Dr. Johan van der Merwe, Minimally Invasive & Hybrid Cardiothoracic Surgeon

03/04/2025

It is our team’s privilege to serve our community

A life-threatening tumour, a pioneering procedure! When doctors discovered a tumour on Ernest’s pulmonary valve, which almost obstructed blood flow from his heart to his lungs, the team at Netcare Blaauwberg Hospital used highly advanced 3D cameras and keyhole surgery to remove the tumour and restore blood flow. It’s a breakthrough for cardiac care, but more importantly it’s a second chance for Ernest! 🙌 Read more here:https://www.netcare.co.za/Portals/0/LiveArticles/1639/Netcare-Blaauwberg-Hospital-Breaking-boundaries-in-cardiac-care.pdf

16/09/2022

“The New Era of Uniportal Robotic Surgery: An Interview with Diego Gonzalez Rivas” | Dr. Gonzalez Rivas describes how he combines uniportal VATS with robotic surgery in this insightful interview. He also explains the Xi surgical system and gives his most important tips for getting started with the technique.

http://ow.ly/zQSn50KKVh2

You can also head to CTSNet to watch his technique in action.

http://ow.ly/xwSG50KKVh1

03/09/2022

Very proud and privileged to initiate the first robotic cardiothoracic program in Africa. Congratulations to a fantastic team and thank you to Joel Dunning, Filip Casselman, Frank Van Praet and all other friends and colleagues for your much appreciated guidance and support. Our continent present many unique challenges, which we look forward to embrace and overcome to the benefit of our patients.

20/07/2022

What is the latest with the Tria valve? Drs. Steven Yakubov and Steven Duff describe this technology, which is designed to enhance durability and hemodynamic performance of aortic valve replacement. Read the details. https://bit.ly/3Pl74EQ

22/06/2022

“Uniportal Robotic Thoracic Surgery—A Surgeon's Initial Impressions” | Learn with Dr. Joel Dunning as he takes his first look at leading-edge uniportal thoracic robotic surgery. http://ow.ly/EtVv50JEaut

14/06/2022

“Mitral Valve Infective Endocarditis: Transareolar Endoscopic Complex Mitral Valve Repair” | This video demonstrates the feasibility of a completely endoscopic transareolar complex mitral valve reconstruction in the setting of infective endocarditis with late presentation. https://www.ctsnet.org/article/mitral-valve-infective-endocarditis-transareolar-endoscopic-complex-mitral-valve-repair

07/06/2022

Thoracic surgeon Joel Dunning's dream operating room has come true, complete with an intraoperative CT scanner called the Cios-Spin so he can mark nodules himself prior to robotic resection. What does your dream operating room look like, fellow cardiothoracic surgeons?
https://www.ctsnet.org/article/thoracic-surgeon%E2%80%99s-dream-operating-room-cios-spin-intraoperative-ct-scan-do-localization

19/04/2022

Mpiima is a musician and businessman from Kampala, Uganda.In 2011, he was diagnosed with rheumatic heart disease (RHD).This is his story.********************...

14/04/2022

Join the ATS Section on Genetics and Genomics on Tuesday, April 19 at 2pm ET for its next webinar on COVID-19 host genetics.

The following papers will be used as a precursor to an interactive discussion:
• Age-dependent impact of the major common genetic risk factor for COVID-19 on severity and mortality
• Mapping the human genetic architecture of COVID-19, by worldwide meta-analysis

Presenters:
• Tomoko Nakanishi, MD (McGill University)
• Mattia Cordioli (University of Helsinki)

Moderator: Dara G Torgerson, PhD, MSci, BSc (University of California San Francisco)

Panelists:
• Guillaume Butler-Laporte (McGill University)
• Victor E. Ortega, MD, PhD, ATSF (Mayo Clinic)
• Katie Steiling, MD, MSc (Boston University)

Register here: https://thoracic.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJckcO6qqTsjGN34Cf1suHFTbJFSnW7Gsj7H

05/04/2022

20 Years of TAVI! Our sincere congrats 👏 to Alain Cribier, CHU Rouen 🇫🇷 , who received the "Presidential Citation Award" 🏆 during . Prof Cribier performed the world’s first Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation on April 16, 2002. Read more about Alain Cribier here http://ow.ly/mfKe30sgwZJ

23/02/2022

Did you know that as many as 11 million people in the US have heart valve disease (HVD)? Today is the day—National Heart —to learn more. HVD disrupts blood flow through the heart’s valves by not opening or closing properly. This can lead to major complications, including death. Stay informed. http://bit.ly/2EDlKOx