2016 Heart Valve Summit

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Valvular heart disease (VHD) affects more than five million individuals just in this country. VHD can be congenital or acquired, and patients may or may not exhibit symptoms. Although there are national guidelines regarding management of VHD, controversies in care in the areas of advanced technology and medicine demand that collaborative methods be created for diagnosis and strategic medical, surgical and interventional management.

At the 2016 Heart Valve Summit, the American College for Cardiology (ACC) and American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) will once again will bring together cardiologists and surgeons for a case-based course addressing the rapid advances in VHD treatment.

Focusing on interactivity and practical decision-making, this unique conference will engage participants in discussions, debates and potential controversies using real-world cases. Its faculty will include renowned experts, who are on the cutting edge of clinically relevant VHD data.

This interdisciplinary course will combine clinical decision-making with medical, surgical and interventional options for patient care, taking into account that constantly changing management tools can impact the surgical team. Breakout sessions for cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, nurses and physician assistants have been designed to help specialists manage their unique challenges from a team perspective.