Every Innovation Begins with a Single Patient
I am honored to congratulate the Editorial Board, reviewers, authors, and the entire AME Publishing team on the achievement of an official Impact Factor for AME Case Reports. This important milestone reflects the journal's unwavering commitment to scientific quality, educational value, and international collaboration.
Throughout my career as a cardiovascular surgeon, I have treated many patients with complex aortic diseases, valvular heart disorders, and high-risk conditions, including transfusion-free cardiac surgery. These experiences have continually reinforced one important belief: every medical innovation begins with a single patient. Before new concepts are incorporated into guidelines or supported by large clinical trials, they often originate from carefully observed and thoughtfully reported individual cases.
For this reason, I consider case reports not as the lowest level of evidence, but as the foundation of clinical innovation. They preserve invaluable experiences, encourage critical thinking, generate new hypotheses, and provide practical lessons that may benefit patients around the world. Particularly in cardiovascular surgery, where each operation presents unique anatomical and technical challenges, sharing these experiences is essential for advancing our field.
AME Case Reports has created an outstanding international platform where clinicians can exchange meaningful experiences with scientific rigor and educational purpose. The journal has successfully connected physicians across specialties and countries, fostering collaboration and continuous learning. The newly awarded Impact Factor is a well-deserved recognition of these efforts.
Looking ahead, I hope the journal will continue to encourage reports of innovative surgical techniques, multidisciplinary decision-making, ethical challenges, and long-term clinical outcomes. Such contributions will not only strengthen the journal's academic influence but also inspire the next generation of clinicians and surgeon-scientists.
It has been a privilege to contribute to AME Case Reports, and I look forward to witnessing its continued growth as one of the leading international journals dedicated to high-quality clinical case reports.
Prof. Tatsuya Nakao
Editorial Board Member of AME Case Reports
Director, New Tokyo Hospital
Chief, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery
Chiba, Japan
Written on July 7, 2026