The 24th Annual Congress of the Association of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeons of Asia (ATCSA 2014) is taking place for the first time in Hanoi on November 5-8.

The event, attended by more than 700 Vietnamese and international experts, features over 300 scientific reports on valvular repair surgery, minimally invasive surgery, cardio pulmonary bypass, and intensive cardiac care units nursing.

Speaking at the event, themed “One Heart One Asian Team”, Health Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien said the congress offers an opportunity for doctors, surgeons, anesthesiologists and nurses to exchange experience and update new knowledge and advanced technologies in diagnosing, preventing and treating heart diseases.

The minister noted that Vietnam has seen progress in thoracic and cardiovascular surgery over the past 60 years, adding the country now has nearly 30 thoracic and cardiovascular centres which have conducted over 10,000 heart-related operations.

ATCSA was established in 1972 to help specialists in this field exchange experience, thus promoting the trans-boundary friendship among its members. Two of its founders are Vietnamese.-VNA