The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

What is a Cardiothoracic Surgeon?

A thoracic surgeon is a medical doctor who performs operations on the heart, lungs, esophagus, and other organs in the chest.

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Aortic Dissection

Although aortic dissection is relatively uncommon, it is the most frequent emergency related to the human aorta.

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How the STS National Database Has Improved Your Patient Care

The STS National Database was established as a tool to improve the quality of care for heart and lung surgery patients.

Read the blog from Dr. Fred L. Grover

Coronary Artery Disease

Did you know that coronary artery disease is the most common form of heart disease?

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Robotic Surgery

Robotic Operations in Thoracic Surgery: Who Are the Candidates?

Read the blog from Dr. Linda W. Martin

Locate STS Surgeons

STS believes the public has a right to know the quality of surgical outcomes.

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STS Public Reporting Online

STS believes the public has a right to know the quality of surgical outcomes.

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Our Mission

Founded in 1964, the Society of Thoracic Surgeons is a not-for-profit organization representing more than 7,300 cardiothoracic surgeons, researchers, and allied health care professionals worldwide who are dedicated to ensuring the best possible outcomes for surgeries of the heart, lung, and esophagus, as well as other surgical procedures within the chest. Learn more at

Associated Groups:

CTSurgeryPatients.org

Activity

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons has answered a question
On Jun 19

What is an aortic aneurysm?

An aneurysm is an enlargement in a blood vessel that can occur anywhere in the body. When it occurs in the aorta, the largest blood vessel in the body, it is called an aortic aneurysm. ...
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The Society of Thoracic Surgeons has answered a question
On Jun 19

What is an aortic aneurysm?

An aortic aneurysm occurs when the wall of the aorta weakens. The aorta is the major vessel that carries blood from the heart to the body and has branches that reach all organs in the body. The dee...
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The Society of Thoracic Surgeons has answered a question
On Jun 19

What are risks of diseased heart valves?

Diseased heart valves may cause shortness of breath, weakness, dizziness, fainting, swelling, palpitations, and chest tightness. Cardiothoracic surgeons can replace or repair heart valves to reliev...
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The Society of Thoracic Surgeons has answered a question
On Jun 04

What are antiplatelet drugs?

Antiplatelet drugs inhibit platelet cells that enhance blood clotting. They include aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents that prevent blood cells from clotting. Antiplatelet ther...
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The Society of Thoracic Surgeons has answered a question
On May 20

What happens if an aortic aneurysm bursts?

Because an aortic aneurysm is an enlargement of the largest blood vessel in our body, a rupture or ‘bursting’ of this blood vessel results in massive internal bleeding. This usually beg...
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The Society of Thoracic Surgeons has answered a question
On May 20

What are the symptoms of an aortic aneurysm?

An aortic aneurysm is an enlargement or dilation of the aorta. The aorta is the largest artery in the body. It begins at the heart and curves to run along the spine and provides blood flow to...
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The Society of Thoracic Surgeons has answered a question
On May 02

What is the treatment for an aortic aneurysm?

An aneurysm is an enlargement of a blood vessel. Most commonly, aneurysms involve the aorta, which is the large blood vessel that brings blood from the heart to the body. Smaller aneurysms are ofte...
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The Society of Thoracic Surgeons has answered a question
On May 02

What causes an arrhythmia?

There are many causes of arrhythmias, or irregular and abnormal heart rate, and many arrythmias whose cause is unknown. Ischemia, lack of sufficient blood flow to the heart, can cause arrythm...
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The Society of Thoracic Surgeons has answered a question
On Apr 15

What can happen if I do nothing for my aortic stenosis?

If you do nothing for your aortic stenosis, it is important to know that severe aortic stenosis, even when there are no symptoms, carries a poor outcome if left untreated. For people with aortic st...
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The Society of Thoracic Surgeons has answered a question
On Apr 15

How is aortic valve stenosis treated?

For people with severe aortic valve stenosis who have symptoms, the traditional treatment is minimally invasive aortic valve replacement (AVR), either surgical or transcatheter. Clinical guidelines...
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The Society of Thoracic Surgeons has answered a question
On Apr 15

What is aortic valve stenosis?

Aortic valve stenosis—one of the more serious and most common valve diseases in the United States—occurs when the heart's aortic valve narrows, preventing the valve from opening ful...
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The Society of Thoracic Surgeons has answered a question
On Apr 15

What does watchful waiting (WW) for aortic stenosis require?

The watchful waiting (WW) for aortic stenosis strategy requires that people recognize and promptly report any symptoms, and return to the hospital for a follow-up echocardiogram. The onset of sympt...
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The Society of Thoracic Surgeons has answered a question
On Apr 15

Is watchful waiting (WW) safe for people with asymptomatic aortic stenosis?

Watchful waiting (WW) may be safe for people with asymptomatic aortic stenosis for up to one year. But for people with severe aortic stenosis, even if they have no symptoms, aortic valve replacemen...
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The Society of Thoracic Surgeons has answered a question
On Apr 15

Should people with aortic stenosis but no symptoms have heart surgery?

People with severe aortic stenosis who have no symptoms may benefit from having heart surgery rather than waiting for symptoms to appear. The more aggressive strategy of early aortic valve replacem...
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The Society of Thoracic Surgeons has answered a question
On Apr 05

What kind of doctor treats lung cancer?

There are a number of doctors in different specialties who are all very important to accomplish the best treatment for the patient with lung cancer. These doctors make up the lung cancer "team...
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The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

What is a Cardiothoracic Surgeon?

Aortic Dissection

How the STS National Database Has Improved Your Patient Care

Coronary Artery Disease

Robotic Surgery

Our Mission

Associated Groups:

Online:

Links:

Associated Groups

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons's contact info

Activity

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