Sam Heuts

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 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.

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

  • 2026
    • Slegers, D. P. J., Bova, R., Heuts, S. F. M., Betti, M., Theunissen, R., Veenstra, L., Vainer, J., Ilhan, M., Ijsselmuiden, A. J. J., Rasoul, S., Vriesendorp, P. A., Van't Hof, A. W. J., Lux, A., & South Limburg Interventional Cardiology Group (2026). Diffuse coronary artery disease leads to deferral of both surgical and percutaneous coronary artery revascularisation. International Journal of Cardiology, 445, Article 134049. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcard.2025.134049
    • Swinnen, B., Gollman-Tepeköylü, C., & Heuts, S. (2026). Beyond biomarkers: the relevance of supporting evidence in the diagnosis of periprocedural myocardial infarction. European heart journal - Quality of care & clinical outcomes, 12(1), 119. Article qcaf111. https://doi.org/10.1093/ehjqcco/qcaf111
    • Aerts, L., Kawczynski, M. J., Luermans, J., Bidar, E., Linz, D., Kowalewski, M., Lorusso, R., Pison, L., La Meir, M., Maesen, B., & Heuts, S. (2026). Effectiveness of Catheter and Standalone Surgical Ablation Procedures for Atrial Fibrillation: A Bayesian-Network Meta-analysis. Canadian Journal of Cardiology, 42(1), 136-148. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cjca.2025.10.018
  • 2025
    • Heuts, S., Kawczynski, M. J., Lemmens, M. J., Vernooy, K., Bidar, E., Flohr, T., Wildberger, J. E., Smulders, M. W., & Mihl, C. (2025). Accuracy of Photon-counting Detector CT Angiography for the Diagnosis of Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease: A Bayesian Diagnostic Test Accuracy Meta-Analysis. Radiology. Cardiothoracic imaging, 7(6), Article e250313. https://doi.org/10.1148/ryct.250313
    • Heuts, S., van der Harst, P., Nodin, E., Frederiksen, J. G., Segers, P., Rosati, F., Bennett, J., Lux, A., Jacobs, S., Gianoli, M., Jakobsen, J. C., Carranza, C. L., & Oosterlinck, W. (2025). Combining Surgical and Percutaneous Revascularization for Multivessel Coronary Artery Disease: The Case for a Hybrid Approach. European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, 67(12), Article ezaf406. https://doi.org/10.1093/ejcts/ezaf406
    • Sartipy, U., Heuts, S., & James, S. K. (2025). Evidence for a Clinically Meaningful Effect of no-Touch Harvesting Technique on Vein Graft Patency-A Bayesian Reanalysis of the SWEDEGRAFT Trial. European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, 67(12), Article ezaf407. https://doi.org/10.1093/ejcts/ezaf407
    • Ko, K., Heuts, S., Tjon Joek Tjien, A., Sardari Nia, P., Maessen, J. G., Houterman, S., Singh, S. K., Boon, R., Tonino, P., Verberkmoes, N., Olsthoorn, J. R., & Cardiothoracic Surgery Registration Committee of the Netherlands Heart Registration (2025). Textbook Outcome in Mitral Valve Surgery-Results from the Netherlands Heart Registration. European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, 67(12), Article ezaf422. https://doi.org/10.1093/ejcts/ezaf422
    • Husen, T. F., Vidya, A. P., Heuts, S., Prasetyo, A., Nugroho, A. K. Z., Lorusso, R., Bidar, E., Maesen, B., & Sardari Nia, P. (2025). Comparative Study of Different Minimally Invasive Aortic Valve Replacement Techniques: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis. Interdisciplinary CardioVascular and Thoracic Surgery, 40(11), Article ivaf244. https://doi.org/10.1093/icvts/ivaf244
    • Pölzl, L., Kletzer, J., Lohmann, R., Sutter, C., Ioannou-Nikolaidou, M., Engler, C., Graber, M., Nägele, F., Hirsch, J., Heuts, S., Czerny, M., Reinstadler, S. J., Holfeld, J., Grimm, M., Fagu, A., Kreibich, M., Hartikainen, T., Bonaros, N., Berger, T., & Gollmann-Tepeköylü, C. (2025). Prognostic Implications of Preoperative hs-cTnT in Elective Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting. JACC: Advances, 4(11P1), Article 102180. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacadv.2025.102180
    • Husen, T. F., Genechten, S. V., Claessens, J., Packle, L., Heuts, S., Maessen, J. G., & Yilmaz, A. (2025). Y-Graft Versus In Situ Bilateral Internal Mammary Arteries in Endoscopic Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting. Innovations: Technology and Techniques in Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, 20(6), 547-554. https://doi.org/10.1177/15569845251377059
    • Heitzinger, G., Dreyfus, J., Dannenberg, V., Topilsky, Y., Benfari, G., Marsan, N. A., Taramasso, M., Russo, G., Bohbot, Y., Iliadis, C., Weber, M., Nombela-Franco, L., Eixeres-Esteve, A., Bazire, B., Iung, B., Obadia, J.-F., Loureiro, R. E., Riant, E., Donal, E., ... Et al. (2025). Left ventricular ejection fraction and benefit of tricuspid valve interventions - insights from the international TRIGISTRY. European journal of heart failure, 27(11), 2634-2643. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejhf.3797
    • Swinnen, B., Olsthoorn, J. R., Mihl, C., Smulders, M. W., Singh, S. K., van Brakel, T., van der Horst, I. C. C., Mingels, A. M. A., Myers, P. O., van 't Hof, A. W. J., Gorgels, A. P. M., Thielmann, M., De Caterina, R., Cerqueira, R. J., Bonaros, N., Oosterlinck, W., Jacobs, S., Lorusso, R., Bidar, E., ... Heuts, S. (2025). Periprocedural Myocardial Infarction After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: Current Clinical Practices and Future Perspectives. European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, 67(10), Article ezaf344. https://doi.org/10.1093/ejcts/ezaf344
    • Heuts, S., Kawczynski, M. J., Maesen, B., & Vriesendorp, P. A. (2025). When absence of evidence equates to evidence of absence: the case of routine use of cerebral embolic protection devices in transcatheter aortic valve implantation. Heart, 111(20), 947-951. https://doi.org/10.1136/heartjnl-2025-326208
    • Kawczynski, M. J., Barili, F., Brophy, J. M., De Caterina, R., Biondi Zoccai, G., Anselmi, A., Boden, W. E., Parolari, A., Heuts, S., & NTEGRITTY initiative (2025). Revascularisation strategies for non-acute myocardial ischaemic syndromes. Heart. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1136/heartjnl-2025-326101
    • Heuts, S., Gabrio, A., Bels, J., Mesotten, D., & Van De Poll, M. (2025). The authors reply. Critical Care Medicine, 53(9), e1857-e1858. https://doi.org/10.1097/CCM.0000000000006779
    • Swinnen, B., Kawczynski, M. J., Mingels, A. M. A., Wildberger, J. E., Mihl, C., Smulders, M. W., Maessen, J. G., Gollmann-Tepeköylü, C., & Heuts, S. (2025). The prognostic impact of prevailing definitions of periprocedural myocardial infarction in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. European heart journal - Quality of care & clinical outcomes, 11(6), 847-856. https://doi.org/10.1093/ehjqcco/qcaf043
    • Romeo, J. L., Vriesendorp, P. A., Gerritsen, K., Nader, M., Mahtab, E., Maessen, J. G., van 't Hof, A. W. J., Gollmann-Tepeköylü, C., van Rosmalen, F., van der Horst, I. C. C., Mingels, A. M. A., & Heuts, S. (2025). Modeling creatine-kinase MB concentrations following coronary artery bypass grafting. Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, 170(3), 752-760.e3. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcvs.2024.08.019
    • Pölzl, L., Lohmann, R., Theurl, F., Puelacher, C., Sterzinger, P., Eder, J., Sutter, C., Ioannou-Nikolaidou, M., Nägele, F., Hirsch, J., Graber, M., Engler, C., Heim, V., Schmidt, S., Kilo, J., Reinstadler, S. J., Ulmer, H., Heuts, S., Gudbjartsson, T., ... Gollmann-Tepeköylü, C. (2025). Prognostic Implications of Preoperative N-Terminal Pro-B-Type Natriuretic Peptide Dynamics in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery. JACC: Advances, 4(9), 102096. Article 102096. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacadv.2025.102096
    • 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. (2025). Large-scale computed tomography study of aortic arch and supra-aortic artery morphology: Variations and potential implications for arterial extracorporeal life support access. Perfusion. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/02676591251370074
    • Heuts, S., Swinnen, B., Oosterlinck, W., & Gollmann-Tepeköylü, C. (2025). Refining the diagnosis of periprocedural myocardial infarction after cardiac surgery: Time to embrace the EACTS algorithm?European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, 67(8), Article ezaf251. https://doi.org/10.1093/ejcts/ezaf251
    • Kawczynski, M. J., Gabrio, A., Maessen, J. G., van 't Hof, A. W. J., Brophy, J. M., Gollmann-Tepeköylü, C., Sardari Nia, P., Vriesendorp, P. A., & Heuts, S. (2025). Percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stents versus coronary bypass surgery for coronary artery disease: a Bayesian perspective. Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, 170(2), 558-565.e10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcvs.2024.08.017
    • Saraber, P., Bica, L., Reesink, K., Mees, B., Bidar, E., Schurger, L., & Heuts, S. (2025). The clinical relevance of the decelerating effect of angiotensin receptor blockers on aortic growth in Marfan patients; a Bayesian perspective. International Journal of Cardiology, 433, Article 133318. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcard.2025.133318
    • Schouteden, E., Heuts, S., Bels, J. L., Thiesen, S., van Gassel, R. J., Lee, Z.-Y., Stoppe, C., Beishuizen, A., De Bie Dekker, A., Fraipont, V., Lamote, S., Ledoux, D., Scheeren, C., De Waele, E., van Zanten, A., van Kuijk, S. M., van de Poll, M. C., Mesotten, D., Gabrio, A., & PRECISe study team (2025). The impact of high versus standard enteral protein provision on functional recovery following intensive care admission: A pre-planned Bayesian analysis of the PRECISe trial. Clinical Nutrition, 48, 153-160. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clnu.2025.03.022
    • Heuts, S., Kawczynski, M. J., Velders, B. J. J., Brophy, J. M., Hickey, G. L., & Kowalewski, M. (2025). Statistical primer: an introduction into the principles of Bayesian statistical analyses in clinical trials. European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, 67(4), Article ezaf139. https://doi.org/10.1093/ejcts/ezaf139
    • Heuts, S., Lee, Z. Y., Lew, C. C. H., Bels, J. L. M., Gabrio, A., Kawczynski, M. J., Heyland, D. K., Summers, M. J., Deane, A. M., Mesotten, D., Chapple, L. A. S., Stoppe, C., & van de Poll, M. C. G. (2025). Higher Versus Lower Protein Delivery in Critically Ill Patients: A Systematic Review and Bayesian Meta-Analysis. Critical Care Medicine, 53(3), e645-e655. https://doi.org/10.1097/CCM.0000000000006562
    • Lemmens, M.-J. D. K., Heuts, S., Bidar, E., Wildberger, J. E., Mihl, C., & Smulders, M. W. (2025). Integrating Coronary Artery Assessment and Myocardial Late Enhancement Imaging With Photon-Counting Detector CT: Visualizing the Invisible. Circulation-Cardiovascular Imaging, 18(3), e017238. Article e017238. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCIMAGING.124.017238
    • Hameed, I., Ahmed, A., Waldron, C., Algarate, P. T., Kawczynski, M., Fatima, M., Alhazmi, A., Colon, S., Brackett, A., Heuts, S., Nia, P. S., Gaudino, M., Badhwar, V., & Geirsson, A. (2025). Mitral Valve Repair: Optimal Annual Case Volume for Surgery. JACC: Advances, 4(3), 101589. Article 101589. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacadv.2025.101589
    • Kawczynski, M. J., Van Kuijk, S. M. J., Olsthoorn, J. R., Maessen, J. G., Kats, S., Bidar, E., & Heuts, S. (2025). The optimal annual case volume for acute type A aortic dissection surgery in relation to long-term outcomes. European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, 67(2), Article ezaf022. https://doi.org/10.1093/ejcts/ezaf022
    • Heuts, S., Kawczynski, M. J., Leus, A., Godinas, L., Belge, C., van Empel, V., Meyns, B., Maessen, J. G., Delcroix, M., & Verbelen, T. (2025). The volume-outcome relationship for pulmonary endarterectomy in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. European Respiratory Journal, 65(2), Article 2401865. https://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.01865-2024
    • van de Poll, M. C. G., & Heuts, S. (2025). Who put the "E" in CPR: Equity before extracorporeal?Resuscitation, 207, Article 110519. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resuscitation.2025.110519
    • Heuts, S., Kawczynski, M. J., Sayed, A., Urbut, S. M., Albuquerque, A. M., Mandrola, J. M., Kaul, S., Harrell, F. E., Gabrio, A., & Brophy, J. M. (2025). Bayesian Analytical Methods in Cardiovascular Clinical Trials: Why, When, and How. Canadian Journal of Cardiology, 41(1), 30-44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cjca.2024.11.002
    • Pölzl, L., Thielmann, M., Sterzinger, P., Nägele, F., Hirsch, J., Graber, M., Engler, C., Eder, J., Lohmann, R., Schmidt, S., Staggl, S., Heuts, S., Ulmer, H., Grimm, M., Ruttmann-Ulmer, E., Bonaros, N., Holfeld, J., & Gollmann-Tepeköylü, C. (2025). Sex-specific troponin and creatine kinase thresholds after coronary bypass surgery. Annals of Thoracic Surgery, 119(1), 120-128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.athoracsur.2024.06.019
  • 2024
    • Damhuis-Veen, C. S. B., Smit, R. B. J., Heuts, S. F. M., & Helle, R. (2024). Het vaststellen van de dood en doodsoorzaak. Nederlands Tijdschrift voor Geneeskunde, 168, Article D8270.
    • Dreyfus, J., Juarez-Casso, F., Sala, A., Carnero-Alcazar, M., Eixerés-Esteve, A., Bohbot, Y., Bazire, B., Flagiello, M., Riant, E., Mbaki, Y., Tomasi, J., Senage, T., Rahmouni El Idrissi, K., Coisne, A., Eyharts, D., Doguet, F., Viau, F., Eggenspieler, F., Heuts, S., ... TRIGISTRY investigators (2024). Benefit of isolated surgical valve repair or replacement for functional tricuspid regurgitation and long-term outcomes stratified by the TRI-SCORE. European Heart Journal, 45(42), 4512-4522. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehae578
    • Vriesendorp, P. A., Nanayakkara, S., Heuts, S., Ball, J., Chandrasekar, J., Dick, R., Haji, K., Htun, N. M., Mcgaw, D., Noaman, S., Palmer, S., Cairo, S., Shulman, M., Lin, E., Hastings, S., Waldron, B., Proimos, G., Soon, K. H., Yudi, M. B., ... Walton, A. S. (2024). Routine Protamine Administration for Bleeding in Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation: The ACE-PROTAVI Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Cardiology, 9(10), 901-908. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamacardio.2024.2454
    • Aerts, L., Kawczynski, M. J., Bidar, E., Luermans, J., Chaldoupi, M., La Meir, M., Kowaleski, M., Maessen, J. G., Heuts, S., & Maesen, B. (2024). Short- and long-term outcomes in isolated vs. hybrid thoracoscopic ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation: a systematic review and reconstructed individual patient data meta-analysis. EP Europace, 26(10), Article euae232. https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/euae232
    • Olsthoorn, J. R., Tjon Joek Tjien, A., Heuts, S., Bouwmeester, S., Houterman, S., Roefs, M. M., Koene, B., Singh, S., Boon, R., Tonino, P., Verberkmoes, N., & Cardiothoracic Surgery And Pacemaker/ICD Registration Committees Of The Netherlands Heart Registration (2024). Permanent pacemaker implantation after combined mitral- and tricuspid valve surgery-a nationwide multicentre study. European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, 66(4), Article ezae328. https://doi.org/10.1093/ejcts/ezae328
    • Heuts, S., & Vriesendorp, P. A. (2024). The incidence and consequent relevance of unplanned invasive coronary angiography following coronary artery bypass grafting. Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, 168(4), e101-e102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcvs.2023.09.070
    • Daemen, J. H. T., Cortenraad, I., Kawczynski, M. J., van Roozendaal, L. M., Hulsewé, K. W. E., Vissers, Y. L. J., Heuts, S., & de Loos, E. R. (2024). Defining the optimal annual institutional case volume for minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum through a systematic review of literature and meta-analysis of outcomes. Journal of Thoracic Disease, 16(9), 6081-6093. https://doi.org/10.21037/jtd-24-690
    • Claessens, J., Packlé, L., Oosterbos, H., Smeets, E., Geens, J., Gielen, J., Van Genechten, S., Heuts, S., Maessen, J. G., & Yilmaz, A. (2024). Totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass grafting: experience in 1500 patients. Interdisciplinary CardioVascular and Thoracic Surgery, 39(3), Article ivae159. https://doi.org/10.1093/icvts/ivae159
    • Heuts, S., Bova, R., Romeo, J. L. R., Vriesendorp, P. A., Van Der Horst, I. C. C., Segers, P., Maessen, J. G., Gollman-Tepeköylü, C., Van 't Hof, A. W. J., Bidar, E., & Lux, A. (2024). The prognostic impact of unplanned invasive coronary angiography following coronary artery bypass grafting. European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, 66(2), Article ezae304. https://doi.org/10.1093/ejcts/ezae304
    • Welman, M. J. M., Streukens, S. A. F., Mephtah, A., Hoebers, L. P., Vainer, J., Theunissen, R., Heuts, S., Maessen, J. G., Segers, P., Vernooy, K., van 't Hof, A. W. J., Sardari Nia, P., & Vriesendorp, P. A. (2024). Outcomes of Mitral Valve Regurgitation Management after Expert Multidisciplinary Valve Team Evaluation. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 13(15), Article 4487. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13154487
    • Heuts, S., Ubben, J. F. H., Kawczynski, M. J., Gabrio, A., Suverein, M. M., Delnoij, T. S. R., Kavalkova, P., Rob, D., Komárek, A., van der Horst, I. C. C., Maessen, J. G., Yannopoulos, D., Belohlávek, J., Lorusso, R., & van de Poll, M. C. G. (2024). Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation versus standard treatment for refractory out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: a Bayesian meta-analysis. Critical Care, 28(1), Article 217. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13054-024-05008-9
    • Ubben, J. F. H., Heuts, S., Delnoij, T. S. R., Suverein, M. M., Hermanides, R. C., Otterspoor, L. C., Kraemer, C. V. E., Vlaar, A. P. J., van der Heijden, J. J., Scholten, E., den Uil, C., Dos Reis Miranda, D., Akin, S., de Metz, J., van der Horst, I. C. C., Winkens, B., Maessen, J. G., Lorusso, R., & van de Poll, M. C. G. (2024). Favorable resuscitation characteristics in patients undergoing extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation: A secondary analysis of the INCEPTION-trial. Resuscitation Plus, 18, Article 100657. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resplu.2024.100657
    • Heuts, S., Olsthoorn, J. R., Houterman, S., Roefs, M. M., Maessen, J. G., Sardari Nia, P., & Cardiothoracic Surgery Registration Committee of the Netherlands Heart Registration (2024). One-year postprocedural quality of life following mitral valve surgery: data from The Netherlands heart registration. Interdisciplinary CardioVascular and Thoracic Surgery, 38(4), Article ivae051. https://doi.org/10.1093/icvts/ivae051
    • Heuts, S., Myers, P. O., & Siepe, M. (2024). Letter by Heuts et al Regarding Article, "Fractional Flow Reserve-Guided PCI or Coronary Bypass Surgery for 3-Vessel Coronary Artery Disease: 3-Year Follow-Up of the FAME 3 Trial". Circulation, 149(11), 892-893. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.123.066934
    • Heuts, S., de Heer, P., Gabrio, A., Bels, J. L. M., Lee, Z. Y., Stoppe, C., van Kuijk, S., Beishuizen, A., de Bie-Dekker, A., Fraipont, V., Lamote, S., Ledoux, D., Scheeren, C., De Waele, E., van Zanten, A., Mesotten, D., van de Poll, M. C. G., & PRECISe investigators (2024). The impact of high versus standard enteral protein provision on functional recovery following intensive care admission: Protocol for a pre-planned secondary Bayesian analysis of the PRECISe trial. Clinical Nutrition ESPEN, 59, 162-170. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clnesp.2023.10.040
    • Heuts, S., van de Koolwijk, A. F., Gabrio, A., Ubben, J. F. H., van der Horst, I. C. C., Delnoij, T. S. R., Suverein, M. M., Maessen, J. G., Lorusso, R., & van de Poll, M. C. G. (2024). Extracorporeal life support in cardiac arrest: a post hoc Bayesian re-analysis of the INCEPTION trial. European Heart Journal: Acute Cardiovascular Care, 13(2), 191-200. Article zuad130. https://doi.org/10.1093/ehjacc/zuad130