About the process: The American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) Clinical Practice Standards Committee is systematically identifying complex topics, assembling multidisciplinary groups of experts, and developing recommendations based on the extent of available data to help improve our practice. The latest document focused on congenital heart disease was published this month in the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery.

About this document: The document is the product of terrific leadership by
Igor Konstantinov and Paul Chai which included systematic review of all pertinent literature and deep discussion by a multidisciplinary group including most of the world’s top thought leaders. The deliberative process to develop these guidelines was ably supported by Jill Colsch at the AATS.

Within the manuscript, the discussions are deep, insightful, and likely to improve our practice. The evolving indications for the Starnes’ procedure and management tips for circular shunts are among the many insights included in this document.

Similar AATS Clinical Practice Standards Committee focused on congenital heart disease include:

Care of children with trisomy 13 or trisomy 18 and a congenital heart defect
St Louis et al, JTCVS 2023 - https://lnkd.in/eiVQbs_u

Management of infants and neonates with tetralogy of Fallot
Miller et al, JTCVS 2022 - https://lnkd.in/ecKJRqnC

Comprehensive perioperative approach to enhanced recovery after pediatric cardiac surgery
Fuller et al, JTCV 2021 - https://lnkd.in/eAaAvszP