Podcasts

The fine line between delivering quality treatment and embracing innovation may sometimes make cardiothoracic surgeons feel trapped between conflicting goals.

Even though an operation or a process has been around for a long time and may seem “normal,” an innovative idea can change it all. In his Presidential Address at the 2016 STS Annual Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona, Mark S. Allen, MD described five common characteristics shared by innovators inside and outside of medicine and urged cardiothoracic surgeons to embrace innovation and ultimately make the specialty better for themselves and their patients.

Over the last several decades, deaths from noncommunicable diseases—including cardiovascular disease and lung and esophageal cancer—have increased in the developing world.

In his Presidential Address at the 2014 STS Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida, Douglas E. Wood, MD challenged his colleagues in the male-dominated profession to welcome in more women and transition away from a masculine, autocratic leadership style.

Healthcare professionals tend to be traditional and conservative when it comes to practice, so incorporating new technologies and innovations into the hospital and the operating room can be a challenge.

Two studies presented at an STS Annual Meeting showed that surgical therapy is superior to alternative treatment approaches for both esophageal cancer and coronary artery disease in younger patients.

On average, it takes 17 years before new innovation is disseminated into clinical practice. How can cardiothoracic surgery change that statistic and speed up the process?

The volumes of two aortic valve replacements (AVR) procedures have changed dramatically over the past few years, with more transcatheter procedures now being performed than open surgical procedures. Four cardiac surgeons discuss the evolving trends in TAVR, why the changes are occurring, and what’s ahead for TAVR and SAVR. Wilson Y. Szeto, MD moderates the discussion that also features Michael J. Mack, MD, John V. Conte, MD, and Thomas E. MacGillivray, MD.

Mentorship is an important component to success for many up-and-coming cardiothoracic surgeons.

Should patients remain active before, during, and after cardiac surgery? Some surgeons have opposing views.

The STS National Database recently expanded to include a registry for clinical outcomes of patients who receive a mechanical circulatory support device to treat advanced heart failure. The STS Intermacs Database adds important longitudinal data to an already comprehensive, highly respected clinical outcomes database. David Shahian, Frank Pagani, and Robert Kormos discuss how Intermacs will complement the STS National Database and how the data can be used for research and performance improvement.

New technologies and innovative treatments are making it easier to successfully diagnose and treat patients with lung cancer.