Since its inception more than a decade ago, our Journal has been dedicated to the same core values as our flagship interventional course, EuroPCR, and the interventional branch of the European Society of Cardiology, the EAPCI: providing a forum for the publication of important basic science and clinical research, facilitating the dissemination of advances in interventional cardiology, and creating a focal point for discussion and interaction for the interventional community.
This essence combines the old and new – the centuries-old tradition of caring for our patients and the development and dissemination of cutting-edge technology from our specialty. This year, EuroPCR celebrates its 30th birthday: 3 decades since the Course was first conceived in Toulouse, France1. Our existence, however, is not simply defined by the traditions we represent, but rather by our response to the needs of a changing clinical environment and to the women and men who are active participants in it. We would like to discuss a few of these aspects here, highlighting the synthesis between our Journal, EuroPCR, the EAPCI, and the PCR community.
EuroIntervention in May
In the current issue of the journal, there are perspectives on our past, present and future. Manel Sabaté, in speaking about the tradition of mentoring and learning in interventional cardiology, refers to the innovative “Companions” programme – a new initiative from the PCR community that will be very much in evidence at EuroPCR 2019 – a concept born out of the very nature of who we are and what we do together: sharing knowledge and experience with the over-arching goal of improving patient care through a global commitment to raising standards in clinical practice2.
Stephan Windecker captures the motivating spirit of what we have accomplished together in interventional cardiology in recent decades and where we are going from here3.
The EuroPCR/May edition of EuroIntervention includes important articles on screening for and executing the BASILICA procedure for coronary protection in transcatheter aortic valve interventions4,5,6, the annual consensus from the European Bifurcation Club7, and several articles on ongoing research in bioresorbable vascular scaffolds (BVS)8,9,10.
Noteworthy at EuroPCR 2019
LATE BREAKING TRIALS
One important area where the Journal plays an active role in EuroPCR is in the publication of late breaking trials (LBT) presented during the course. The EuroIntervention Editorial Board issues a call for these LBT to be submitted for consideration for publication in the Journal. Each manuscript undergoes a fast track review process and, if accepted for publication, will be simultaneously available at the time of presentation in Paris.
JOINT EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL/EUROINTERVENTION SESSION
The “Year in Intervention” will be developed during EuroPCR at a dedicated joint session of the European Heart Journal and EuroIntervention on Thursday, 23 May at 8.30 am in Room Maillot. This joint session – with the editorial boards of EuroIntervention and the European Heart Journal – will review the year’s essential articles and provide an opportunity to reflect on the impact of these publications in our daily practice. We look forward to seeing you there.
PCR STATEMENTS
During EuroPCR 2019, PCR will release five critical “statements” which represent a state-of-the-art position on important topics relevant to our community. The aim of these statements is to clarify the PCR community’s position on five important subjects: 1. percutaneous edge-to-edge repair in patients with heart failure and secondary mitral regurgitation presented by Bernard Prendergast; 2. the observation of excess mortality with paclitaxel-eluting drug-coated balloons by Alexandra Lansky; 3. a consensus from the Academic Research Consortium on the definitions of high bleeding risk in patients undergoing PCI by Philip Urban; 4. an EAPCI expert consensus on the use of intracoronary imaging by Tom Johnson; and 5. the evolving indications for TAVI in patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis by Stephan Windecker.
IN ADDITION
An updated interactive programme and much more information about new innovative EuroPCR formats including PCR Algorithm sessions, simulation-based learning, focus on imaging, or “NextGen” sessions, can be found at PCRonline.com. Visiting this website will also allow you to discover direct links to our Journal’s new and improved website and also a variety of other resources such as the updated PCR-EAPCI and Coronary Stenosis textbooks, and the new second edition of the “PCI Textbook - Tips and tricks of new techniques beyond stenting” edited by Manel Sabaté and Salvatore Brugaletta.
Each year, EuroPCR explores new subject matter, session types, and innovative formats to facilitate engagement with the course participants and provide for their changing educational needs. This year, participants will find a transformed stage in the main arena which will promote an enhanced learning experience by encouraging movement and increased interaction between the chairpersons and experts on stage, the live case centres and the audience.
We look forward to your continued participation here in the pages of EuroIntervention or online at www.eurointervention.com and during EuroPCR as we dedicate ourselves to forging the future of our specialty – and patient care – together.
