Welcome

Dear Colleagues,

On behalf of the local organizers, we are proud to host the 57^th ESCVS annual Congress which will be held in Barcelona from 24-27 April 2008.

The Meeting and special symposia, the first day Congress devoted to live surgery and endovascular topics, as well as the scientific sessions and the technical exhibition will give ample time to study, exchange and to deliver ideas, results and innovations. This Congress will help to gather a large number of leading experts in all fields of our Profession to improve our understanding and to give recommendations in treatment, logistics and education in order to meet the challenge of mastering the current changes and to guide health advances in Europe.

The Congress format will feature a full day live surgery devoted to the treatment of the most interesting endovascular controversies, well-explained during the numerous lectures and video presentations that will integrate the live  procedures, through round tables and panel discussions so as to enhance an interactive prospective. Moreover, the  Congress format will include also training courses on simulators to get direct experience on the practical and theoretical aspects of the most challenging and innovative procedures in both cardiac and endovascular surgery, that need a thorough evaluation in consideration of the rapid development of the surgical techniques and technologies.

The success in attendance of the training courses obtained last year suggested us to continue this didactic activity mainly thought for the young surgeons who can simulate a real operation once explained and shown by the tutors, chosen among the leading experts of the field.

In addition, the historical background of our Society has its roots in the particular attention to the cardiovascular field, that now has been  joining the endovascular prospective: ESCVS will therefore host endovascular debates, live surgery and lectures, giving the audience a comprehensive knowledge on the tasks.

The city of Barcelona is hosting this Meeting; it has the distinction of being a multicultural location, crossroad of historical richness, artistic and architectural movements. The explosive vitality of this city seems to be the perfect place for hosting the innovative atmosphere of the 57^th ESCVS annual Congress.

We hope that you are able to join us in making this meeting a successful and memorable one.