International participants of the 8th Cardiac Medicine and Surgery Conference under way in Dammam said they were impressed by the level of training and qualifications of Saudi heart specialists and surgeons. On behalf of Eastern Province Emir Prince Saud Bin Naif, his deputy Dr. Khalid Albatall opened the conference, which is attended by top medical experts and heart specialists from many countries who will exchange their experience in the field with their Saudi counterparts. The conference, organized by Al-Babtain Cardiac Medicine and Surgery Center under the Ministry of Health in cooperation with the Saudi Heart Association, is hosting French consultant Pascal Leprince, the number one artificial heart surgeon, in addition to 800 other experts and professionals in the field. Director General of Health Affairs in the Eastern Province Dr. Saleh Al-Sallouk said Saud Al-Babtain Cardiac Center has become one of the most important specialized centers that seek to achieve the objectives of scientific research, especially since heart disease is the leading cause of death in the world. Al-Sallouk added that the role of government hospitals in eastern Saudi Arabia is not just providing treatment and surgical services to citizens and residents, but also includes scientific research and exchange of expertise in the field. Director of the center Dr. Khalid Iskandar said the importance of this year›s conference lies in the scientific content which includes 25 scientific sessions and 12 workshops featuring 122 of the best experts in medicine and cardiac surgery in the Saudi Arabia and around the world. The participants of the conference also talked about the positive results of the implantation of the smallest artificial heart ,"Heart Mate 3", said a conference source. "Heart Mate 3 is the smallest and most advanced artificial heart in the world. It weighs only 1 kg. The artificial heart is safe to be used for an entire lifespan. The heart was approved by the US Food and Drugs Authority," said the source. "There are other artificial hearts in use in heart implant surgeries but Heart Mate 3 is the first to be approved by an international authority," he said. The source said the second day of the conference was dedicated to the most important issued in the field of cardiac medicine and surgery. Saudi Heart Association Head Dr. Khalid Al-Habib said the entire Saudi society must work together to lessen the rate of cardiovascular diseases. "The factors causing cardiovascular diseases are dominant in Saudi society. Diabetes is common among people and so is high blood pressure and smoking. The Ministry of Health needs to put in place preventive measures to protect people from having cardiovascular diseases," said Al-Habib. He said patients of cardiovascular diseases in Saudi Arabia contract the diseases at an earlier age than in other countries. "Many of the international experts attending the conference were impressed by the qualifications of Saudi heart surgeons," said Al-Habib. International cardiovascular consultant Dani Buchar said he trained many Saudi doctors and surgeons in Canada. "I am impressed by the Saudi doctors and surgeons› qualifications. They are trained at an international level and are highly qualified," he said. The conference in Dammam is an important opportunity for heart surgeons and doctors to exchange expertise and discuss topical issues, said Buchar. National Heart Institute in Egypt Heart Surgery Department Head Dr. Samih Al-Ameen said the relationship between heart surgeons in Egypt and Saudi Arabia is a close one. "We exchange surgeons and expertise. We use each other›s equipment and refer our patients to each other when needed," said Al-Ameen.
