Posts by Thoralf M. Sundt, MD
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Treating Pericardial Disease
Recurring pericardial disease can be debilitating to patients, and an operation to completely remove the pericardium may be necessary. Thor Sundt, MD, co-director of the Corrigan Minehan Heart Center, explains how the center treats relapsing pericarditis and, in some cases, even cures the disease.
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The Heart Center & Responding to COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused an immense strain on health care institutions across the world. Thor Sundt, MD, discusses how the Division of Cardiac Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital utilized a multidisciplinary approach to respond to the COVID-19 crisis.
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New-onset Late AF Is Uncommon After Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement
The risk of late-onset atrial fibrillation after surgical aortic valve replacement is only 4%, according to a study by Thoralf M. Sundt, MD, Chin Siang Ong, MBBS, PhD, and colleagues. Prophylactic tissue ablation or ligation/amputation of the left atrial appendage may not be warranted at the time of surgery.
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3D Printing and Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
In this video, Thor Sundt, MD, chief of the Division of Cardiac Surgery and director of the Corrigan Minehan Heart Center at Massachusetts General Hospital, discusses how the use of 3D printing has become a useful tool in his team's approach to the treatment of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
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Non–Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants Are Safe for Selected Patients with Postoperative AF
Patrick T. Ellinor, MD, PhD, Steven A. Lubitz, MD, MPH, Thor M. Sundt, MD, and colleagues determined that after cardiac surgery, non–vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants are a safe alternative to warfarin for patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation who have acceptable bleeding risk.
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Using 3D-Printed Anatomical Models for Surgical Planning
Massachusetts General Hospital Heart Center surgeons use detailed 3D-printed models of patients' hearts to better prepare for septal myectomy surgery for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
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Teamwork Culture Facilitated the Mass General Cardiac Surgery Response to COVID-19
Cardiac surgeons at Massachusetts General Hospital believe they were better able to accommodate the stresses of the COVID-19 crisis because of a preexisting organizational culture that promotes transparency and collective responsibility in decision-making.
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Outcomes of Elective Cardiac Surgery at Mass General Not Affected by Start Time
Intrigued by the debate over the effects of surgical start time, cardiac surgeons at Massachusetts General Hospital reviewed their results and found that starting elective cardiac surgery after 3 pm does not adversely affect patient outcomes or hospital costs.
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Risk Factors Identified for Prolonged AF After Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement
Patients scheduled for surgical aortic valve replacement who are older than 65 and have moderate to severe left atrial enlargement are at high risk of prolonged atrial fibrillation and should be considered for prophylactic surgical interventions.
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Surgery for Isolated Severe Regurgitation Does Not Improve Survival
In patients with isolated severe tricuspid regurgitation, there is no difference in long-term survival for patients who undergo surgical intervention and those who have medical management alone.
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New Decision Aid Helps Patients Choose Prosthesis for Aortic Valve Replacement
A decision aid created at Massachusetts General Hospital improved conceptual knowledge and understanding of risks among patients facing surgical aortic valve replacement, reducing their decisional conflict in choosing between a mechanical and tissue prosthesis.
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Risk of Renal Failure After Cardiopulmonary Bypass Depends on Preop Renal Function and Pump Time
In terms of the potential for acute renal failure, prolonged time on cardiopulmonary bypass is riskiest for patients with marked renal impairment preoperatively, Massachusetts General Hospital cardiac surgeons have observed. Here they provide guidance for real-time decision-making in the operating room.
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Improving the Safety of Vena Caval Thrombectomy in Kidney Cancer with Tumor Thrombus Team Approach
Complete removal of a tumor thrombus resulting from venous tumor invasion is essential for eliminating the cancer in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). A multispecialty tumor thrombus team within an integrated practice can improve the safety of this intricate and extensive procedure.
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Surgical Training Model Is Safe Despite Older Surgical Patients With More Complications
Massachusetts General Hospital Surgical Resident Training Model is deemed safe, even as its average surgical patient is older and has more complications.
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Concomitant Surgical LAAC Should Be Considered at Time of Open Cardiac Surgery, Particularly Among Those in AF
A meta-analysis by Mass General Hospital researchers addresses growing interest in LAAC performed as a prophylactic surgical procedure concomitant with other cardiac surgical procedures.
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ECMO Linked to Increased Survival Rate in High-Risk Pulmonary Embolism Patients
A Mass General team finds ECMO allows for more aggressive interventions to increase survival of high-risk pulmonary embolism patients.
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100 Years of Cardiology at Mass General
In October 2016, the Cardiology Division at Mass General celebrated 100 years of heart care. This video highlights the story of its founder, Paul Dudley White.
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Paradigm Shift in Mitral Valve Repair Management and Treatment
Chronic severe MR patients are without intervention until symptoms appear. Advances in minimally invasive procedures lead to successful earlier intervention.
Biography
Thor Sundt, MD, is the Churchill Professor of Surgery, chief of the Division of Cardiac Surgery and co-director of the Corrigan Minehan Heart Center.
Dr. Sundt's clinical focus has been on surgery for the correction of acquired cardiovascular conditions in adults. He is an internationally recognized thought-leader on thoracic aortic aneurysms and other aortic diseases, having written and lectured extensively on the subject. He is also widely recognized as an expert in reparative procedures for vascular heart conditions, including mitral regurgitation and aortic valve regurgitation. He has also contributed to the literature on the optimal use of arterial conduits to improve the long term durability of coronary bypass procedures.
His research interests have ranged from organ transplantation to the genetics and genomics of bicuspid aortic valve disease. He has received funding by the National Institutes of Health, the American Association for Thoracic Surgery and The Mayo Foundation for this work. Most recently, he collaborated with investigators in the disciplines of human factors and systems engineering to improve the safety and efficiency of healthcare delivery. On a national level, he was the first chair of the Workforce on Patient Safety for the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. He is actively collaborating with members of the Mass General Physician Organization in the development of tools to enhance patient centered and shared decision making.
He has served in numerous executive roles, including surgical director for cardiac transplantation at Washington University in St. Louis, surgical director of the Thoracic Aortic and Marfan Clinic at the Mayo Clinic and vice-chair of the Department of Surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. Dr. Sundt is a member of numerous medical and surgical societies and is the Vice President of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery, the most prestigious academic cardiothoracic surgical organization in the world.
Cardiovascular Care at Mass General
At Mass General, our world-class physicians and nurses specialize in specific forms of both heart and vascular disease, and work closely together to offer leading treatments and preventive care for cardiovascular conditions.