Technology

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 (University of Pennsylvania) moderates the discussion that also features Michael J. Mack, MD (The Heart Hospital Baylor Plano), John V. Conte, MD (Penn State University), and Thomas E. MacGillivray, (Houston Methodist).

Health care 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. Four cardiothoracic surgery change drivers — Shanda Blackmon, MD, MPH (Mayo Clinic), James Luketich, MD (UPMC Presbyterian), T. Sloan Guy, MD, MBA (Weill Cornell Medical Medicine), and Linda W. Martin, MD, MPH (University of Virginia) — provide advice on how to get buy-in from hospital administrators, as well as team members.