2026 Cardiac Thoracic Vascular and Perfusion (CTVP) SIG meeting

Welcome

Another great event brought to you by ACE – a tripartite collaboration of ANZCA, ASA and NZSA. 

We are delighted to invite you to “Cardiac on the Coast”, hosted by the Cardiac Thoracic Vascular and Perfusion (CTVP) Special Interest Group (SIG) at the Hilton Hotel, Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast, on Friday 30th and Saturday 31st October 2026.

After the tremendous success of our recent combined 3SCTS meeting last November in Sydney, we are returning to our core focus of cardiothoracic and vascular anaesthesia. This event will highlight local talent, foster engaging discussions, and offer an inclusive and open forum for sharing experiences, knowledge, and techniques.

The workshop program will take place on the afternoon of Friday, 30th October, followed by the main program on Saturday, 31st October. Sessions will feature the latest developments in cardiothoracic and vascular anaesthesia, echocardiography, and mechanical circulatory support.

We look forward to welcoming you to the Gold Coast.

Dr Jo Irons, Dr Ann Ngui and Dr Rachel Bourke
Co-convenors
2026 CTVP SIG Meeting

Venue

Hilton Surfers Paradise
6 Orchid Avenue, Surfers Paradise, Queensland 4217

Conveniently located in the heart of the city, between Orchid Avenue and Surfers Paradise Boulevard, the Hilton Surfers Paradise puts all the Gold Coast’s famous features right at your fingertips. With the iconic Surfers Paradise Beach within 2-minutes’ walk and unsurpassed accommodation options to suit any traveller, we invite you to play, relax, explore and create new memories with us.

Hilton Surfers Paradise is located approximately 40 minutes’ drive from Gold Coast Airport.

Accommodation

We are pleased to advise an exclusive discounted accommodation rate is available at the Hilton Surfers Paradise for delegates attending the 2026 CTVP SIG Meeting

Hilton Surfers Paradise
6 Orchid Avenue, Surfers Paradise, Queensland 4217

Soak up everything the Gold Coast has to offer from your own balcony with partial ocean views. Enjoy a great nights’ sleep in a king size Hilton Serenity bed, down pillows and crisp linens. Each room features a 55‐inch LED Smart TV, high‐speed wireless internet access with Crabtree & Evelyn amenities.

Deluxe Room 

• Friday 30 October | A$299 incl GST per night (room only)
• Saturday 31 October | A$344 incl GST per night (room only)
• 15% off the best available flexible rate of the day.

Discount applies to:

• Conference shoulder dates: 28 October – 5 November
• Higher room categories or residences.

Check‐in time: 3.00pm
Check‐out time: 11.00am

Book accommodation here. 
Group code: GANZCA

Please note:

• Rates listed are not guaranteed and are subject to availability at the time of booking. 
• A credit card will be required at the time of booking to secure the reservation.
• For cancellations, terms and conditions, please refer to information listed on the hotel website at the time of booking. 

Registration

Registrations for the 2026 CTVP SIG Meeting are now open. Please click here to register. 

Your registration will include all refreshment breaks and plenary sessions on Saturday and a ticket to the welcome reception on Friday. Workshops are at an additional cost.

All registration fees are quoted in Australian dollars and are inclusive of GST.

Workshops

The following workshops are taking place on Friday 30 October 2026.

Cardio advanced life support (CALS) workshop
(W01 and W04)
Time: 1-3pm AND 3.30-5.30pm
Max participants: 12 pax per workshop
Facilitator: Dr Adrian Levine

Overview
A 2-hour workshop designed for participants who already work in the cardiac surgical field, suitable for surgeons, anaesthetists and nurses. This is an abbreviated version for the internationally recognised protocol for managing cardiac arrest in patients post cardiac surgery. CALS addresses the unique challenges in these situations including early chest reopening and temporary pacing. This workshop will involve a combination of didactic teaching and simulation of scenarios.

Transoesophageal Echocardiography (TOE) workshop - 3D quantification 
(W02)
Time: 1-3pm
Max participants: 16pax per workshop
Facilitator: Dr Nathan So 

Overview
A hands-on, station-based workshop on the practical "knobology" of intraoperative echo. Rather than lectures, you will work directly on the machine in small groups and rotate through skill stations, building a repeatable, systematic technique you can take straight back to theatre.  

Cases frame why the measurements matter e.g. low flow low gradient aortic stenosis during CABG — a scenario where a single 2D number gives the wrong answer and changes whether the patient gets surgery. Each station has a phone-based knobology guide so delegates can self-pace and revisit afterwards.

Four stations covering the high-yield quantification skills, worked directly on the cart:

Who it's for? Cardiac anaesthetists and trainees looking to improve their diagnostic abilities around borderline cases and to understand the data available with new quantification techniques. 

Transoesophageal Echocardiography (TOE) workshop - Image acquisition 
(W05)
Time: 3.30-5.30pm
Max participants: 12pax per workshop
Facilitator: Dr Nathan So

Overview
A hands-on, station-based workshop on the practical "knobology" of intraoperative echo. Rather than lectures, you will work directly on the machine in small groups and rotate through skill stations, building a repeatable, systematic technique you can take straight back to theatre. 

Live-scanning practice on the GE Pioneer + simuPULSE full beating heart simulator — building the probe-handling and view-acquisition technique that the quantification work depends on. Multiple stations cover the key acquisition targets - mitral valve and tricuspid valve. Groups of four work each station through a defined role rotation. 

Perfusion simulation workshop 
(W03 and W06)
Time: 1-3pm AND 3.30-5.30pm
Max participants: 6 pax per workshop 

Overview
This 2-hour hands-on cardiopulmonary perfusion workshop is an interactive workshop that explores the recognition, prevention and management of critical perfusion-related events and emergencies through simulated practice, practical strategies, discussion and feedback.

Social activities

Welcome Reception
Join us on Friday evening for canapés and drinks as we officially open the meeting. Take the opportunity to connect and network with colleagues and friends.

Date: Friday 30 October 2026
Time: 5.30–7.30pm
Location: Hilton Surfers Paradise
Cost: Complimentary for registered delegates
Guest ticket: A$100

Continuing professional development (CPD)

Participants in the ANZCA and FPM CPD program will automatically have their attendance auto-populated to their CPD portfolio within a month of the conclusion of the meeting.

ANZCA and FPM CPD program
This event is claimable by ANZCA and FPM CPD participants within the knowledge and skills category.

Category 2: Knowledge and skills

• Lectures/plenary sessions under ‘Learning sessions’.
• Workshops under ‘Short format learning’ activity.

Category 3: Emergency responses

• Where the workshop states that it satisfies an Emergency response CPD requirement, it has been recognised as suitable to be claimed as an emergency response activity, such as the ‘Cardio advanced life support (CALS)’ workshop.

If you're not a member of our CPD program
If you’re not participating in the ANZCA and FPM CPD program, please check with your respective college/provider regarding your CPD classifications. Post-event, you may request an electronic certificate of attendance for CPD evidence from the event organiser.

Sponsorship

If you wish to be an exhibitor at the 2026 CTVP SIG meeting, please view the HCI prospectus and complete the application form.

To see the sponsorship opportunities for all our events, please click here.

Contact us

For further information, please contact us.