Advanced Cardiac Training
Enhancing skills for cardiac surgeons through immersive Freestyle valve training.
Freestyle Aortic Root Replacement Bootcamp
This Bootcamp event, led by Dr. Tirone David, Dr. Neal Kon and Dr. Andy Kiser, will be held at the Atterbury Pittsburgh Hotel and the AHN Center for Surgical Arts. The invitation is limited to only 12 participants, so please register early and plan to attend.
Many surgeons find full-root replacement with a Freestyle prosthesis complex and have concerns about prolonged operative procedures and patient’s lifetime management. ACATI offers in-depth immersive experiences for cardiac surgeons to gain technical proficiency and intraoperative expertise for using the Freestyle valve. Through intimate didactic sessions with international aortic surgeon experts and a life-like simulation experience, we meet specific training objectives for the learner to confidently replace the aortic root with the Freestyle valve.
Medtronic’s Freestyle aortic valve, essentially a porcine aortic root, replaces a diseased human aortic root and valve. This stentless, biological xenograft mimics the natural aortic valve, providing excellent hemodynamics. The Freestyle aortic root is ideal for younger or active patients needing durability without the long-term blood thinners needed with mechanical valves. It offers advantages such as optimal transvalvular gradients, reduced patient-prosthesis mismatch, and ''off-the-shelf'' availability. In a series of 725 Freestyle patients, the respective 10- and 15-year freedom from valve-related death was 94.9%±1.5% and 92.7%±3.5%; freedom from reoperation was 92.3%±1.8% and 80.7%±5.0%; and freedom from explant owing to structural valve deterioration was 96.5%±1.3% and 83.3%±4.8%(1).
Enhance Your Surgical Skills with ACATI
ACATI offers immersive training for cardiac surgeons using advanced simulations.
- Interactive Learning Sessions
- Expert Aortic Surgeons
- Realistic Surgical Simulations
- Confidence in Aortic Procedures
- Specific Training Goals
- Networking Opportunities
- Hands-on Experience
- Comprehensive Curriculum
Immersive Agenda Tuesday, October 27, 2026 Arrive Pittsburgh Atterbury Marriot Hotel 107 6th Street Pittsburgh, PA 6:00 PM Dinner with the Experts Symphony A, Atterbury Hotel Introductions Andy Kiser, MD Anatomy of the Aortic Root Tirone David, MD Patient Selection/Criteria Andy Kiser, MD Challenges and Techniques of Aortic Root Replacement (Pseudo Aneurysm and Freestyle Explant Techniques) Tirone David, MD Advantages, Outcomes and Lifetime Management (VIV) for Freestyle in the Small Aortic Root Neal Kon, MD Questions and Answers with the Experts Drs. David, Kon, Kiser 8:30 PM Adjourn Wednesday, October 28, 2026 7:00 Breakfast Symphony A, Atterbury Hotel 7:30 Depart for AHN Clinical Research Center from the Lobby of the Atterbury Hotel 8:00 Hands-on Skills Lab Examination of the Freestyle Aortic Valve Dissection of the Porcine Aortic Root Implantation of the Freestyle into the Pig Aortic Root 2 surgeons/station Each surgeon: Liberates a coronary button Places ½ annular valve sutures Places ½ sewing cuff valve sutures Ties and CorKnots ½ the valve sutures Sews a coronary button onto the prosthesis from start to finish 10:00 Frozen Elephant Trunk – Tips and Techniques 11:00 Lunch and General Discussion 11:30 Hands-on Cadaver Lab 2 surgeons/station Each surgeon: Liberates a coronary button Places ½ annular valve sutures Places ½ sewing cuff valve sutures Ties and CorKnots ½ the valve sutures Sews a coronary button onto the prosthesis from start to finish 1:45 Innovation Session with Industry 2:30 Debrief and Discussion 3:00 Departure for Pittsburgh International Airport
Advanced Education for Surgeons
Upcoming events
Enhancing technical skills of cardiac surgeons.
October 27 & 28, 2026
Freestyle Full Root Bootcamp
This Bootcamp event, led by Dr. Tirone David, Dr. Neal Kon and Dr. Andy Kiser, will be held at the Renaissance Pittsburgh Hotel and the AHN Center for Surgical Arts.
August 18-20, 2027
Pittsburgh Heart Summit
A Collaborative Symposium on Cardiovascular Allainces