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.

Heart transplant patients on Medicaid face a higher risk of major complications
In addition, researchers noted, five-year mortality was inferior for patients on Medicaid when compared to patients with any other type of insurance.
Q&A: Society of Thoracic Surgeons president previews the trends and technologies of STS 2025
It looked like the wildfires in Los Angeles could force STS to cancel its annual meeting, but the group worked with city officials and was able to carry on as planned. STS President Jennifer C. Romano, MD, MS, discussed that difficult decision and previewed the three-day event in a new interview.
Robotic mitral repair compares favorably to surgery—but some concerns remain
Robotic-assisted mitral valve repair is associated with short-term outcomes comparable to conventional surgery, according to a new analysis of more than 40,000 patients. Robotic treatment also helps patients spend less time in the hospital, but the costs are much higher.
SAVR outperforms TAVR in patients with bicuspid aortic valves
BAV patients are often excluded from TAVR trials, creating uncertainty about the best way to treat that population when aortic valve replacement is required. To learn more, researchers tracked CMS data from 2018 to 2022, presenting their findings in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery.
Heart surgeons detail world’s first robotic heart procedure of its kind
The care team behind the very first robotic aortic valve replacement and coronary artery bypass surgery has written about the experience in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery. The group discussed the development of the technique, how the patient was chosen for treatment and other key details.

Heart transplant patients on Medicaid face a higher risk of major complications

In addition, researchers noted, five-year mortality was inferior for patients on Medicaid when compared to patients with any other type of insurance.

STS President Jennifer C. Romano, MD, MS, a congenital heart surgeon with Mott Children’s Hospital and professor with the University of Michigan (UM) Medical School, spoke with Cardiovascular Business to preview STS 2025.

Q&A: Society of Thoracic Surgeons president previews the trends and technologies of STS 2025

It looked like the wildfires in Los Angeles could force STS to cancel its annual meeting, but the group worked with city officials and was able to carry on as planned. STS President Jennifer C. Romano, MD, MS, discussed that difficult decision and previewed the three-day event in a new interview.

Robotic mitral repair compares favorably to surgery—but some concerns remain

Robotic-assisted mitral valve repair is associated with short-term outcomes comparable to conventional surgery, according to a new analysis of more than 40,000 patients. Robotic treatment also helps patients spend less time in the hospital, but the costs are much higher.

SAVR outperforms TAVR in patients with bicuspid aortic valves

BAV patients are often excluded from TAVR trials, creating uncertainty about the best way to treat that population when aortic valve replacement is required. To learn more, researchers tracked CMS data from 2018 to 2022, presenting their findings in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery.

Back in October 2024, heart surgeons with the WVU Heart and Vascular Institute in Morgantown, West Virginia, performed the world’s first robotic aortic valve replacement and coronary artery bypass (RAVCAB) procedure. Now, the team behind that historic surgery has shared its full story for the first time, publishing an in-depth look at the procedure in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, an official journal from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons.[1]

Heart surgeons detail world’s first robotic heart procedure of its kind

The care team behind the very first robotic aortic valve replacement and coronary artery bypass surgery has written about the experience in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery. The group discussed the development of the technique, how the patient was chosen for treatment and other key details.

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.

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