The 2025 STS Coronary Conference was held from June 12–14 in Chicago, bringing together more than 200 healthcare specialists from around the world. This three-day event was delivered groundbreaking insights and hands-on training for professionals involved in coronary surgery. “More and more, the concept of a coronary surgery specialist is emerging, and this conference supported that development by providing the education needed to acquire and validate the relevant skills and knowledge at each surgeon’s institution,” said co-course director Marc Ruel, MD, of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute.
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New for 2025, the Training Village offered attendees hands-on opportunities to build their skill set.
The conference featured a comprehensive program that focused on advanced surgical techniques, minimally invasive methods, and the latest technological innovations in the field. Attendees engaged with leaders in cardiothoracic surgery through lectures, panel discussions, and collaborative learning activities.
Each day included expert-led sessions covering a wide range of topics, including radial artery and BITA grafting, evidence-based practices, and technical pearls in coronary surgery. Participants also attended sessions on academic career development and minimally invasive, hybrid, and robotic CABG techniques. Highlights of the conference included keynote lectures, interactive case discussions, and surgical video presentations that allowed attendees to explore complex intraoperative and postoperative decision-making strategies in greater depth.
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Between sessions, attendees explored poster presentations and visited industry exhibits.
A key feature of the event was the introduction of the Training Village, a non-CME, hands-on learning space that featured cutting-edge surgical simulations and demonstrations and allowed attendees to gain practical experience under expert guidance.
The Training VIllage was organized into three stations:
Anastomosis Masterclass, which focused on advanced anastomotic techniques
Flow Measurement & Quality Control, where attendees practiced using intraoperative assessment tools to improve graft outcomes; and
Atrial Fibrillation Treatment, which provided instruction on left atrial appendage clipping and intraoperative Maze procedures.
“The Training Village was a great example of the conference’s practical component—emphasizing ‘know-how’ and ‘how-to’ over abstract concepts or theory, if you will,” said Dr. Ruel.
Throughout the conference, attendees participated in a wide array of engaging sessions, such as "Mastering Coronary Surgery: Expert Techniques," "Making the Most of Your Conduits," and "Which Kind of Academic Surgeon Do You Want to Be?" These sessions focused on developing both technical skills and strategic thinking.
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Dr. Brittany Zwischenberger (left) and her father, Dr. Joseph Zwischenberger (right), both presented at the conference.
By the end of the conference, participants had expanded their clinical knowledge, honed their skills, and networked with peers and leaders in coronary surgery. “As both a moderator and presenter, I left feeling inspired by the exchange of ideas and the shared commitment to advancing progress in coronary surgery,” said Brittany Zwischenberger, MD, of Duke University.
CHICAGO (June 4, 2025) — A new study published in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, a journal from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons, finds that Medicare patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) who undergo surgical ablation during isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) live longer than those who do not, offering compelling support for clinical guidelines that recommend this procedure but are too often not followed in practice.
CHICAGO, April 28, 2025 — The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) today announced the launch of its latest surgical risk calculator designed for patients undergoing ascending aorta and aortic root surgery, with or without concomitant aortic valve replacement (AVR). This first-of-its-kind tool represents a major step forward in risk stratification and personalized surgical planning for complex aortic operations.
In this one-hour webinar, experts in robotic cardiac surgery will discuss robotic CABG and hybrid revascularization, how to start a hybrid program, and where hybrid revascularization stands in the current arena of treatment for coronary artery disease.
Moderators
Arman Arghami, MD Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN
Gianluca Torregrossa, MD Lankenau Medical Center Wynnewood, PA
Join a group of expert faculty for an in-depth discussion on the latest advances, controversies, and best practices in conduit strategies for CABG. The panelists will discuss:
State-of-the-Art CABG Conduits – Beyond the Basics
Arterial Grafts: What’s the Gold Standard Today?
Challenges in Everyday Cases – What Would You Do?
Plus, hear a preview of more hot topics in CABG that will be explored during the 2025 STS Coronary Conference.
Moderators
Mario Gaudino, MD, PhD Weill Cornell Medical College New York, NY
The conference is a collaborative event hosted by STS, EACTS, and LACES, in partnership with the Sociedad Científica de Medicina Cardiovascular del Peru (SOCIMECAR). This 3-day event will bring together a world-class, international faculty to explore the latest developments and best practices in coronary artery disease, congenital heart disease, thoracic aortic disease, atrial fibrillation, and the surgical management of heart failure.
In this one-hour webinar, experts in robotic cardiac surgery will provide an introduction to the specialty, as well as share unique insights for getting involved, getting trained, and ultimately starting a robotic program at your institution.
In today’s 11:30 a.m. session, "Robotic Cardiac Surgery: The Future Is Now," Dr. Tedy Sawma will discuss how mitral regurgitation, increasingly common in aging populations, presents unique challenges for older patients considering surgical treatment options. While mitral valve repair remains an effective solution, the invasiveness of traditional open-heart surgery often discourages both patients and healthcare providers.
In the Outcomes of Robotic Mitral Valve Repair in Patients Older Than 65 Years presentation, study investigators will highlight findings on robotic mitral valve repair in older patients, comparing outcomes with those from traditional median sternotomy. The study evaluates both short-term and long-term outcomes to determine whether robotic surgery offers advantages in recovery, quality of life, long-term survival, and the need for future interventions.
Researchers analyzed data from a cardiovascular surgery database, tracking patients who underwent their first isolated mitral valve repair between 2010 and 2024. They compared the outcomes of robotic procedures with those of traditional median sternotomy surgeries, adjusting for factors like age, gender, and comorbidities.
Primary outcomes included long-term all-cause mortality and the need for reinterventions, while secondary outcomes focused on hospital recovery metrics such as blood transfusions, atrial fibrillation rates, and ICU stay durations.
The findings to be discussed include how robotic mitral valve repair offered short-term advantages over traditional surgery, such as reduced ICU and hospital stays, fewer blood transfusions, and lower rates of postoperative atrial fibrillation. However, no significant differences were observed in long-term survival or the need for future interventions. Both groups maintained excellent physical activity levels and quality of life over the years. These results suggest that robotic mitral valve repair is a viable option for older patients, providing enhanced short-term recovery without compromising long-term outcomes.
During the Top Adult Cardiac Surgery Abstracts session on Sunday, Jan. 25, J. Hunter Mehaffey, MD, a cardiothoracic surgeon from West Virginia University, will examine results comparing two treatment options— Transcatheter vs. Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement in Medicare Beneficiaries with Aortic Stenosis and Significant Coronary Disease. The study aimed to assess the relative benefits of a surgical approach with CABG/SAVR vs a transcatheter approach with TAVR/PCI (elective +/- 3 months) and safety of these procedures, focusing on early and late outcomes such as mortality, complications, and hospital readmissions.
Dr. Mehaffey’s presentation will highlight the study’s findings that TAVR/PCI is associated with lower hospital mortality, bleeding, and kidney injury but higher incidence of new pacemaker and vascular complications compared to SAVR in this patient group. However, CABG/SAVR was associated with significantly lower longitudinal all-cause mortality and improved freedom from the composite of death, stroke, MI, or valve reintervention. Furthermore, subgroup analysis of single vessel coronary patients confirmed CABG/SAVR was associated with superior freedom from the composite of death, stroke, MI, or valve reintervention compared to PCI/TAVR particularly in surgical patients who received arterial grafts.
This study uses real-world contemporary data highlighting the longitudinal benefits of a surgical approach compared to a transcatheter approach in patients undergoing aortic valve replacement with significant coronary disease. “These data provide important information to guide heart team discussion and decision making in patients needing aortic valve replacement,” said Dr Mehaffey.
