Congenital Heart Surgeons' Society
Encyclopedia
Congenital Heart Surgeons' Society (CHSS) is a professional membership organization of heart surgeons who specialize in treating congenital heart defects. The society is a non-profit organization
registered in the United States.
. In 1997, the Data Center moved to The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto
, Canada
. The CHSS sponsors and oversees multi-institutional clinical studies evaluating the application of surgical interventions in congenital heart disease .
The mission of the Data Center is to improve care for patients with congenital heart disease through collaborative research. Some of the CHSS studies involve treatment of heart defects like the transposition of the great arteries, congenital valvular heart disease
, coarctation of aorta, hypoplastic left heart syndrome
, anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery
among others. Approximately 6000 patients have participated in CHSS research studies, of which about 4000 patients are being actively followed by the Data Center . The CHSS also collaborates with other professional organizations to advance care of the children with heart diseases. They include Society of Thoracic Surgeons, European Association of Congenital Heart Surgeons, etc.
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
registered in the United States.
History and mission
The history of the group goes back to the early days of cardiac surgery in the mid of 1950s, when 16 surgeons met annually to relate their early pioneering experience in operating on children with congenital heart defects. The CHSS' purpose is to associate persons interested in, and carry on activities related to, the science and practice of congenital heart surgery. It also strives to encourage and stimulate investigation and study with an aim to increase the knowledge of congenital cardiac physiology, pathology and therapy, and to correlate and disseminate such knowledge.Membership
Individuals who have a significant interest in congenital heart surgery may apply for membership in the Congenital Heart Surgeons' Society (CHSS). There are three types of membership in the CHSS: Active, Emeritus and Honorary. Currently the CHSS has over 120 member surgeons from more than 60 hospitals.Research activities
In 1985 Dr. John Kirklin and Dr. Eugene Blackstone proposed that the centers pool their experience and data in managing infants with rare congenital anomalies of the heart. Data collection required the establishment of a Data Center, initially in Birmingham, AlabamaBirmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
. In 1997, the Data Center moved to The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The CHSS sponsors and oversees multi-institutional clinical studies evaluating the application of surgical interventions in congenital heart disease .
The mission of the Data Center is to improve care for patients with congenital heart disease through collaborative research. Some of the CHSS studies involve treatment of heart defects like the transposition of the great arteries, congenital valvular heart disease
Valvular heart disease
Valvular heart disease is any disease process involving one or more of the valves of the heart . Valve problems may be congenital or acquired...
, coarctation of aorta, hypoplastic left heart syndrome
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome , is a rare congenital heart defect in which the left ventricle of the heart is severely underdeveloped.-Causes:...
, anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery
Anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery
Anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery from the inappropriate sinus of Valsalva with an interarterial, intraconal, or intramural course is a rare heart defect associated with an increased risk of sudden death in children.-CHSS AAOCA study:...
among others. Approximately 6000 patients have participated in CHSS research studies, of which about 4000 patients are being actively followed by the Data Center . The CHSS also collaborates with other professional organizations to advance care of the children with heart diseases. They include Society of Thoracic Surgeons, European Association of Congenital Heart Surgeons, etc.