STS appoints Justine Varieur Turco as its new CEO/Executive Director, tasked with advancing the society's strategic priorities and improving patient outcomes in cardiothoracic surgery. With over 20 years of executive leadership experience, Turco aims to build on STS's legacy and support the specialty's continued advancement.
A new multicenter study finds that reoperative surgical mitral valve replacement demonstrates significant long-term survival benefits over transcatheter mitral valve-in-valve procedures in patients with failing bioprosthetic valves. At five years, rSMVR patients had lower mortality and more favorable valve performance.
Ascending aortic hemiarch replacement is comparable to extended arch reconstruction for patients over 65 with acute type A aortic dissection. The study found no significant difference in long-term survival or surgical reintervention rates between the two procedures.
Vinay Badhwar, MD, was elected President of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons with a three-part framework emphasizing daily practice excellence, data-driven science, and measurable impact. He aims to advance collaboration across surgical disciplines and integrate the specialty into the broader healthcare ecosystem.
A late-breaking study analyzing over 2.1 million patients found that bilateral internal thoracic artery (BITA) and single internal thoracic artery plus radial artery (SITA+RA) strategies offer comparable long-term survival overall. The study suggests that patient age may play a crucial role in selecting the optimal conduit strategy.
Researchers analyzed cases in the STS Adult Cardiac Surgery Database to identify factors predicting postoperative risk. The study found that 16.7% of adults nationwide with CHD were considered high-risk for operative mortality and serious complications after redo cardiac surgery.
Breakthrough research recommends that more than one N1 node be removed and evaluated during surgery for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The study found that many cancers were identified in N1 nodes adjacent to the bronchi, highlighting the need for expanded lymph node evaluation.
A late-breaking study at the STS Annual Meeting presents a new risk model for surgery after TAVR, showing declining operative mortality over time. The model demonstrated excellent accuracy for predicting surgical TAVR explant risk, providing valuable evidence for improving patient care and treatment strategies.
A new study reveals the positive perspective of adult children of women cardiothoracic surgeons, highlighting pride, admiration, and personal growth despite limited family time. The study emphasizes the importance of achieving a healthy work-life balance for women in medicine to ensure their children benefit from their inspiration.
The study found that detection rates of congenital heart disease have improved due to advances in ultrasound screening practices, with added specific views helping detect more defects before birth. However, detection rates still vary by region and type of defect, highlighting the need for continued improvements in prenatal care.
A new study published in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery found that over 6% of patients experienced early hemodynamic valve deterioration just one year after undergoing TAVI. Smaller implanted valve sizes were significantly associated with the development of HVD, while larger valves appeared to be protective.
A new study found that surgical ablation during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is associated with a risk-adjusted median survival advantage of 4.4 months compared to those who did not receive ablation. Patients treated by surgeons who frequently performed the procedure had an even greater median survival advantage.
The Society of Thoracic Surgeons has launched a new risk calculator for patients undergoing ascending aorta and aortic root surgery, which provides real-world data collected through the STS Adult Cardiac Surgery Database. The calculator supports more accurate assessments of expected outcomes, including mortality and major morbidity.
A new study published in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery found that Medicaid expansion significantly improved access to timely treatment for patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer. High-volume hospitals associated with decreased postoperative complications and in-hospital mortality rates compared to low-volume hospitals.
A study of 252 patients who underwent the Ross procedure found that survival rates were 95.8% at 5 years, 94.3% at 10 years, and 90.3% at 20 years. The procedure offers excellent long-term survival rates with low risk of re-intervention, making it an alternative to mechanical valve replacement.
Dr. Joseph F. Sabik III, MD, has been elected as the President of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons for the 2025 term, aiming to enhance data quality, support innovative studies, and provide cutting-edge training for cardiothoracic surgeons.
Researchers have found that surgical lung volume reduction (LVRS) for advanced emphysema patients offers better outcomes than previously reported, including lower mortality rates and fewer procedure-related complications. In contrast, endobronchial valve (EBV) placement was associated with higher occurrences of complications over time.
Research presented at the 2025 STS Annual Meeting reveals that anatomic lung resections such as lobectomy and segmentectomy are associated with improved long-term survival compared to wedge resection for stage 1A NSCLC. Lobectomy offered the highest survival rates, with a 71.9% 5-year OS and 44.8% 10-year OS.
A recent study analyzing over 100,000 patient data from the STS Adult Cardiac Surgery Database reveals that mechanical aortic valve replacements provide significant long-term survival benefits for patients under 60 compared to bioprosthetic valves. The study highlights the importance of individualized treatment plans and challenges cur...
A study analyzing over a million Medicare patients found that those receiving multi-arterial grafts had improved survival compared to single-arterial graft recipients. However, when accounting for unmeasured confounding variables using surgeon preference as an instrumental variable, no difference in long-term survival was observed.
Annals of Thoracic Surgery Short Reports has been accepted for indexing in PubMed Central, enhancing its reach and impact within the global medical community. The journal is on pace for 750 submissions in 2024, with over 400 articles published across eight electronic issues, attracting more than 240,000 page views or downloads.
A study of 42,586 low-risk patients who underwent surgical aortic valve replacement reveals a 5-year survival rate of 93%. The study used the STS National Database and found that eight-year survival was close to 90%. The results provide a benchmark for outcomes in managing aortic valve stenosis.
Thomas E. MacGillivray, MD, was elected President of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons, emphasizing the importance of long-term outcomes and the value of surgery for patients compared to competing therapies. With over 30 years of experience, Dr. MacGillivray has published extensively on aortic diseases and adult congenital heart disease.
Recent national data analyzed by leading cardiology and cardiothoracic surgical researchers found that the rate of successful repair has reached over 90% in the US, with an extremely low risk of mortality across nearly all age ranges. A novel risk model was developed to predict 30-day outcomes based on patient health conditions.
Research suggests that ECMO support for severe COVID-19 can result in exceptional early survival, with significant lung recovery and long-term outcomes. Patient selection and aggressive management strategies were key factors in improving outcomes, with 86.7% survival rate at median follow-up.
The new guideline provides a comprehensive summary of the state of evidence for managing patients with type B aortic dissection. It recommends employing a stepwise approach to evaluation and treatment, followed by close clinical surveillance, and identifies earlier endovascular treatment as a promising option.
Research suggests that some heart surgery patients can effectively manage postoperative pain with non-opioid medications at home. A study of 1,924 patients found that nearly one-fourth did not receive an opioid prescription at discharge.
The new clinical practice guideline focuses on reducing blood loss and improving outcomes in heart surgery patients. It emphasizes patient-centered care by considering a patient's values and choices into treatment pathways.
Women are more likely to experience acute aortic dissection with older age and different presenting symptoms, leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment. The study highlights the need for sex-directed strategies to improve outcomes in female patients.
A study at Boston Children's Hospital found that a multidisciplinary ERAS program reduced opioid use, improved pain control, and expedited recovery for select congenital heart surgery patients. The program implemented strategies like early extubation, blood conservation, and smaller surgical incisions to enhance patient outcomes.
A recent study found a 53% decrease in adult cardiac surgery volume nationwide, with a 65% reduction in elective cases. The pandemic also led to an unexplained increase in deaths after coronary artery bypass grafting, with significant declines in case volume and patient outcomes.
A recent study has found that women are less likely to receive guideline-recommended approaches for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), resulting in worse outcomes. This disparity may be attributed to delayed diagnosis of heart disease, which leads to undertreatment and poorer surgical results.
Research found that black patients diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer are more likely to be diagnosed at an advanced stage and have lower chances of receiving surgery. Additionally, they experience significantly reduced cancer-specific survival rates compared to their white counterparts.
A recent survey found that cardiothoracic surgeons are highly satisfied with their jobs, despite external pressures, and are eager to attract new talent to the specialty. The demand for cardiothoracic surgery is expected to increase due to an aging workforce and growing patient needs.
Sir Magdi Habib Yacoub has been honored with the 2020 Earl Bakken Scientific Achievement Award for his pioneering work in heart-lung transplantation and cardiothoracic surgery. He has performed over 2,500 heart transplants and 20,000 heart operations, transforming small hospitals into major transplant programs.
Patients who undergo open heart surgery can be discharged in 3 days without increased risk of complications, according to a recent study. Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programs aim to improve patient-centered care and reduce hospital stays by up to 30%.
Dr. Robert Kormos, MD, and Rob Wynbrandt, JD, receive the 2020 Distinguished Service Award for their decades-long selfless dedication and leadership in cardiothoracic surgery. They have contributed to the growth and success of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons and its patients.
A new tumor-highlighting technology called OTL38 enhances the visualization of lung cancer tissue, improving patient outcomes. Researchers found that OTL38 helped identify 10 additional cancers in 7 patients and improved margins for 26% of patients.
A recent study suggests that young and middle-aged adults with aortic valve disease may be better off with open heart surgery than TAVR. The research found lower stroke rates and better patient survival with surgical aortic valve replacement compared to TAVR.