title: Cardiac surgery in Eastern Europe: continuing challenge.
abstract: The post-Soviet calamities of East European cardiac surgery highlight the spectrum of marked differences in overall operative capacities among individual post-Communist countries. A comparison with the level of cardiac surgery in Western Europe reveals the importance of continuing relief, comprising both educational and material help. The East European Program of the European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery exemplifies current efforts to address these needs.
authors.affiliation: Hanover Medical School, 7 Widenmayer Street, D-80538 Munich, Germany. hgborst@gmx.net
authors.forename: Hans G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Borst
mesh_terms: D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005061:Europe, Eastern; D006801:Humans