Athens Medical Center: New developments in cardiac surgery at the 1st National Congress of Endoscopic & Robotic Cardiac Surgery
The 1st National Conference on Endoscopic & Robotic Cardiac Surgery, entitled “Challenging the Future”, was successfully concluded, which took place at the Book Tower of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation. The conference was organized by the Clinic of Endoscopic Cardiac & Aortic Surgery of the Athens Medical Center, which is under the direction of Dr. Aristotle Panou, Cardiac Surgeon and Associate Professor at the University of Geneva.
The conference was held both online and in person, offering the public the opportunity to attend high-level scientific presentations by prominent physicians from Greece and abroad. From the international scientific community, the pioneer of endoscopic cardiac surgery, Professor Olivier Jegaden, as well as the representative of the younger generation, Dr. Nia Sardari, attended.
Image 1: Mr. Christos G. Apostolopoulos, Executive Vice President of Athens Medical Group
During the conference, the latest data on the evolution and documentation of endoscopic techniques in the surgery of heart valves and endocardial structures were presented. Comparative data from international centers of excellence confirmed that endoscopic access, under appropriate indications, offers equivalent or even superior results compared to classical techniques, while ensuring less trauma, faster recovery, better functional restoration and clearly improved aesthetic results.
Image 2: Dr. Aristotelis Panos, Director of the Endoscopic Cardiac Surgery Clinic & Aortic Surgery of the Athens Medical Center
Particular interest was attracted by the presentations that highlighted the crucial role of the interdisciplinary cardiac surgical team, the importance of organized training of new surgeons and the potential offered by advanced technologies, from robotic assistance to 3D imaging systems, in surgical precision. The recent scientific data presented confirmed that endoscopic cardiac surgery is now an internationally established and reliable practice, with steadily improving results in centers that systematically apply these specific techniques.
Image 3: Conference speakers and executives of the Athens Medical Group
In his statements, Dr. Aristotelis Panos, Director of the Endoscopic Cardiac & Aortic Surgery Clinic of the Athens Medical Center, emphasized: «Minimally invasive techniques will continue to shape the future of cardiac surgery, as technological advancements and modern clinical data lead to more targeted and highly precise interventions. At the Athens Medical Group, we systematically apply endoscopic cardiac surgery, with advanced technology and specialized teams, and we are proud to be pioneers in Greece, contributing to the new era of cardiac surgery.
