Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS)

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) is a not-for-profit professional organization representing surgeons, researchers and allied healthcare professionals involved in surgeries of the heart, lungs, and esophagus, as well as other surgical procedures within the chest. It is the largest cardiothoracic surgery organization in the world with more than 7,700 members in 110 countries. 

robotic-assisted mitral valve repair compared to conventional surgery

How robotic-assisted mitral valve repair compares to conventional surgery

Costs remain a concern, especially for low-volume centers, but robotic-assisted MV repair is associated with short-term outcomes comparable to more conventional techniques. 

A Da Vinci Xi robot from California-based Intuitive Surgical. Researchers used these robotic surgical systems to help guide AVR in low- and intermediate-risk patients who presented with severe AS.

Robotic aortic valve replacement may offer certain benefits over TAVR

Robotic-assisted aortic valve surgery may be a safe, effective alternative to TAVR when treating low- and intermediate-risk patients. A new analysis in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery explored this topic at length.

A transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedure being performed at Intermountain Healthcare. Image from Intermountain Healthcare

TAVR survival is down in recent years, leaving cardiologists stumped

Researchers tracked recent TAVR data from the STS/ACC TVT Registry, highlighting a "concerning" finding they were unable to explain.

heart doctors and surgeons working together. top cardiology hospitals in the United States.

Cardiothoracic surgeons unite to improve clinical practice guidelines

Four leading cardiothoracic surgery societies have joined forces in the name of developing clinical practice guidelines that are more thorough and consistent.

Medicare data stethoscope healthcare trends graphs finance financials

Cardiology groups cheer new bill that would improve access to Medicare claims data

If passed, this bill would help clinician-led clinical registries explore Medicare data for research purposes. The Society of Thoracic Surgeons and American College of Cardiology both shared public support for the bipartisan legislation. 

sonographer echo

Cardiology groups share new AUC for cardiovascular imaging prior to noncardiac surgery

The new AUC document was designed to help care teams know when and how to perform imaging-based cardiovascular evaluations on patients undergoing nonemergent, noncardiac surgery.

Medicare money payment physician

Cardiology groups push for Medicare reform in face of ‘unsustainable’ payment cuts

Nearly 130 healthcare groups are urging Congress to pass legislation that would provide relief to U.S. physicians struggling to keep up with wave after wave of payment reductions.

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Society of Thoracic Surgeons launches new risk calculators for SAVR after TAVR, other key heart surgeries

STS risk calculators are known as a go-to resource for cardiologists, surgeons and any other healthcare providers who manage the care of heart patients. 

Around the web

Ron Blankstein, MD, professor of radiology, Harvard Medical School, explains the use of artificial intelligence to detect heart disease in non-cardiac CT exams.

Eleven medical societies have signed on to a consensus statement aimed at standardizing imaging for suspected cardiovascular infections.