STS announced the news Monday at its annual meeting in San Antonio. Jennifer C. Romano, MD, MS, is officially the first female president in the organization's 60-year history.

Nearly 50% of patients under the age of 60 are now opting for TAVR over SAVR, according to a new study presented at STS 2024 in San Antonio. "We owe it to our patients to take a more prominent role in providing the highest quality evidence to help our patients make these major healthcare decisions," one researcher said. 

Congress has already adjourned for the year without taking action, but U.S. medical societies are hoping relief from significant Medicare cuts will arrive in early 2024. 

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons and European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery say more information is still required before any conclusions can be made about the long-term benefits of TAVR in low-risk patients.

Even as TAVR continues to build momentum as the go-to treatment option for many patients, researchers are keeping a close eye on the long-term safety and effectiveness of SAVR.

The American College of Cardiology, Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions and Society of Thoracic Surgeons raised the issue, which is related to the billing of transcatheter heart procedures such as TAVR. 

The study, based on STS/ACC registry data, represents a collaboration between several leading TAVR specialists. 

The primary concern is that sterilization facilities and healthcare providers would not have enough time to adapt to the proposal. Devices impacted would include pacemakers, angioplasty balloons and catheters, just to name a few.