2026 STS Perioperative & Critical Care Conference

The 2026 STS Perioperative & Critical Care Conference took place Oct. 9-10, 2024 in Baltimore, MD. This year's meeting focused on the latest techniques and management strategies in cardiovascular and thoracic (CVT) critical care and enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS). Thanks to everyone who helped make the event successful: attendees, faculty, poster presenters, industry supporters, and exhibitors!
 

Evaluate the Conference and Claim Credit

To claim credit for this course:

1. Log into the STS Learning Center. (For assistance with your login credentials, contact membership@sts.org.)
2. Navigate to the 2026 STS Perioperative and Critical Care Conference course, which will be available in your My Activities section.
3. Complete and submit the overall course evaluation.
4. Confirm the amount of credit you are claiming for the conference.
5. Download your CME certificate from the Completed Activities section under My Activities.
6. To claim nursing CE credits through Corexcel, navigate to the Accreditation tab in the Learning Center and click the link.

The deadline to claim credit is Jan. 12, 2027.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to  

• Describe the elements of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS), including:
  • How to implement an enhanced recovery protocol.
  • Methodologies for patient blood management, avoiding acute kidney injury, and reducing opioids for perioperative analgesia.
  • How to measure the effectiveness of an ERAS program.
• Evaluate strategies for optimizing the interaction and engagement of the interdisciplinary team during ICU rounds.
• Discuss newer metrics for evaluation of healthcare team performance.
• Demonstrate techniques in ECMO management, use of ultrasound for cardiac and intravascular volume status in postoperative patients, and management of postoperative cardiac emergencies.
• Describe elements of contemporary perioperative management of the heart failure patient.
• Explain the organization of the shock team.
• Describe the diagnosis and management of:
  • Vasoplegia
  • Advanced ventilation stratgies for the post-operative cardiac surgery patient.  
     

Target Audience

This conference is designed for all members of the cardiothoracic critical care team, including but not limited to surgeons, cardiologists, interventionalists, intensivists, anesthesiologist, hospitalists, critical care nurses, nurse practitioners, perioperative registered nurses, physician assistants, catheter lab technicians, perfusionists, pharmacists, nutritionists, administrative leads, physical occupational therapists, respiratory therapists. In addition, surgical residents and cardiothoracic surgical fellows in training are encouraged to attend.  
 

Agenda

View the complete agenda, faculty information, continuing education details, and disclosures on the event website.