Active contributions to scientific research ensures constant exposure to modern state-of-the-art techniques, innovations and technology.
Dr. Johan van der Merwe collaborates with various international experts in heart and lung conditions to publish 2-5 original articles annually in peer reviewed international journals.
He obtained a PhD (Erasmus University, Rotterdam, Netherlands) in October 2019 in Keyhole (minimally invasive) heart valve surgery and was awarded the prestigious ISMICS (International Society of Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery) best manuscript prize in 2019 for their contribution on robotic assisted coronary artery bypass surgery.
Dr. Johan van der Merwe also serves as editorial board member of international journals and served as guest-editor of special series on international perspectives on minimally invasive coronary artery bypass surgery and aortic and mitral valve innovative surgery .
A list of publications and presentations at international and national conferences are outlined below and will be updated on the 31 December of every year:
Van der Merwe J, Casselman F, Beelen R, Van Praet F.
Total percutaneous cardiopulmonary bypass for robotic- and endoscopic atrioventricular valve surgery. Innovations 2017;12(4):296-299
(https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28594658/)
Van der Merwe J, Casselman F.
Mitral valve replacement – current and future perspectives. Open J Cardiovasc Surg. 2017; 13(9) :1179065217719023.
(https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28757798/)
Van der Merwe J, Van Praet F, Stockman B, Degrieck I, Vermeulen Y, Casselman F.
Reasons for conversion and adverse intraoperative events in endoscopic Port Access™ atrioventricular valve surgery and minimally invasive aortic valve surgery. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2018 Aug 1;54(2):288-293
(https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29462272/)
Van der Merwe J, Casselman F, Stockman B, Vermeulen Y, Degrieck I, Van Praet F.
Endoscopic atrioventricular valve surgery in extreme obesity. Türk G.ğüs Kalp Damar Cerrahisi Dergisi. 2017;25(4):654-658
(https://tgkdc.dergisi.org/uploads/pdf/pdf_TGKDC_2603.pdf)
Van der Merwe J, Casselman F, Stockman B, Vermeulen Y, Degrieck I, Van Praet F.
Endoscopic atrioventricular valve surgery in adults with difficult-to-access uncorrected congenital chest wall deformities. Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg. 2016;23(6):851-855.
(https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27543649/)
Van der Merwe J, Casselman F, Stockman B, Vermeulen Y, Degrieck I, Van Praet F.
Endoscopic Port Access™ surgery for late orthotopic cardiac transplantation atrioventricular valve disease. J Heart Valve Dis. 2017;26(2):124-129.
(https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28820540/)
Van der Merwe J, Casselman F, Stockman B, Vermeulen Y, Degrieck I, Van Praet F.
Late redo-Port Access™ surgery after Port Access™ surgery. Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg. 2016 Jan;22(1):13-8
(https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26467637/)
Van der Merwe J, Casselman F, Stockman B, Vermeulen Y, Degrieck I, Van Praet F.
Endoscopic Port Access™ left ventricle outflow tract resection and atrioventricular valve surgery. J Vis Surg. 2018; 4: 100
(https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29963389/)
Van der Merwe J, Casselman F, Stockman B, Roubelakis A, Vermeulen Y, Degrieck I, Van Praet F.
Endoscopic Port Access™ surgery for isolated atrioventricular valve endocarditis. Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg. 2018;27(4):487-493
(https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29618063/)
Van der Merwe J, Casselman F, Van Praet F.
Endoscopic Port Access™ resection of a massive atrial myxoma. SA Heart. 2016: 13: 4: 302 – 303
(https://www.journals.ac.za/SAHJ/article/view/1584)
Van der Merwe J, Beelen R, Martens S, Van Praet F.
Single-Stage minimally invasive surgery for synchronous primary pulmonary adenocarcinoma and left atrial myxoma. Ann Thorac Surg. 2015; 100(6):2352-4
(https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26652533/)
Roubelakis A, Casselman F, Van der Merwe J, Stockman B, Degrieck I, Van Praet.
Robotic-enhanced coronary surgery in octogenarians. Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg. 2017; 24(3):384-387.
(https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28031245/)
Casselman F, Van der Merwe J, Ferrara A, Barbato E.
The present day potential role of fractional flow reserve-guided coronary artery bypass graft surgery. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2016; 151(4):926-32
(https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26806476/)
Van der Merwe J, Coddens J, Casselman F.
Acute single leaflet dysfunction and spontaneous recovery of a previously implanted bi-leaflet mechanical mitral prosthesis during unrelated isolated minimally invasive aortic valve replacement: a surgical decision making dilemma in a high risk patient. J Cardiovasc Surg 2017;58(1):131-13
(https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28052663/)
Van der Merwe J, Casselman F, Stockman B, Van Praet F, Beelen R, Maene L, Vermeulen Y, Degrieck I.
Minimally invasive primary aortic valve surgery: the OLV Aalst experience. Ann Cardiothorac Surg. 2015 Mar;4(2):154-9
(https://www.annalscts.com/article/view/5756/html)
Casselman F, Van der Merwe J.
Fractional flow reserve – can it improve physician decision making in coronary artery bypass grafting? RadcliffCardiology.com. July 2019
Van der Merwe J, Casselman F, Verstreken S, Stockman B.
Acute ascending aorta dissection in a bicuspid aortic valve cardiac allograft 11 years after orthotopic cardiac transplantation. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2017; 51(1):191
Van der Merwe J, Casselman F, Van Praet F.
Minimally invasive atrioventricular valve surgery – current status and future perspectives. SAHeart 2019;16:310-316
(https://www.journals.ac.za/index.php/SAHJ/article/view/3842)
Van der Merwe J, Casselman F, Van Praet F.
The principles of minimally invasive atrioventricular valve repair surgery utilizing endoaortic balloon occlusion technology: how to start and sustain a safe and effective program. J Vis Surg 2019; 5: 72
(https://jovs.amegroups.org/article/view/28673/html)
Van der Merwe J, Casselman F, Stockman B, Vermeulen Y, Degrieck I, Van Praet F.
Complications and pitfalls in Port Access™ atrioventricular valve surgery. J Vis Surg 2018; 4:248
(https://jovs.amegroups.org/article/view/23004/html)
Van der Merwe J, Casselman F.
Fractional flow reserve guided coronary artery bypass grafting – new developments and future perspectives. Vessel Plus 2019; 3:24
(https://www.oaepublish.com/articles/2574-1209.2019.17)
Van der Merwe J, Casselman F, Stockman B, Vermeulen Y, Degrieck I, Van Praet F.
Reasons for conversion and adverse intraoperative events in robotically enhanced minimally invasive coronary artery revascularization. Innovations (Phila). 2020; 15(3): 251-260
(https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29462272/)
Casselman F, Van der Merwe J.
A roadmap to valve repair surgery. J Vis Surg 2020; 6:13
(https://jovs.amegroups.org/article/view/33420/html)
Van der Merwe J, Casselman F.
Surgical and transcatheter interventions for aortic regurgitation – current concepts and future perspectives. J Cardiovasc Surg (Torino). 2021; 62(1): 3-11
(https://www.minervamedica.it/en/journals/cardiovascular-surgery/article.php?cod=R37Y2021N01A0003)
Van der Merwe J, Casselman F.
Minimally invasive surgical coronary artery revascularization – current status and future perspectives in an era of interventional advances. J Vis Surg 2023; 9:21
(https://jovs.amegroups.org/article/view/111799/html)
Van der Merwe J, Casselman F, Terregrossa G.
Minimally invasive surgical coronary artery revascularization – how to initiate a safe and sustainable program. J Vis surg 2023;9:36
(https://jovs.amegroups.org/article/view/114633/html)
van der Merwe J, Casselman F.
Circumflex Coronary Artery Injury during Modern Mitral Valve Surgery-A Review of Current Concepts and Perspectives. Medicina (Kaunas). 2023 Aug 16;59(8):1470
(https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37629762/)
Bolotin G, Medalion B Guest Editors, van der Merwe J, Casselman F, Degrieck I, Van Praet F.
Minimally Invasive Pectus Excavatum Correction and Endoscopic Port Access Mitral Valve Surgery. Rambam Maimonides Med J. 2024 Jan 19;15(1):e0003.
