Hans-Henning Eckstein, the vascular surgeon who played a leading role in the SPACE and SPACE 2 randomised controlled trials on the treatment of carotid stenosis and founder of the Munich Vascular Conference (MAC), died on 24 February at the age of 68. Colleagues have paid tribute to an “excellent doctor, outstanding researcher and university professor” as well as a “bridge-builder between vascular surgery and neurology”.
Eckstein had been chair and professor of the Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery at the University Hospital Rechts der Isar of the Technical University of Munich (Munich, Germany) and was widely recognised for advancing research and knowledge in the field of vascular surgery. He was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Medical Faculty of the University of Larissa (Larissa, Greece) in 2017 and, since 2019, had also been a visiting professor at the Medical School of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, USA) and Stanford University (Stanford, USA).
After studying medicine at Ruprecht-Karls University Heidelberg (Heidelberg, Germany), Eckstein completed his PhD in 1986 and two years later acquired his postdoctoral teaching qualification in Heidelberg.
From 1999 until 2003, Eckstein was medical director of the Clinic for Vascular Surgery at Ludwigsburg Hospital (Ludwigsburg, Germany). In 2004, he became director of the Department of Vascular Surgery at the University Hospital “Rechts der Isar” of the Technical University of Munich and five years later was appointed the first holder of the newly created chair for vascular and endovascular surgery at the university—a role he held until his retirement in 2023.
A statement on the Technical University of Munich’s website mourning the loss of Eckstein reflects on his impact at the institution: “Prof Eckstein made the clinic known far beyond the borders of Munich and developed it into a leading centre and attraction for patients with vascular diseases.”
Eckstein played a leading role in research including randomised controlled trials on symptomatic and asymptomatic carotid stenosis, which—a statement on the European Stroke Organisation (ESO) website reads—made him “well-known” in vascular neurology. He was co-chair of the steering committee of SPACE and SPACE 2, representing vascular surgery in both multicentre trials.
Furthermore, Eckstein was heavily involved in the creation of international guidelines in his field, including the German S3 guideline for the diagnosis, therapy, and follow-up care of patients with carotid stenosis and the ESO guideline for carotid stenosis.
Eckstein’s involvement in professional organisations included his 2009–2010 presidency of the German Society of Vascular Surgery and Vascular Medicine (DGG), and his editorship of the journal Gefässchirurgie (Vascular Surgery).
Eckstein was also involved in vascular education and founded the Munich Vascular Conference (MAC). The 12th iteration of this event took place in December 2023 and received international attention.
Several colleagues have paid tribute to Eckstein and highlighted his legacy in the fields of vascular surgery and neurology. “We are deeply saddened by the death of Prof Eckstein,” a statement on the Technical University of Munich’s website reads. “With Prof Eckstein we are losing an extremely committed colleague and excellent doctor, outstanding researcher and university professor.”
Eckstein is also remembered in a statement on the ESO website, with Werner Hacke, senior professor of neurology at Ruprecht-Karls University of Heidelberg, and Peter Ringleb, academic researcher at the University Hospital Heidelberg (Heidelberg, Germany) stating: “In Hans-Henning Eckstein we have lost an extremely dedicated colleague and excellent physician, an outstanding researcher, university lecturer, bridge-builder between vascular surgery and neurology, and a friend.”
