We understand there are many online tools/websites that will grade a surgeon. None of these websites base their reports on the important metrics collected by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons National Database. We wanted to level the playing field and offer persons with mitral valve disease a tool with which to better understand their medical problem, identify how they would prefer it treated, identify a surgeon and a center.
The following are links to useful and trustworthy associations that participate in creating the guidelines to treat mitral valve disease. These associations’ websites can be accessed free of charge.
A useful website of a community of persons living with heart valve disease.
The American College of Cardiologists website lists the guidelines to different valve problems among other heart diseases.
The Society of Thoracic Surgeons patient education portal
The Prestigious INH’s website on mitral valve disease.
The American Board of Medical Specialties website allows patients to find out if their physicians, including cardiac surgeons are board certified.
The American Board of Thoracic Surgery is the main body certifying the credentials of Thoracic Surgeons, also known as Cardiothoracic Surgeons.
The 3 star system from the STS is the most objective assessment of the performance by heart surgery programs. This includes mitral valve surgery.
The largest society of heart and lung surgeons in the world, the STS helps publish guidelines on the treatment of mitral valve disease.
The American Heart Association together with other Societies publish the valve treatment guidelines.
The Society of Thoracic Surgeons website has a very helpful explanation of cardiac surgery terminology.
ISMICS is the largest international society of minimally invasive cardiac heart surgeons.
The Society of Thoracic Surgeons website on the importance and meaning of the national surgical database.
Medline, form the U.S. National Library of Medicine website describing the minimally invasive mitral valve operation.