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Prizes Radiology Days Bob Knapen

Prizes Radiology Days Bob Knapen

9 June 2026

Dr Bob Knapen won 2nd place in the Frederik Philips Prize 2026 and the Audience Award for his innovative stroke research.

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Aneurysm-NL Young Talent Research Grant Pepijn Saraber

Aneurysm-NL Young Talent Research Grant Pepijn Saraber

22 May 2026

Pepijn Saraber (Dept of Biomedical Engineering) has received the Aneurysm-NL Young Talent Research Grant for the project ‘VSMC Biology in Aortic Aneurysm Disease: Embryological Diversity as a Determinant of Dissection and Rupture Risk’

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Carim Maastricht
Carim Maastricht

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.

Carim sam heuts dscf5393 kopie final

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

  • 2022
    • Heuts, S., van der Horst, I. C. C., & Mingels, A. (2022). Towards an improved definition of periprocedural myocardial infarction: The role of high-sensitivity cardiac troponins. Journal of Cardiac Surgery, 37(1), 162-164. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocs.16107
    • Laven, I. E. W. G., Daemen, J. H. T., Jansen, Y. J. L., Janssen, N., Franssen, A. J. P. M., Heuts, S., Maessen, J. G., van den Broek, F. J. C., Hulsewe, K. W. E., Vissers, Y. L. J., & de Loos, E. R. (2022). Thoracic surgery in the Netherlands. Journal of Thoracic Disease, 14(10), 4173-4186. https://doi.org/10.21037/jtd-22-482
  • 2021
    • Adriaans, B. P., Ramaekers, M. J. F. G., Heuts, S., Crijns, H. J. G. M., Bekkers, S. C. A. M., Westenberg, J. J. M., Lamb, H. J., Wildberger, J. E., & Schalla, S. (2021). Determining the optimal interval for imaging surveillance of ascending aortic aneurysms. Netherlands Heart Journal, 29(12), 623-631. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12471-021-01564-9
    • Segers, P., Hendriks, B. M. F., & Heuts, S. (2021). Deep Venous Thrombosis With Symptomatic Bilateral Pulmonary Embolism After Using an Infrapatellar Strap for Patellofemoral Pain in an Athletic Cardiothoracic Surgeon. Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine, 31(6), E509-E511. https://doi.org/10.1097/JSM.0000000000000859
    • Makhoul, M., Heuts, S., Mansouri, A., Taccone, F. S., Obeid, A., Mirko, B., Broman, L. M., Malfertheiner, M. V., Meani, P., Raffa, G. M., Delnoij, T., Maessen, J., Bolotin, G., & Lorusso, R. (2021). Understanding the "extracorporeal membrane oxygenation gap" in veno-arterial configuration for adult patients: Timing and causes of death. Artificial Organs, 45(10), 1155-1167. https://doi.org/10.1111/aor.14006
    • Heuts, S., & Nia, P. S. (2021). Periprocedural myocardial infarction: a web of definitions. European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, 60(3), 443-447. https://doi.org/10.1093/ejcts/ezab306
    • Heuts, S., Ubben, J. F., Banks-Gonzales, V., Sels, J.-W., Lorusso, R., van Mook, W. N. K. A., & Delnoij, T. S. R. (2021). Nitric Oxide Ventilation Improves Recirculation and Right Ventricular Function During Veno-Venous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in a COVID-19 Patient. Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia, 35(9), 2763-2767. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.jvca.2020.09.137
    • Olsthoorn, J. R., Daemen, J. H. T., de Loos, E. R., Ter Woorst, J. F., van Straten, A. H. M., Maessen, J. G., Sardari Nia, P., & Heuts, S. (2021). Right Anterolateral Thoracotomy Versus Sternotomy for Resection of Benign Atrial Masses: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Innovations: Technology and Techniques in Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, 16(5), 426-433. Article 15569845211032230. https://doi.org/10.1177/15569845211032230
    • Nia, P. S., Olsthoorn, J. R., Heuts, S., van Kuijk, S. M. J., Vainer, J., Streukens, S., Schalla, S., Segers, P., Barenbrug, P., Crijns, H. J. G. M., & Maessen, J. G. (2021). Effect of a dedicated mitral heart team compared to a general heart team on survival: a retrospective, comparative, non-randomized interventional cohort study based on prospectively registered data. European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, 60(2), 263-273. https://doi.org/10.1093/ejcts/ezab065
    • Heuts, S., H Heijmans, J., La Meir, M., & Maesen, B. (2021). Does Left Atrial Appendage Exclusion by an Epicardial Clipinfluence Left Atrial Hemodynamics? Pilot Results of Invasive Intra-Cardiac Measurements. Journal of Atrial Fibrillation, 14(1), Article 20200479. https://doi.org/10.4022/jafib.20200479
    • Willers, A., Swol, J., Kowalewski, M., Raffa, G. M., Meani, P., Jiritano, F., Matteucci, M., Fina, D., Heuts, S., Bidar, E., Natour, E., Sels, J. W., Delnoij, T., & Lorusso, R. (2021). Extracorporeal Life Support in Hemorrhagic Conditions: A Systematic Review. Asaio Journal, 67(5), 476-484. https://doi.org/10.1097/mat.0000000000001216
    • Kowalewski, M., Zielinski, K., Gozdek, M., Raffa, G. M., Pilato, M., Alanazi, M., Gilbers, M., Heuts, S., Natour, E., Bidar, E., Schreurs, R., Delnoij, T., Driessen, R., Sels, J. W., van de Poll, M., Roekaerts, P., Pasierski, M., Meani, P., Maessen, J., ... Lorusso, R. (2021). Veno-Arterial Extracorporeal Life Support in Heart Transplant and Ventricle Assist Device Centres. Meta-analysis. Esc heart failure, 8(2), 1064-1075. https://doi.org/10.1002/ehf2.13080
    • Cerqueira, R. J., Heuts, S., Gollmann-Tepekoylu, C., Syrjala, S. O., Keijzers, M., Zientara, A., Jarral, O. A., Jacob, K. A., Haunschild, J., Ariyaratnam, P., Durko, A. P., Muller, P., Myers, P. O., Sadaba, J. R., & Lehtinen, M. L. (2021). Challenges and satisfaction in Cardiothoracic Surgery Residency Programmes: insights from a Europe-wide survey. Interactive Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, 32(2), 167-173. https://doi.org/10.1093/icvts/ivaa248
  • 2020
    • Heuts, S., Sprooten, R. T. M., Heines, S. J. H., & Mees, B. M. E. (2020). Mechanical ventilation variability due to tracheal compression in a patient with a mycotic descending aortic aneurysm: an inverse correlation with blood pressure. European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, 58(4), 864-866. https://doi.org/10.1093/ejcts/ezaa126
    • Chaldoupi, S.-M., Heuts, S., Vainer, J., & Maesen, B. (2020). Surgical Options to Tackle Coronary Artery Kinking in Thoracoscopic Left Atrial Appendage Clipping. Annals of Thoracic Surgery, 110(2), E119-E121. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.athoracsur.2019.12.039
    • Heuts, S., Adriaans, B. P., Rylski, B., Mihl, C., Bekkers, S. C. A. M., Olsthoorn, J. R., Natour, E., Bouman, H., Berezowski, M., Kosiorowska, K., Crijns, H. J. G. M., Maessen, J. G., Wildberger, J., Schalla, S., & Sardari Nia, P. (2020). Evaluating the diagnostic accuracy of maximal aortic diameter, length and volume for prediction of aortic dissection. Heart, 106(12), 892-897. https://doi.org/10.1136/heartjnl-2019-316251
    • Sardari Nia, P., Heuts, S., Daemen, J. H. T., Olsthoorn, J. R., Chitwood, W. R., & Maessen, J. G. (2020). The EACTS simulation-based training course for endoscopic mitral valve repair: an air-pilot training concept in action. Interactive Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, 30(5), 691-698. https://doi.org/10.1093/icvts/ivz323
    • Kowalewski, M., Raffa, G., Zielinski, K., Meani, P., Alanazi, M., Gilbers, M., Heuts, S., Natour, E., Bidar, E., Schreurs, R., Delnoij, T., Driessen, R., Sels, J. W., van de Poll, M., Roekaerts, P., Maessen, J., Suwalski, P., & Lorusso, R. (2020). Baseline surgical status and short-term mortality after extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for post-cardiotomy shock: a meta-analysis. Perfusion, 35(3), 246-254. Article 0267659119865122. https://doi.org/10.1177/0267659119865122
    • Lorusso, R., Raffa, G. M., Heuts, S., Lo Coco, V., Meani, P., Natour, E., Bidar, E., Delnoij, T., & Loforte, A. (2020). Pulmonary artery cannulation to enhance extracorporeal membrane oxygenation management in acute cardiac failure. Interactive Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, 30(2), 215-222. https://doi.org/10.1093/icvts/ivz245
    • Olsthoorn, J. R., Heuts, S., Maessen, J. G., & Sardari Nia, P. (2020). Reply to Kim and Choi. European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, 57(2), 409. https://doi.org/10.1093/ejcts/ezz154
    • Kowalewski, M., Raffa, G. M., Zielinski, K., Alanazi, M., Gilbers, M., Heuts, S., Natour, E., Bidar, E., Schreurs, R., Delnoij, T., Driessen, R., Sels, J.-W., van de Poll, M., Roekaerts, P., Meani, P., Maessen, J., Suwalski, P., & Lorusso, R. (2020). The impact of Centre's heart transplant status and volume on in-hospital outcomes following extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for refractory post-cardiotomy cardiogenic shock: a meta-analysis. BMC Cardiovascular disorders, 20(1), Article 10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12872-019-01317-y
  • 2019
    • Heuts, S., al Khoury, F., & Sardari Nia, P. (2019). Lighthearted: Pneumopericardium after mitral valve repair. Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, 158(5), E169-E170. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcvs.2018.08.105
    • Heuts, S., Wind, T. J., Kuiper, M. A., Duijst-Heester, W. L. J. M., & Van Mook, W. N. K. A. (2019). Hoe stelt een arts de dood vast?Nederlands Tijdschrift voor Geneeskunde, 163(41), Article D3999.
    • van der Linden, M., Heuts, S., Veenstra, L., & Lorusso, R. (2019). Intraoperative, open-heart coronary angiography in severe acute aortic valve endocarditis. European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, 56(2), 415-417. https://doi.org/10.1093/ejcts/ezy434
    • Heuts, S., van mook, W. N. K. A., Belgers, E. J., & Lorusso, R. (2019). Iatrogenic cardiac tamponade after laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair requiring emergency sternotomy. European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, 56(1), 215. https://doi.org/10.1093/ejcts/ezy433
    • Matteucci, M., Fina, D., Jiritano, F., Meani, P., Blankesteijn, W. M., Raffa, G. M., Kowaleski, M., Heuts, S., Beghi, C., Maessen, J., & Lorusso, R. (2019). Treatment strategies for post-infarction left ventricular free-wall rupture. European Heart Journal: Acute Cardiovascular Care, 8(4), 379-387. https://doi.org/10.1177/2048872619840876
    • Heuts, S., Olsthoorn, J. R., Hermans, S. M. M., Streukens, S. A. F., Vainer, J., Cheriex, E. C., Segers, P., Maessen, J. G., & Sardari Nia, P. (2019). Multidisciplinary decision-making in mitral valve disease: the mitral valve heart team. Netherlands Heart Journal, 27(4), 176-184. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12471-019-1238-1
    • Lorusso, R., Bidar, E., Natour, E., & Heuts, S. (2019). Minimally invasive management of central ECMO after ascending aortic surgery. Journal of Cardiac Surgery, 34(3), 131-133. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocs.13974
    • Daemen, J. H. T., Heuts, S., Olsthoorn, J. R., Maessen, J. G., & Sardari Nia, P. (2019). Mitral valve modelling and three-dimensional printing for planning and simulation of mitral valve repair. European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, 55(3), 543-551. https://doi.org/10.1093/ejcts/ezy306
    • Olsthoorn, J. R., Heuts, S., Streukens, S. A. F., Hermans, S. M. M., Maessen, J. G., & Sardari Nia, P. (2019). Unexpected prolapse of the anterior leaflet during saline testing in mitral valve repair. European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, 55(3), 552-558. https://doi.org/10.1093/ejcts/ezy317
    • Sardari Nia, P., Olsthoorn, J. R., Heuts, S., & Maessen, J. G. (2019). Interactive 3D Reconstruction of Pulmonary Anatomy for Preoperative Planning, Virtual Simulation, and Intraoperative Guiding in Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Lung Surgery. Innovations: Technology and Techniques in Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, 14(1), 17-26. https://doi.org/10.1177/1556984519826321
    • Heuts, S., Kawczynski, M., Olsthoorn, J. R., & Sardari Nia, P. (2019). Late rupture of transapically beating heart implanted neochords. Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, 157(2), E27-E29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcvs.2018.07.106
    • Meani, P., Matteucci, M., Jiritano, F., Fina, D., Panzeri, F., Raffa, G. M., Kowalewski, M., Morici, N., Viola, G., Sacco, A., Oliva, F., Alyousif, A., Heuts, S., Gilbers, M., Schreurs, R., Maessen, J., & Lorusso, R. (2019). Long-term survival and major outcomes in post-cardiotomy extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for adult patients in cardiogenic shock. Annals of Cardiothoracic Surgery, 8(1), 116-122. https://doi.org/10.21037/acs.2018.12.04
    • Meani, P., Delnoij, T., Raffa, G. M., Morici, N., Viola, G., Sacco, A., Oliva, F., Heuts, S., Sels, J.-W., Driessen, R., Roekaerts, P., Gilbers, M., Bidar, E., Schreurs, R., Natour, E., Veenstra, L., Kats, S., Maessen, J., & Lorusso, R. (2019). Protracted aortic valve closure during peripheral veno-arterial extracorporeal life support: is intra-aortic balloon pump an effective solution?Perfusion, 34(1), 35-41. https://doi.org/10.1177/0267659118787426
    • Heuts, S., Wind, J., Kuiper, M., & Duijst, W. (2019). Hoe stelt u de dood vast?Nederlands Tijdschrift voor Geneeskunde, 2019(163), Article D3999. https://www.ntvg.nl/artikelen/hoe-stelt-een-arts-de-dood-vast
  • 2018
    • Schreurs, R., Heuts, S., Natour, E., & Lorusso, R. (2018). The unstoppable heart: an aortocoronary fistula in coronary artery bypass grafting. Interactive Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, 27(6), 912-913. https://doi.org/10.1093/icvts/ivy179
    • van der Wall, S. J., Olsthoorn, J. R., Heuts, S., Klautz, R. J. M., Tomsic, A., Jansen, E. K., Vonk, A. B. A., Sardari Nia, P., Klok, F. A., & Huisman, M. V. (2018). Antithrombotic therapy after mitral valve repair: VKA or aspirin?Journal of Thrombosis and Thrombolysis, 46(4), 473-481. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11239-018-1724-0
    • van der Wall, S. J., Olsthoorn, J. R., Heuts, S., Klautz, R. J. M., Tomsic, A., Jansen, E. K., Vonk, A. B. A., Sardari Nia, P., Klok, F. A., & Huisman, M. V. (2018). Correction to: Antithrombotic therapy after mitral valve repair: VKA or aspirin?Journal of Thrombosis and Thrombolysis, 46(4), 482-482. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11239-018-1735-x
    • Adriaans, B. P., Heuts, S., Gerretsen, S., Cheriex, E. C., Vos, R., Natour, E., Maessen, J. G., Sardari Nia, P., Crijns, H. J. G. M., Wildberger, J. E., & Schalla, S. (2018). Aortic elongation part I: the normal aortic ageing process. Heart, 104(21), 1772-1777. https://doi.org/10.1136/heartjnl-2017-312866
    • Heuts, S., Adriaans, B. P., Gerretsen, S., Natour, E., Vos, R., Cheriex, E. C., Crijns, H. J. G. M., Wildberger, J. E., Maessen, J. G., Schalla, S., & Sardari Nia, P. (2018). Aortic elongation part II: the risk of acute type A aortic dissection. Heart, 104(21), 1778-1782. https://doi.org/10.1136/heartjnl-2017-312867
    • Daemen, J. H. T., Heuts, S., Olsthoorn, J. R., Maessen, J., & Sardari Nia, P. (2018). Right minithoracotomy versus median sternotomy for reoperative mitral valve surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, 54(5), 817-825. https://doi.org/10.1093/ejcts/ezy173
    • Heuts, S., Daemen, J. H. T., Streukens, S. A. F., Olsthoorn, J. R., Vainer, J., Cheriex, E. C., Maessen, J. G., & Sardari Nia, P. (2018). Preoperative Planning of Transapical Beating Heart Mitral Valve Repair for Safe Adaptation in Clinical Practice. Innovations: Technology and Techniques in Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, 13(3), 200-206. https://doi.org/10.1097/IMI.0000000000000506
  • 2017
    • Raffa, G. M., Gelsomino, S., Sluijpers, N., Meani, P., Alenizy, K., Natour, E., Bidar, E., Johnson, D. M., Makhoul, M., Heuts, S., Lozekoot, P., Kats, S., Schreurs, R., Delnoij, T., Montalti, A., Sels, J. W., Poll, M. V. D., Roekaerts, P., Maessen, J., & Lorusso, R. (2017). In-hospital outcome of post-cardiotomy extracorporeal life support in adult patients: the 2007-2017 Maastricht experience. Critical Care and Resuscitation, 19(Suppl 1), 53-61. http://cicm.org.au/CICM_Media/CICMSite/CICM-Website/Resources/Publications/CCR%20Journal/Previous%20Editions/October%20Supplement%202017/ccr_19_OctSupp_011017-S53-S61.pdf
    • Meani, P., Gelsomino, S., Natour, E., Johnson, D. M., Rocca, H.-P. B. L., Pappalardo, F., Bidar, E., Makhoul, M., Raffa, G., Heuts, S., Lozekoot, P., Kats, S., Sluijpers, N., Schreurs, R., Delnoij, T., Montalti, A., Sels, J. W., van de Poll, M., Roekaerts, P., ... Lorusso, R. (2017). Modalities and Effects of Left Ventricle Unloading on Extracorporeal Life support: a Review of the Current Literature. European journal of heart failure, 19 Suppl 2, 84-91. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejhf.850
    • Sardari Nia, P., Heuts, S., Daemen, J., Luyten, P., Vainer, J., Hoorntje, J., Cheriex, E., & Maessen, J. (2017). Preoperative planning with three-dimensional reconstruction of patient's anatomy, rapid prototyping and simulation for endoscopic mitral valve repair. Interactive Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, 24(2), 163-168. https://doi.org/10.1093/icvts/ivw308
  • 2016
    • Heuts, S., Maessen, J. G., & Sardari Nia, P. (2016). Preoperative planning of left-sided valve surgery with 3D computed tomography reconstruction models: sternotomy or a minimally invasive approach?Interactive Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, 22(5), 587-593. https://doi.org/10.1093/icvts/ivv408
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