Begun in 2004, the ISMICS Expert Consensus Conferences have produced very important scientific results that have benefited all aspects of the minimally invasive specialty. The purpose of a Consensus Conference is to evaluate the available scientific information on a biomedical technology and to develop a consensus statement that advances understanding of the technology or issue in question (assessment) and that will be useful to health professionals and the public at large. A select and geographically diverse expert panel reviews the scientific data, weighs the information, and then composes a consensus statement that addresses a set of questions previously posed to the panel. This statement is an independent report of the panel. ISMICS is pleased that it has had the opportunity to host experts in the fields of Off-Pump Surgery, Endoscopic Conduit Harvesting, Transmyocardial Laser Revascularization, Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery Lobectomy, Stentless vs. Stented Aortic Valves, and Atrial Fibrillation. Consensus statements that have been presented at Annual Meetings of ISMICS and published in its journal Innovations are available here.

	Volume 5, Number 2, March/April 2010, pages 74-83: 2009 ISMICS Consensus Conference
	Volume 4, Number 2, March/April 2009, pages 49-60: 2008 ISMICS Consensus Conference
	Volume 2, Number 6, November 2007, pages 293-302: 2007 ISMICS Consensus Conference
	Volume 1, Number 6, Winter 2006, pages 314-322; 2006 ISMICS Consensus Conference
	Volume 1, Number 2, Winter 2005, pages 51-60: 2005 ISMICS Consensus Conference
	Volume 1, Number 1, Fall 2005, pages 3-27: 2004 ISMICS Consensus Conference