At the conclusion of this program, participants should be able to 

• Analyze the issues of cost, quality, and access of healthcare along with potential solutions.
• Review trends in reimbursement for cardiothoracic surgery and describe workforce issues related to the specialty.
• Discuss the effects of physician participation and non-participation in Medicare.
• Discuss recent innovations in cardiothoracic surgery and strategies for continued technological advances.
• Recognize the implications for those charged with developing a cardiac surgery program in an underserved area, and assess early patient outcomes of such a program.
• Identify current indications for revision cardiac operations for patients presenting with right failure and dysrhythmias after previous Fontan operations.
• Discuss current results with cardiac autotransplantation for the management of complex cardiac tumors.
• Describe the technique of percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty, its benefits, limitations, and patient selection.
• Examine the role and adaptability of robotic surgery for the private practitioner.
• Review techniques for conducting extracorporeal perfusion, repairing the aortic valve, addressing the aortic arch, and correcting malperfusion.
• Assess the efficacy, safety and long-term results of using stent grafts for the treatment of thoracic aortic aneurysms.
• Compare the former and new systems that govern the distribution of donor hearts and appraise patient care and survival outcomes.
• Summarize the results of using the TandemHeart for heart failure patients at the Texas Heart Institute.
• Explain the use of cardiac resynchronization therapy as an adjunct to conventional surgical treatment for heart failure.
• State ways cardiac imaging is being used to diagnose and evaluate ischemic mitral regurgitation.
• Report the influence a major cardiovascular surgery program had on the remodeling of the health care system within an emerging country.

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essentials and Standards of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint sponsorship of Texas Heart Institute and the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society. Texas Heart Institute is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The Texas Heart Institute designates this educational activity for a maximum of 5.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

The estimated time to complete this material, including review of the materials is 5.5 hours.

Repurposing Statement
If you previously completed and received credit for the live CME-sponsored Symposium entitled, Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society 15th International Symposium - Celebrating the Legacy on October 25-27, 2007, please note that you will not receive credit for completing this activity. Participants who take part in an identical activity, even in order to validate learning or to clarify specific topics, cannot claim, nor will the Texas Heart Institute award, duplicate credit for the activity. 

Term of Approval
February 7, 2008 through February 7, 2011. Continuation of CME credit from February 7, 2011 depends on a thorough review of the content for currency and accuracy.

Peer Review
In February 2008, this continuing medical education activity was reviewed for currency and accuracy of content by Patrick J. Hogan, MD, FACC, Director, Learning Resource Center and Co-Chairman, Medical Education Committee—Texas Heart Institute, Houston, Texas.

Disclosure of Relationships
It is the intent of the Texas Heart Institute to ensure that its educational mission and its continuing medical activities in particular, should not be influenced by the special interests of individuals associated with its program.

Faculty Disclosure
In accordance with the guidelines of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education, faculty members have disclosed their relationships, either with one or more of the manufacturers of commercial products discussed, or with one or more of the corporate organizations offering educational grants for the live continuing medical education activity.

Each faculty disclosure statement is posted in the individual slide presentation. In addition, the Program Directors, Denton A. Cooley, MD and James J. Livesay, MD, and peer reviewer, Patrick J. Hogan, MD, have nothing to disclose relevant to this program.

This enduring material comprises 15 presentations. By clicking on this Course Materials link, you acknowledge that you have reviewed the CME information provided above. After viewing all presentations, you may complete an assessment and evaluation to obtain CME credit for this activity.