HYBRID SYMPOSIUM
CHRONIC THROMBOEMBOLIC PULMONARY HYPERTENSION (CTEPH) -
challenges of modern treatment for our regions
February 7th, 2025, from 12:00 to 15:30

Dear collegues,
We are pleased to cordially invite you to the 2nd hybrid symposium:
CHRONIC THROMBOEMBOLIC PULMONARY HYPERTENSION - challenges of modern treatment for our regions (Live at the University Medical Centre Ljubljana – Department of Pulmonary Diseases Seminar Room, 6th floor, and online).
Date: February 7, 2025
Time: 12:00 PM – 3:30 PM
During the symposium, we will present the modern approach to treating CTEPH, which poses challenges for the entire region. The event is organized following last year's 7th World Symposium on Pulmonary Hypertension, the most significant event in this field, which introduced many advancements in the management of CTEPH patients. Furthermore, it follows the establishment of the pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) program at the University Medical Centre Ljubljana two years ago, presented at our first symposium. Over the past year, we also launched the pulmonary artery balloon dilation (BPA) program, a notable innovation for our region.
These two treatment methods, combined with specific pharmacological therapies, effective anticoagulation management, and supportive care for right heart failure, form a critical triad underlying the modern management of CTEPH patients.
We have invited experts and specialists from the region, and during the discussions, we aim to address how we can assist each other in providing the best care for all CTEPH patients within and beyond our region.
The symposium will be divided into three sessions:
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BPA
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PEA
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Pharmacological Treatment
Participants are welcome to attend all three sessions on the day of the symposium or join individual sessions. Additionally, all registered participants will have access to the full symposium recordings afterward. The event has already been submitted for credit point approval by the Medical Chamber of Slovenia.
Please find the link to register and view the program below. We hope to see as many of you as possible!
If you plan to attend the event in person, please notify us via email at: bernarda.bregar@kclj.si
ORGANIZING COMMITTEE:
Assistant Professor Dr. Polona Mlakar
Associate Professor Dr. Barbara Salobir
Associate Professor Dr. Matevž Harlander
Dr. Pavel Kavčič
Professor Dr. Juš Kšela

A

B
Pulmonary artery before (A) and after (B) one of the first successful BPA in the UKC Ljubljana program, the procedure was performed by interventional radiologist Dr. Pavel Kavčič

Thromboemboli removed during PEA - 11th in a row from the UKC Ljubljana program, operator prof. Juš Kšela
REGISTRATION
PROGRAM
12:00–12:05
Welcoming address /
Assist. Prof. Matevž Harlander, UMC Ljubljana, Slovenia
12:05–12:10
Introduction: modern approach to treatment of CTEPH - not that simple anymore. /
Assist.Prof. Barbara Salobir, UMC Ljubljana, Slovenia
BALOON ANGIOPLASTY OF PULMONARY ARTERIES (BPA) IN CTEPH
CHAIRS:
Prof. Irene Lang, AKH Vienna, Austria, Pavle Kavčič, UMC Ljubljana, Slovenia
12:10–12:40
12:40–12:50
12:50–13:00
13:00–13:10
13:10–13:20
BPA - a method that is becoming more and more established for the treatment of CTEPH /
Prof. Irene Lang, AKH Vienna, Austria
Experiences in treating CTEPH with BPA in VMA Beograd, Serbia /
Prof. Slobodan Obradović, VMA, Belgrade, Serbia
First experiences in treating CTEPH with BPA in UMC Ljubljana, Slovenia /
Pavel Kavčič, MD, PhD, UMC Ljubljana, Slovenia
Treatment of CTEPH with BPA - case presentation /
Djordje Nedeljkov, MD, PhD, Prof. Jovan Matijašević, Sremska Kamenica, Serbia
Round table with discussion (All participants) - future BPAs for CTEPH in our region
PULMONARY ENDARTERECTOMY (PEA) IN CTEPH
CHAIRS:
Prof. Juš Kšela, UMC Ljubljana, Slovenia, Assist. Polona Mlakar, UMC Ljubljana, Slovenia
13:20–13:50
13:50–14:00
14:00–14:10
PEA - still first line therapy - life-saving surgery in the hands of a skilled surgeon /
Choo Yen Ng, Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Cambridge, UK
First experiences in treating CTEPH with PAE in UMC Ljubljana - experience on how to build a well-functioning team and the role of a tutor from an already experienced centre /
Assist. Polona Mlakar, David Lestan, MD, Valentina Butković, MD, Prof. Juš Kšela, all UMC Ljubljana, Slovenia & tutor Choo Yen Ng, Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Cambridge, UK
Round table with discussion (All participants) - future PEAs for CTEPH in our region
SPECIFIC MEDICAL THERAPY IN CTEPH
CHAIRS:
Assoc. Prof. Nika Skoro Sajer, AKH Vienna, Austria, Assist Prof. Barbara Salobir, UMC Ljubljana, Slovenia
14:10–14:30
14:30–14:40
14:40–14:50
14:50–15:10
15:10–15:30
15:30
Specific medical treatment of CTEPH - what are the posibilities and when to choose them in CTEPH patients /
Assoc. Prof. Nika Skoro Sajer, AKH Vienna, Austria
Role of correct diagnosis including right heart catheterization before decision for medical treatment in CTEPH /
Feđa Djubur, MD, PhD, UMC Zagreb, Croatia
Right heart failure in CTEPH - what we can do? /
Prof. Arsen Ristić, UMC Belgrade, Serbia
Emerging new therapies for PH - new challenges for our regions /
Prof. Grzegorz Kopeć, PCC, John Pavel II Hospital, Krakow, Poland
Round table with discussion - how collaboration at all levels can help improve the management of CTEPH patients in our regions (All participants)
Closing remarks /
Assist. Prof. Matevž Harlander, UMC Ljubljana, Slovenia

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