The European Association of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anaesthesia and Intensive Care (EACTAIC) was conceived by an international group of cardiac anaesthesiologists on May 10, 1985, during a symposium on Cardiac Anaesthesia in Leiden. The inaugural meeting took place in Cambridge in June 1986.
Since then, the EACTAIC Annual Congresses have taken place in various European cities.
The aim of EACTAIC is to be a forum in Europe for international scientific discussions and exchange of ideas in the field of cardiothoracic anaesthesia and related topics and to promote education and development in this field.
The Association wants to encourage a high standard of scientific presentation; to award scholarships; to assist in funding scientific investigation; to enable educational visits to centres in other countries; and to publish selected abstracts of papers presented at EACTAIC meetings in a professional journal.
EACTAIC also promotes international exchange with non-European countries, by organising or participating in international meetings on cardiovascular and thoracic anaesthesia.
EACTAIC acts as an adviser in cardiac anaesthesia to the European Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion.
The Representative Council of the Association is comprised of one member from each country in Europe and it meets during the Annual Meeting. At present, there are 35 countries represented. The Board of Directors meets at least twice every year and reports to the Representative Council during the Annual Meeting. The Board of Directors has six members who form subcommittees according to specific tasks. The General Assembly is held during the Annual Meeting.
The official language of the Association is English.
EACTAIC Membership is open to all professionals interested in cardiac, thoracic, and vascular anaesthesia and critical care.
CHECK THE MEMBERSHIP PAGE FOR DETAILSCardiothoracic and vascular surgery and interventional cardiology now offer more than ever an expanding arsenal of diagnostic and therapeutic modalities to a population with increasing morbidity, challenging all the involved medical subspecialties to offer the highest quality of care. Clearly, cardiovascular and thoracic anaesthesia and intensive care are undeniably essential.
However, all this happens in a rapidly changing world, where globalisation implies more than ever changes with possibilities as well as constraints. Medical Associations like EACTAIC will have to reinvent their role, as well as their methods, in order to be able to fulfill their mission in education and research.
In September 2016, the EACTAIC Board of Directors formulated a strategy for 2017–2022, defining the EACTAIC Vision, the Mission and four Thrusts:
“To be the leading European Association for professionals working in cardiothoracic and vascular anaesthesia, intensive care and perioperative medicine”
“To ensure excellence in health care by providing high quality education, promoting research and encouraging teamwork”
Strengthening the organisation
Expanding learning and development opportunities
Harnessing young talent within the EACTAIC membership
Raising the profile of EACTAIC in the sector
Objectives/Goals/Aims, Measures and Strategies & Tactics are defined for each Thrust; Permanent Committees and Subcommittees are engaged in the process.