Tues-Wed | Jan. 24-25
Bavaria Urges Out-of-the-Box ThinkingThe fine line between delivering quality treatment and embracing innovation may sometimes make cardiothoracic surgeons feel trapped between conflicting goals. In his Presidential Address Monday, Joseph E. Bavaria, MD challenged that convention. READ MORE
Richard Prager Elected 2017-2018 STS PresidentCardiothoracic surgeon Richard L. Prager, MD, from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, was elected by the STS membership yesterday evening as the Society’s 2017-2018 President. READ MORE
David M. Shahian Honored for Groundbreaking Contributions to Cardiothoracic Surgery Quality ImprovementRenowned quality improvement expert and public reporting advocate David M. Shahian, MD is the recipient of the STS 2017 Distinguished Service Award, presented yesterday evening at the Annual Membership (Business) Meeting. READ MORE
Ralph Muller to Give Ferguson LectureRalph W. Muller, Chief Executive Officer of the University of Pennsylvania Health System, is the 2017 Thomas B. Ferguson lecturer. His talk is titled “Specialty Care in an Age of Population Health.” READ MORE
Author and Quality Expert to Give Lillehei LectureThe 2017 C. Walton Lillehei lecturer will be Samer Nashef, MD, PhD, author of The Naked Surgeon: The Power and Peril of Transparency in Medicine. He will provide an overview of quality initiatives and their unintended consequences. READ MORE
CT Surgeons Highly Engaged in TAVR Procedures, Survey ShowsAn STS survey has found that 77% of cardiothoracic surgeons are actively involved if a transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) program exists at their institution. READ MORE- TEVAR Device Indications Expanded for All Type B Aortic DissectionsThe US Food and Drug Administration recently expanded indications for two thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) devices for the treatment of all classifications of type B aortic dissections, even though TEVAR’s efficacy had been studied only for type B acute complicated dissections. READ MORE
- Caregivers Debate Treatment Options for Dying Down Syndrome PatientThe prognosis for 8-year-old Angela Downing is bleak. Born with trisomy 21, her severe heart disease has run the gamut with an atrioventricular canal defect, moderate mitral insufficiency, and a failing left ventricle. Seven days after her valve replacement, she failed to wean from extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) due to her poor left ventricular function. READ MORE
Quality Versus Access DilemmaBringing quality cardiothoracic surgical care to underserved regions is rife with challenges. Managing costs, staffing, training, equipment needs, and follow-up care are overwhelming concerns. READ MORE
STS Helps Standardize Curriculum DevelopmentA new Annual Meeting session will highlight the many features of the Society’s expanded learning management system (LMS), which incorporates the Thoracic Surgical Curriculum and can help program directors develop resident education curricula within their existing programs. READ MORE
Tricuspid Regurgitation After TAVR Linked to Increases in Mortality, ReadmissionMild or greater tricuspid regurgitation (TR) was found in more than 80% of transcatheter aortic valve replacement patients, according to a study based on data collected from the STS/American College of Cardiology TVT Registry™. READ MORE
Speakers Offer Strategies for Extinguishing Physician BurnoutSurgeons are known for their attention to detail, work ethic, and commitment to patients, but these traits can lead to feelings of failure and result in burnout. READ MORE
Mon | Jan. 23
New Data Released on Heater-Cooler Device InfectionsAnnual Meeting attendees crowded into a packed 7:00 a.m. session yesterday to hear about newly revealed research regarding a critical patient safety issue. READ MORE
Devices Draw Mixed Reviews in Tech-Con’s Shark TankInventors tend to be optimists, perceiving their ideas as game-changers when the reality often is far different. Three physician-inventors of medical devices got a dose of reality Saturday by diving into STS/AATS Tech-Con’s Shark Tank, where peers judged their developments. READ MORE
Chamberlain Papers Offer Latest High-Impact ResearchStrategies distinguishing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) from percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in blocked arteries, optimal timing for stage-2 palliation after the Norwood operation in neonates, and long-term outcomes for elderly lung cancer patients are the topics of the three most important scientific abstracts accepted to the 2017 Annual Meeting program. READ MORE
ACC @ STS Tackles Complex Clinical ScenariosCardiac surgery has entered a new era, with cardiologists and surgeons facing more complex cases. To manage these patients, it has become vital for specialists to interact, collaborate, and perform as one heart team. READ MORE
Important STS National Database Research Featured as Clark PapersSince its inception in 1989, the STS National Database has played an essential role in generating research on quality improvement and patient safety. Three of the latest practice-changing studies—one each from the Adult Cardiac Surgery Database (ACSD), the Congenital Heart Surgery Database (CHSD), and the General Thoracic Surgery Database (GTSD)—will be presented as the 2017 Richard E. Clark Memorial Papers. READ MORE
STS National Database Helps Improve OutcomesFor more than 25 years, the STS National Database has provided a foundation for cardiothoracic surgeons to improve patient outcomes by collecting data to assess procedures and develop guidelines for evidence-based practice. The breadth of evidence in the Database continues to grow, and a Monday afternoon session will address the latest Database initiatives in clinical practice guideline development, risk modeling, public reporting, and quality measurement and improvement. READ MORE
Using Data to Improve Patient CareMore than ever, cardiothoracic surgeons may feel as if they are under a microscope with increasing scrutiny of their performance from professional societies, patients, and employers. READ MORE- Surgery Recommendations Vary by Race, Study ShowsSurgeons are more likely to recommend lung resection for black cancer patients than white cancer patients, according to a study that will be presented this afternoon. READ MORE
- AFib Differences Between Women, MenNew-onset atrial fibrillation (AFib) after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery has decreased in recent years, but an abstract being presented today has found that incidence has decreased more among women than men. READ MORE
- SVS @ STS: Examining the Potential of Cell TherapyThe use of cell therapy for treating critical limb ischemia, refractory angina, and heart failure is just one of the links between cardiac and vascular surgery that will be reviewed Monday during an annual session planned by STS and the Society for Vascular Surgery. READ MORE
Sat-Sun | Jan. 21-22
- Hear About Hot Topics from Experts at Industry-Sponsored Satellite ActivitiesSatellite activities are programs offered by industry and held in conjunction with the STS 53rd Annual Meeting. They are not developed or sponsored by STS. READ MORE
- Learning Opportunities Available in the Exhibit HallExhibiting companies and others will present talks and demonstrations in the Learning Lab Theater, located in the Exhibit Hall. READ MORE
- Thank YouThe Society of Thoracic Surgeons gratefully acknowledges the following companies for providing educational grants for the STS 53rd Annual Meeting. READ MORE
MCS Advances Lead to ICU Management ChallengesThe increased use of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) has extended the lives of thousands of cardiac patients, but it has created challenges in the form of lengthy and expensive stays in cardiac intensive care units. READ MORE
Session Delves Into Strategies for Cardiac Surgical EmergenciesEnsuring optimal patient safety and outcomes during cardiac surgical emergencies requires a multidisciplinary team-based approach. A special Sunday session will examine strategies for team members as they respond to these emergencies, in particular acute aortic dissection, initiation of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), and decompensation related to transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). READ MORE
Adult, Pediatric Surgeons Can Collaborate for Improved OutcomesAdvances in surgical options for aortic valve disease and failing Fontans are helping to change long-term treatment strategies for patients with congenital heart disease. Surgeons have the potential to improve outcomes for adult and pediatric heart patients by sharing lessons learned in their respective areas of expertise. READ MORE
Session to Show Cutting-Edge Congenital ProceduresLearning cutting-edge approaches to treat congenital cardiac conditions can be a challenge. Increasingly, surgeons are using a variety of educational modes, including videos, interactive discussions of clinical scenarios, and lectures, to smooth out the learning curve. READ MORE
STS Staff Welcomes You to HoustonOn behalf of the Society’s staff, I join STS President Joe Bavaria in welcoming you to The Society of Thoracic Surgeons 53rd Annual Meeting and Exhibition in Houston, Texas. As in the past, the Annual Meeting will provide you with a wide range of educational, networking, and social offerings. READ MORE
Changes in Practice Models Require AdjustmentsChanges in the regulation of health care and reimbursement are driving more cardiothoracic surgeons into practice models with new business strategies. Surgeons need to keep pace with changing trends as they increasingly join larger medical practices or hospitals in this new environment. READ MORE
Special Session to Examine Heater-Cooler-Induced InfectionsNontuberculous mycobacterium (NTM) forming in heater-cooler devices commonly used in operating rooms have been linked to deadly infections that are difficult to detect and may not manifest themselves for years following surgery. READ MORE
Preview Technology Before It’s FDA ApprovedSTS/AATS Tech-Con 2017 will kick off Saturday morning with a focus on cutting-edge technologies and new developments in cardiothoracic surgery. READ MORE
Uncover Tips for Adult Cardiac, General Thoracic SurgeryTwo exciting how-to video sessions on Sunday will provide attendees with specific strategies for success and pitfalls to avoid related to adult cardiac and general thoracic surgical procedures. READ MORE
The STS 53rd Annual Meeting BeginsWelcome to the STS 53rd Annual Meeting! I’m thrilled to welcome you to Houston for this preeminent educational event in cardiothoracic surgery. READ MORE