The American Association for Thoracic Surgery’s (AATS) 105th annual meeting just wrapped up in Seattle, Washington. At the 2025 AATS Annual Meeting, a record-setting number of abstracts and videos were submitted on the latest research and science in cardiothoracic surgery. 

Each day of the four-day meeting brought more exciting news as the event unfolded. The following is a brief rundown of some of the studies to come out of the 2025 AATS Annual Meeting.

Impact of Residual Mitral Valve Regurgitation Following Septal Myectomy for Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

  • Description: The goal of this study was to observe the impact of residual mitral valve regurgitation in patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy following myectomy on late survival and the risk of MV reintervention.
  • Result: After septal myectomy, there is no association between residual MR and late/early mortality. However, residual MR may be related to an unrecognized mild intrinsic MV disease that progresses postoperatively. 

A Novel Technique to Achieve Pulmonary Valve Competence in Aortic Root Translocation

  • Description: This study examined using the right atrial appendage to reconstruct a bicuspid pulmonary valve intraoperatively to prevent pulmonary insufficiency.
  • Result: It was demonstrated that the construction of an  RV-PA conduit using RAA and ascending aorta autograft can be performed in posterior aortic root translocation.

Improving Outcomes of Right Ventricular Outflow Tract Reconstruction During the Ross Operation: Homograft Decellularization and Surgical Technique

  • Description: This study evaluated the influence of surgical technique and decellularization on reinterventions and homograft dysfunction after the Ross Operation.
  • Result: As the longest follow-up with decellularized homografts during the Ross Operation, the homografts were found to have a slower progression of late gradients and reduced the cumulative incidence of reoperations for up to 15 years.

Durability of Mitral Valve Repair for Degenerative Mitral Valve Disease in Patients with Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

  • Description: This study investigated the efficacy of septal myectomy and concomitant mitral valve repair compared to valve replacement in patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and degenerative mitral regurgitation.
  • Result: It was found that mitral valve repair for the targeted patient population is durable, safe, and feasible. 

Outcomes of Surgical Versus Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in Patients with Low-flow Low-Gradient Aortic Stenosis

  • Description: The observational study focused on comparing the impact of surgical versus transcatheter aortic valve replacement in patients with low-flow low-gradient (LFLG) aortic stenosis. 248 patients who were low operative risk and were having first-time aortic valve replacement for LFLG aortic stenosis were observed.
  • Result: The study found that both surgical and transcatheter approaches may be equally beneficial to patients with LFLG aortic stenosis.

A Modification of the Reinforced Ross Procedure: Root Pressurization Before Implantation

  • Description: A new technique was developed and observed that helps identify patients who may experience an immediate Ross autograft regurgitation and that supports the reinforced autograft through procedures that optimize the autograft’s function.
  • Result: The pressurization technique helps optimize autograft valve performance and root/annular stabilization before implantation.

For more articles that came out of the 2025 AATS Annual Meeting, visit the event’s simultaneously published articles page.

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