Innovations and Challenges in Cardiovascular Surgery

Dear Colleagues,

Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Since Dr. John Gibbon's pioneering use of the heart-lung machine for open-heart surgery in 1953, cardiovascular surgery has served as a primary approach in the treatment. However, traditional open-surgical approaches are increasingly challenged by catheter-based endovascular techniques. This challenge has driven cardiovascular surgery toward minimally invasive approaches, including small-incision, off-pump, robotic, and hybrid surgeries, all designed to improve patient outcomes and speed recovery times. At the same time, rapid technological advancements, such as 3D printing, artificial intelligence, and advanced real-time imaging, are reshaping cardiovascular surgery, from planning and implementation to monitoring and perioperative care. Alongside these innovations, the evolving disease spectrum presents new demands: conditions such as age-related degenerative valve diseases, aortic dissections, ischemic heart disease, heart failure, and cases requiring repeated surgeries are becoming increasingly common. Addressing these complex cases requires more highly refined surgical and organ protective techniques. All these challenges mentioned above highlight the need for continuous innovation and collaboration between cardiovascular surgery and other disciplines.

This Special Issue welcomes contributions to these cutting-edge developments, including novel clinical research findings, explorations of new technologies, reviews of current and emerging therapeutic approaches, and educational case reports. We also encourage submissions of meaningful studies with negative results, acknowledging the importance of such findings in advancing the field. Through this collection, we aim to provide a robust platform for advancing knowledge in cardiovascular surgery, addressing current challenges, and showcasing innovations that will shape future practices and improve patient outcomes.

Dr. Marc Leon (also known as Hongliang Liang)
Guest Editor

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