InfoCoBuild

The Heart of the Matter

Heart Surgery for Congenital Heart Defects - Science or Art? This lecture will explain how surgery for congenital heart defects has developed. It will describe the disruptive effect of the introduction of cardiopulmonary bypass, the impact of new materials, the deeper understanding of the stresses of surgery and the impact of new drugs. However, surgery remains skill-based and the complexity of training will be outlined. Skill used to be all and the surgeons were the leaders. Now it is all about teams, a transition that has been difficult and complex, and which is still incomplete. Examples will be used from ground-breaking collaborative work done with Formula 1, the airline and hotel industries to emphasise the importance of teamwork, and how those teams should work.

Martin Elliott is Gresham Professor of Physic and Co-Medical Director at The Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London (GOSH). He led the cardiorespiratory and thoracic transplant teams at GOSH for many years, and established, and is Director of the National Service for Severe Tracheal Disease in Children, the largest such service in the world. (from gresham.ac.uk)

Go to the Series Home or watch other lectures: