Dear colleagues and friends,

After the success and good acceptance of the previous course, we have organized the fifth edition of the "International Course on Mechanical Circulatory Support" with great enthusiasm and while we have introduced novelties we have aimed to keep the same spirit of previous editions.

The basic objective of the course is to disseminate and exchange the latest and most advanced knowledge on the indications, management and results of mechanical circulatory support systems, with special emphasis on long-term devices, as this area is particularly less developed in our country.

To attain these objectives we will count with the participation of some of the most prestigious national and international experts.

The course is not only directed to cardiac surgeons and cardiologists, but also to any other medical professional such as anaesthesiologists, intensivists and registered nurses who are involved or interested in the management of patients who require this type of support.

The course offers continuing medical education and accreditation and as usual we will have the support of related Working Groups of the Spanish Societies of Thoracic- Cardiovascular Surgery, the Spanish Society of Cardiology and Catalan Society for Cardiac Surgery.

We hope you can join us and participate in the course as well as visit Barcelona.
Yours sincerely,

Dr. Albert Miralles. Cardiac Surgery Department
Dr. José González-Costello. Cardiology Department
Dr. Nicolás Manito. Cardiology Department
Dr. Angel Cequier. Director of the Heart Diseases Institute