RSM article

The Cardiothoracic Section of The Royal Society of Medicine

The inception of The Cardiothoracic Section of The Royal Society of Medicine was driven by two considerations. Primarily, there was no significant forum for topic orientated teaching and debate within our specialty. Secondly, a number of cardiothoracic trainees had used the superb Royal Society of Medicine library during their 'research year' and had been surprised to discover that despite the prevalence of cardiovascular disease within our community there was no cardiac orientated section.

Interestingly, Tudor Edwards, one of the founding members of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland in 1933, had proposed in 1944 that the Society of Thoracic Surgeons should be enlarged to include physicians, radiologists, pathologists and naesthetists interested in thoracic problems. This idea was opposed so he suggested that a section devoted to chest diseases be formed in the Royal Society of Medicine. This was also opposed, so he suggested that a section devoted to chest diseases be formed in the Royal Society of Medicine. This was also opposed. Finally, a meeting was held at Edwards' home, with 11 surgeons present, when the Thoracic Society was formed. The first scientific meeting of the Thoracic Society was therefore held, not at the RSM, but at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine on 27th July, 1945. The Society has thrived since, and publishes the journal Thorax.

A survey conducted by James Roxburgh and Graham Venn in 1990 indicated overwhelming support within our speciality for the creation of a 'Cardiothoracic Section' within The Royal Society of Medicine. The Royal Society of Medicine was approached on 23^rd October 1990. A planning group was established under the chairmanship of Mr R.N. Thompson, Executive Director of the RSM, along with Messers G. Venn, J. Roxburgh, B. Keogh, T. Treasure and F. Wells and the first meeting of this group took place on Monday 10^th June, 1991. Following several planning meetings The Cardiothoracic Section of the Royal Society of Medicine was subsequently inaugurated in January 1991 in order to "cultivate and promote cardiac, vascular and thoracic surgery and medicine and the sciences connected with them".

The aim has been to establish a meeting where subjects of topical interest are presented and discussed in a friendly environment at a level appropriate to trainees and established consultants alike. The meetings commence mid-morning to allow travelling time for those attending from outside London. The meeting is divided into morning and afternoon sessions one of which is usually thoracic and the other cardiac. The sessions are separated by a buffet lunch and followed by a more formal reception and early dinner in the evening to allow travelling time home.

The Section has received substantial support from industry, initially from St Jude, then Medtronic and more recently from Carbomedics. This support has been both generous and invaluable. Without this support the Section would not have been able to attract the high calibre of international speakers who have contributed to each of the meetings.

The following topics have been addressed, but the Section Secretaries are always interested in new ideas for meetings and welcome suggestions.

Date and link to complete programme	Topic	President	Meeting Secretary	Sponsorship
May, 1992	Dissection of the descending aorta The role of the cardiac surgeon supporting interventional cardiology. Carcinoma of the Bronchus: the role of extended mediastinal resection Management of oesophageal carcinoma.	Sir Terence English	James Roxburgh Graham Venn	St. Jude Medical
October 1992	Video assisted thoracic surgery Myocardial preservation	Sir Terence English	James Roxburgh Graham Venn	St. Jude Medical
May, 1993	Surgery of mechanical complications of myocardial infarction Empyema thoracis - the continuing challenge	Mr John Parker	Bruce Keogh	Medtronic UK
October, 1993	Cardiothoracic trauma	Mr John Parker	Bruce Keogh	Medtronic UK
June 1994	Carotid disease in cardiac surgical practice The challenge of pneumothorax: who should treat it?	Mr John Parker	Bruce Keogh	Medtronic UK
November 1994	Infection in cardiac surgical practice Reconstructive techniques in surgery of the chest wall	Mr Peter Goldstraw	Bruce Keogh	Medtronic UK
June 1995	Audit and risk stratification in cardiac surgery How to choose a mitral valve prosthesis Henry Souttar and surgery of the mitral valve	Mr Peter Goldstraw	Bruce Keogh	Carbomedics UK
November 1995	Surgery for heart failure Surgery for respiratory failure	Mr Peter Goldstraw	Bruce Keogh Patrick Magee	Carbomedics UK
June 1996	Venous thrombosis and embolism Thoracic Cage Deformities	Mr Peter Goldstraw	Bruce Keogh Patrick Magee	Carbomedics UK
November 1996	The changing professional environment The changing legal environment	Mr John Wright	Bruce Keogh Patrick Magee	Carbomedics UK
June 1997	Cardiothoracic Surgery at the extremes of age	Mr John Wright	Patrick Magee Bruce Keogh	Carbomedics UK
November 1997	Cardiothoracic surgery Past and Future	Mr John Wright	Bruce Keogh Patrick Magee	Carbomedics UK
June 1998	Less invasive approaches in cardiac and thoracic surgery	Mr John Wright	Bruce Keogh Patrick Magee	Baxter
November 1999	Cardiothoracic Surgery: an alliance with molecular medicine	Mr John Wright	Bruce Keogh Patrick Magee	Baxter
June 1999		Mr Graham Venn	Neil Moat	St Jude
November 1999	Cardiothoracic trauma	Mr Graham Venn	Neil Moat	St Jude
June 2000	Master Class for the Millenium	Mr Graham Venn	Neil Moat	St Jude