As Europe's population ages and heart disease rates climb, doctors are quietly changing the way they save lives—often without ever opening a patient's chest. This massive shift in medicine will be the focus next month in Munich, where the continent's top cardiology groups will hold their first-ever summit dedicated entirely to "percutaneous", or stitch-less, heart procedures.

The summit, being organised by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and the European Association of Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions (EAPCI), runs from February 19 to 20, 2026. It represents a major move to standardise safety rules and training as the world moves away from traditional open-heart surgery.

What is "stitchless" heart surgery?

Percutaneous treatments are treatment which require threading thin tubes (catheters) into blood vessels, usually through the wrist or groin, to reach the heart. Doctors can use these tubes to repair damaged valves or insert stents to open blocked arteries. Because technology has improved, these minimally invasive methods are now becoming the norm, replacing major surgery for many patients.

"The interventional community is growing fast," said Professor Thomas F. Lüscher, ESC President. "We devised this event to showcase the latest research and shape the future of this field."

The Challenge: Training a Young Workforce

One of the summit’s main goals is training. Professor Alaide Chieffo, EAPCI President, notes that nearly half of the association's members are young professionals. They are entering a field with increasingly complex procedures and a rising number of elderly patients.

To close the skills gap, the summit will act as a high-tech boot camp. Experts will use simulators and hands-on workshops to teach fundamental techniques to the next generation of heart doctors.

Safety First: The "Heart Team" Approach

A key theme of the meeting is the "Heart Team" model. This approach ensures that surgeons and intervention specialists do not compete for patients. Instead, cardiologists, surgeons, and imaging experts will need to work together to decide whether a patient needs major surgery or a stitchless procedure.

The summit will also tackle the regulation of medical devices. As more advanced stents and valves enter the market, regulators and industry partners will discuss how to speed up innovation without compromising patient safety.

Why the conference matters beyond Europe

Although the summit is in Munich, the standards set there will likely influence global healthcare. As countries like India face their own rising rates of heart disease, medical bodies are closely watching how Europe standardises these minimally invasive treatments for large-scale use.

Community Concerns

What does "percutaneous" mean? It literally means "through the skin". It refers to procedures done via a small puncture (usually in the wrist or leg) rather than cutting the chest open.

Is it safer than open-heart surgery? For many patients, yes. It generally offers less pain, fewer complications, and a much faster recovery (days instead of weeks). However, it is not suitable for everyone; complex cases may still require traditional surgery.

Who decides if I get this treatment? Decisions are now made by a "Heart Team"—a group of surgeons and cardiologists who review your case together to pick the safest option.

Are the devices safe? New heart gadgets (like valves and stents) undergo rigorous testing by European regulators before they are approved for general use.