioThoracic Surgery (EACTS) Annual Meeting in Lisbon, Portugal, the first pilot left-handed cardiac surgery learning lab was introduced led by experienced faculty. Following notoriously positive feedback from this inaugural event, a second edition of the LH learning lab was held at the 2025 EACTS Annual Meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark. This report summarizes our experience. THE LEFT-HANDED LEARNING LAB INITIATIVE At the first session in 2024, participants m

FAQs

Why is dedicated training and mentorship important for left-handed cardiac surgeons?

The article highlights that educational resources and LH mentorship are limited, and many trainees report no exposure to LH guidance. This creates a need for structured support tailored to left-handed practice.

How was the left-handed learning lab implemented at the EACTS annual meetings?

A first pilot learning lab was introduced at the 2024 EACTS Annual Meeting in Lisbon, followed by a refined second edition at the 2025 EACTS Annual Meeting in Copenhagen. The report summarizes the experiences from these sessions.

What activities and participants were involved in the 2025 learning lab?

The 2025 session included a live demonstration of distal coronary anastomosis and open discussion on performing procedures left-handed. Participants worked in pairs with continuous guidance from experienced LH mentors, representing multiple participant groups.

Sep 30, 2026

Uploaded by pixelkiddo