There are many ways to describe EuroPCR this year - it was so multifaceted, much like a well-cut jewel that it is hard to know where to begin or fully appreciate how all the parts work together. An excellent “cru” much appreciated by all the varied and very diverse participants, it saw the launching of the PCR-EAPCI Textbook, which in so many ways captures our commitment for the future in education, symbolising, in a very concrete fashion, what we are trying to accomplish. The 2012 edition might be over but, like the textbook itself, the work – our work – is never truly completed: it is a continuum, always continuing to develop and evolve as we further our goal of innovation in education.
The numbers speak for themselves
Where else can we begin but to thank all of the 11,387 of you who directly participated in the course this year? You took part in a EuroPCR that was the result of the careful organisation of hundreds of your colleagues from throughout the world, of the various members of EAPCI who were active in the preparation, elaboration and the meeting itself. We thank the faculty which numbered 1,177, we thank the 16 national and affiliated scientific societies as well as the 29 working groups whose participation made the Course what it was. We offer special thanks to what was accomplished by the 19 live centres broadcasting from the four corners of the earth, and who were, as always, an essential pillar in the success of our Course.
This year EuroPCR was divided into four general subject areas: Coronary, Structural heart disease, Hypertension/heart failure and Endovascular. This was, as well, the year of the textbook, and it was referred to in almost every one of these sessions. We noted with pride, that in the congress centre itself, more and more of you were seen purchasing this valuable reference book to take back to your respective countries and practice.
One highly regarded innovation this year occurred in the main arena where we chose to concentrate on live cases. Called “Master Live Demonstrations”, these were appreciated by the participants and included complex coronary and valve interventions.
Classical sessions
EuroPCR was made up of many of the old favourites that you have come to expect from the Course. The “All you need to know” sessions were designed to provide a comprehensive update on key clinical topics… including the knowledge and skills, technical points, tips and tricks as well as experience with complications.
“Learning the Techniques” touched on such wide ranging topics as bifurcations, CTOs and calcified lesions with the goal of showing how to successfully deal with complex PCI in a very interactive format that included “Live in-a-box®” demonstrations.
“How should I treat” sessions, based on the EuroIntervention concept, gave participants from various countries the opportunity to compare different treatment approaches through a lively dialogue between different speakers and themselves. These sessions were the result of a very fruitful collaboration between the different national societies.
“Interactive case corners” were especially popular this year, where a small group of people engaged in interactive sessions based on the presentation of chosen clinical cases.
Spotlighting new technologies such as drug-eluting balloons, we had the very well attended “Innovations Sessions” with the participation of the Israeli “Innovations in Cardiovascular Interventions” (ICI) “Cardiovascular Technology Parade” and “cvPipeline”. Again this year, there was also the popular “Glimpse into the Future” sessions.
On an academic level, we were very proud to have such an enormous amount –70– of high quality abstract sessions as well as presentations of 90 clinical cases in complications.
There were three “Hotline Sessions” reserved for the first presentation of new trials or new data from existing trials. Of note, a special joint session was organised between the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the EAPCI focussing on three trials presented during the last ACC meeting: INFUSE-AMI, The PARTNER Trial, 2-year results and the ASCERT trial. This session was extremely innovative, the goal being to present the trial in the most practical manner beginning first with an illustrative case, followed by the presentation of the trial followed by an open discussion and then completing the overview with a key opinion leader answering the question “How can the results of this trial change my practice?”. We want to warmly thank David Holmes for his collaboration in these sessions, and we all hope that they will continue with the organisation of further joint sessions during the upcoming ACC and next year’s EuroPCR 2013.
Ongoing innovations in education
Besides the creativity shown in the ACC/EAPCI joint session, and in the previously mentioned “Master Live Demonstrations” in the main arena, there were several sessions developed specially this year and which will become key elements of upcoming EuroPCR’s in the future.
We have spoken about this in an earlier editorial, but the fruition of our commitment to emerging specialists could clearly be seen in the four “Young interventionalists” sessions organised by and for young interventional cardiologists from all over the world. Special thanks to Gregory Ducrocq and Davide Capodanno who, along with their dedicated committee, created these excellent and closely followed sessions.
Of special interest, bringing together all the various aspects of the PCR Family, was the “Learning Pathway” sessions. Focusing on one specific topic, each of these sessions had the same particular and carefully designed plan beginning with an overview of available knowledge on the subject – here again the textbook was a major reference – then the specific skills needed (illustrated by “Live in-a-box®”), followed by a discussion concerning management strategies. The third section was dedicated to learning from the experience of others, highlighting the decision-making process with discussions between two or three different cardiologists/specialists, including their experience with complications. All in all, this was, again, a very interactive concept, extremely creative – and judging from your attendance – highly popular.
Hypertension was a true focus for the first time as well, with various presentations, live demonstrations, practical cases and ongoing trials concerning the promising therapy of renal denervation.
We should not forget to mention the valuable industry supported sessions such as “Tools & Techniques” with live demonstrations on complex coronary treatments; “How should I Treat Sessions”, a variety of symposiums, and the always in demand “Training Village” with lectures and simulations.
EuroPCR 2013 began yesterday!
As I said earlier, the multiplicity and variety of this year’s Course, the richness of your participation and the quality of the presentations was reason alone to be enthusiastic… but we do not stop here. We do not have the time to rest on our laurels, content with the past. This edition of EuroPCR leads us to look towards the future, and the work has already begun for the next edition in 2013.
We have given ourselves the challenge –which we gladly accept– of constantly improving, constantly innovating, constantly searching for the best way to transmit knowledge… to give a true meaning to the idea of “Innovation in education”… this is what the EAPCI, and its annual meeting EuroPCR are all about.
