The 2026 American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) annual meeting recently concluded. The AATS 106th Annual Meeting ran from May 2 through May 5, 2026, in Chicago, Illinois. The four-day meeting featured educational sessions, networking opportunities, and research presentations from global leaders in cardiothoracic surgery.

During that four-day period, the AATS published numerous expert consensus documents on topics including lung transplantation, antithrombotic management of neonates/infants undergoing cardiac interventions, and many more. Below, we have outlined those consensus statements for your convenience.

Evaluation and Management of N2+ Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

  • Published: May 2, 2026
  • Description: This expert consensus document features 13 statements regarding the evaluation and treatment of potentially resectable non-small cell lung cancer with N2 involvement.

Donor/Recipient Size-Matching in Lung Transplantation

  • Published: May 3, 2026
  • Description: This expert consensus document features 20 recommendations, organized by clinical scenario, helping guide clinicians involved in the care of patients with end-stage lung disease who are being considered for lung transplantation.

Surgical Management of Primary Chest Wall Malignancies

  • Published: May 4, 2026
  • Description: This expert consensus document includes 34 statements regarding diagnosis and staging, tumors treated with primary resection, tumors treated with resection following induction therapy, tumors not treated with primary surgical resection, technical surgical principles, and postoperative management.

Management of Atrial Functional Mitral Regurgitation

  • Published: May 4, 2026
  • Description: This expert consensus document includes 18 statements on topics including the definition, pathophysiology, and diagnostic evaluation of AFMR, medical and rhythm management strategies, surgical treatment and concomitant procedures, transcatheter and hybrid interventions, and postoperative rhythm and anticoagulation management.

Diagnosis and Management of Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia in Cardiac Surgery Patients

  • Published: May 4, 2026
  • Description: This expert consensus document includes 32 recommendations across five categories including epidemiology, diagnostic approach, treatment of HIT, the management of patients with HIT before cardiac surgery, and HIT and extracorporeal and temporary mechanical circulatory support after cardiac surgery.

Antithrombotic Management of Neonates/Infants Undergoing Cardiac Interventions

  • Published: May 5, 2026
  • Description: This expert consensus document includes 34 statements regarding the hemostatic system in neonates and infants, periprocedural antithrombotic and bleeding management during cardiopulmonary bypass and catheter-based interventions, shunt-dependent physiology, conduits/baffles/non-autologous patch material, coronary procedures, Low/High risk interventional cardiology procedures, procedural bridging therapy, and more.

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