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Catheter treatment is not only effective, but also cost-effective for ischemic stroke

Catheter treatment is not only effective, but also cost-effective for ischemic stroke

29 September 2026

With ischemic stroke, every minute counts. However, many patients do not seek hospital care until it is too late, for example, because symptoms are not immediately recognized or because people wake up with signs of neurological deficits. As a result, a group of patients is no longer eligible for catheter treatment. 

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Platelets: more than a band-aid

Platelets: more than a band-aid

23 September 2026

Some processes in our body might seem obvious to us. If you cut your finger, the bleeding will stop shortly and form a scab. Behind that seemingly simple process hides a sophisticated system of platelets and clotting factors. By now, we know that platelets do much more than halt bleeding: they function as information carriers and regulators of disease processes. 

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Carim Maastricht
Carim Maastricht

Sam Heuts

Assistant Professor

Sam studied medicine at Maastricht University, after which he pursued a PhD at the department of Cardiothoracic Surgery in preoperative planning of surgical procedures.  He gained a special interest in coronary surgery, imaging, and periprocedural myocardial injury. In line of this work, he received a Dekker grant (Dutch Heart Foundation, Clinical Scientist) in 2023.

Sam is cardiothoracic surgeon and is the principal investigator of the PRIMARY trial (Dekker grant, Dutch Heart Foundation), evaluating the extent and impact of periprocedural myocardial injury. Also, together with colleagues, he developed a new method for the evaluation of the association between surgical volume and clinical outcomes, and he takes a special interest in Bayesian statistical inference.

Carim sam heuts dscf5393 kopie final

Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery
P. Debeyeplein 25, 6229 HX Maastricht
P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht

  • 2026
    • Coveliers, J., Meani, P., Huizinga, E., Gutta, K., Piccirillo, G., Gasparotti, E., Vignali, E., Mazzoli, M., Kowalewski, M., Huberts, W., Moradi, H., Di Mauro, M., Holtackers, R. J., de Jong, M., Gelsomino, S., Paparella, D., Celi, S., Haxhiademi, D., Körver, E., ... Lorusso, R. (2026). Large-scale computed tomography study of aortic arch and supra-aortic artery morphology: Variations and potential implications for arterial extracorporeal life support access. Perfusion, 41(6), 1055-1064. https://doi.org/10.1177/02676591251370074
    • Bianchi, G., Perazzo, A., Mariani, S., van Bussel, B. C. T., Di Mauro, M., Wiedemann, D., Saeed, D., Pozzi, M., Botta, L., Boeken, U., Samalavicius, R., Bounader, K., Hou, X., Bunge, J. J. H., Buscher, H., Salazar, L., Meyns, B., Mazzeffi, M. A., Matteucci, S., ... PELS-1 Investigators (2026). Extracorporeal Life Support for Post-Cardiotomy Acute Right Ventricular Failure: A Retrospective Observational Multicenter Study. Annals of Thoracic Surgery, 122(2), 462-472. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.athoracsur.2026.02.033
    • Heuts, S., de Keijzer, A. R., Adriaans, B. P., Notenboom, M. L., Mihl, C., Wildberger, J. E., Vos, R. J., Post, M. C., Rylski, B., Czerny, M., Reesink, K. D., Takkenberg, J. J. M., Veen, K. M., Arabkhani, B., Schalla, S. S., Schurgers, L. J., Lorusso, R., Hjortnaes, J., & Bidar, E. (2026). Rethinking Aortic Risk: The Potential Impact of Novel, Adjusted, and Combined Aortic Measures in the Prediction of Aortic Dissection. The Canadian journal of cardiology, 42(7), 1686-1696. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cjca.2026.01.023
    • Lotfalla, A., Heuts, S., Schreurs, R., Maessen, J. G., Schurgers, L., Korver, E., Verheule, S., Lorusso, R., Jacobs, M., & Bidar, E. (2026). A Comprehensive Total Body Perfusion Strategy vs Conventional Techniques in Elective Aortic Arch Surgery: A Comparative Analysis. Interdisciplinary CardioVascular and Thoracic Surgery, 41(6), Article ivag145. https://doi.org/10.1093/icvts/ivag145
    • Vossen, L. M., de Leeuw, P. W., Schurgers, L. J., Heuts, S., Adriaans, B. P., de Haan, C., van Varik, B. J., & Kroon, A. A. (2026). Two Years of Menaquinone-7 Supplementation and Coronary Artery Calcification A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Cardiology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamacardio.2026.1279
    • Govers, P. J., Kawczynski, M. J., Heuts, S., Veen, K. M., de Kerchove, L., Lansac, E., Demers, P., Verbrugghe, P., Rudez, I., Laubriet, A., Vojacek, J., Bidar, E., Takkenberg, J., Kluin, J., Arabkhani, B., & Aortic Valve Research Network Investigators (2026). Valve-sparing Aortic Root Replacement: Defining High-volume Centres Using Prospective Data. European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, 68(6), Article ezag177. https://doi.org/10.1093/ejcts/ezag177
    • Aerts, L., Gruwez, H., de Wever, M., Ezzat, D., Heuts, S., Luermans, J. G. L. M., Chaldoupi, S. M., Maessen, J. G., Lorusso, R., Gutermann, H., Pison, L., & Maesen, B. (2026). 1- and 2-stage hybrid atrial fibrillation ablation using a biparietal irrigated radiofrequency clamp: A dual-center cohort analysis. Heart Rhythm O2, 7(6), 1067-1076. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hroo.2026.03.014
    • Denessen, E. J. S., Swinnen, B., Lamers, S. K., Delnoij, T. S. R., van Doorn, W. P. T. M., Bekers, O., Segers, P., Maessen, J. G., van der Horst, I. C. C., Heuts, S., & Mingels, A. M. A. (2026). Cardiac Biomarker Kinetics in Patients after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting with an Uncomplicated Course. Clinical Chemistry, 72(6), 692-702. Article hvag012. https://doi.org/10.1093/clinchem/hvag012
    • Heuts, S., Pustjens, T. F. S., Lux, Á., Gabrio, A., van 't Hof, A. W. J., Rasoul, S., & SLIM trial investigators (2026). Probabilities of treatment effects in complete or culprit-only revascularization for NSTEMI: a Bayesian re-analysis of the SLIM trial. American heart journal, 296, Article 107369. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ahj.2026.107369
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