Bridging Gaps, Building Legacy: The Role of BJCVS in Latin American ScienceThe scarcity of registries, structural limitations, and insufficient research funding remain some of the major challenges faced by cardiovascular surgery researchers in Latin America. These issues were thoughtfully addressed in the recent article by Cubas et al., published in the Annals of Thoracic Surgery Short Reports in June 2025, which examines the barriers to scientific advancement in the region[1].
The study aimed to evaluate the representation of Latin American scientific output within the global landscape of cardiovascular surgery research, identifying the most frequently addressed topics, the leading journals, and the most prominent authors in the field. The article’s title aptly refers to the “journey of resilience” faced by surgeons striving to contribute to the scientific community in a context marked by adversity. Despite serving a population of over 600 million people - with social, genotypic, and environmental characteristics distinct from those in the Northern Hemisphere -, only 2.5% of cardiovascular surgery articles published over the past two decades included at least one Latin American surgeon among the authors[1,2].
Notably, Brazilian surgeons accounted for nearly half of all Latin American scientific output during this period. Most publications focused on coronary artery bypass grafting and the correction of congenital heart diseases, predominantly authored by men. Women represented only 4.8% of the identified researchers[1].
A particularly concerning finding was the low acceptance rate of manuscripts submitted by Latin American researchers to leading journals in the field, such as the Annals of Thoracic Surgery and the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. Fewer than 20% of these submissions are accepted, often deemed not to meet “international standards”. The lack of research funding and cultural barriers may partly explain this outcome[1]. Many of these studies are never resubmitted elsewhere, representing a missed opportunity to better understand how to care for patients in the region.
In this scenario, the Brazilian Journal of Cardiovascular Surgery (BJCVS) - approaching its 40th anniversary - stands out as the foremost cardiovascular surgery journal in Latin America. Fabio B. Jatene, former Editor-in-Chief of BJCVS, was identified as the Latin American cardiovascular surgeon with the highest number of publications during the period analyzed[1].
As we get closer to the half of 2025, BJCVS is firmly established as the leading scientific voice not only in Brazil but across an entire region that lacks robust local data and shared clinical experiences. Each month, the journal evaluates hundreds of manuscripts spanning topics from basic science to advanced therapies, including heart transplantation and aortic surgery. Its mission remains steadfast: to bridge local realities with global scientific excellence (Figure 1).
Brazilian Journal of Cardiovascular Surgery (BJCVS): connecting Latin American cardiovascular science to the world, as the Latin America’s leading cardiovascular surgery journal.
The BJCVS is deeply in debt with the Brazilian surgeons who have send their papers to the journal, and in doing so, shared their experience and knowledge with other surgeons throughout the world. In the BJCVS, we intend to create an environment to stimulate surgeons to do and publish their research.
REFERENCES
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1 Cubas WS, Hernandez M, Cubas S, Vota CS, Montero JA, Soca G, Dayan V, Latin America's Cardiovascular Scientific Surgeons: A 20-Year Visual and Bibliometric Journey of Resilience. Annals of Thoracic Surgery Short Reports. 2025. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atssr.2025.05.022
» https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atssr.2025.05.022 -
2 FAO, IFAD, PAHO, UNICEF & WFP. 2023. Latin America and the Caribbean - Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition 2023: Statistics and trends. Santiago. https://doi.org/10.4060/cc8514en
» https://doi.org/10.4060/cc8514en
