At the 2026 American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) Annual Meeting, CTSNet Editor-in-Chief, Joel Dunning, a cardiothoracic surgeon at James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, UK, engaged in a discussion with Dr. Bo Yang, a cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon at the University of Michigan Health in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA, about aortic root enlargement.
They explored Dr. Yang’s participation in a debate regarding the use of aortic root enlargement for the majority of patients, addressing the opposing views against root enlargement and discussing the percentage of patients who undergo this procedure. The conversation also covered important topics such as the mean gradient dropping and the lifelong management of aortic valve disease. They emphasize the importance of maximizing the initial valve size for optimal outcomes. Additionally, Dr. Yang shared insights on his Y-incision technique, highlighting its advantages and effectiveness. They also examined whether this technique increases the length of the surgical procedure.
At the 106th American Association for Thoracic Surgery Annual Meeting, surgeons gathered from around the word to discuss essential topics in cardiothoracic surgery. Interviews with leading surgeons addressing these critical issues were captured, and more interviews from the meeting will be available in the coming weeks.
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