News and views

We continue our series in which Consultant Interventionist Dr Michael Norell takes a sideways look at life in the cath lab…and beyond. In this column, he muses on curious incidents and their significance in our working practices....

BJC Learning: heart failure programme...

Much of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) 2014 Congress programme was devoted to important clinical issues such as management of arrhythmia, and stroke prevention in non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). This was supplemented with updates from major AF Registry data, which chart the rates of AF, along with trends in adopting novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs), and the incidence of DC cardioversion and radiofrequency ablation throughout Europe. There was also much anticipation surrounding the results from the randomised clinical studies looking at rivaroxaban in cardioversion, and amiodarone in AF ablation, both included in ESC hotline sessions. ...

This year’s European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress promised the strongest scientific programme yet and it did not disappoint. With 4,598 posters and oral presentations, much excitement surrounded the reporting of the 27 studies in the five hot line sessions. While results from PARADIGM and ODYSSEY look set to be major breakthroughs in the treatment of heart failure and cholesterol lowering, respectively, the results from SIGNIFY caused much debate over the role of heart rate in cardiovascular disease. We report some of the highlights of this year’s Congress attended by over 30,000 delegates and held in Barcelona, Spain, from 30th August to 2nd September 2014. Our podcasts (available here) put some of the key studies in perspective for UK practice....

News from lipid studies was a major topic at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) 2014 Congress. The theme this year was ‘Innovation and the Heart’, reflecting progress in scientific discovery, clinical practice and technology with the ultimate aim of addressing unmet clinical needs in cardiovascular disease (CVD). According to Professor Keith Fox (University of Edinburgh) and Chair of the Congress Programme Committee: “ESC Congress aims to engage all countries in the fight against CVD. Although the clinical settings differ, the reality is that all countries face similar challenges.” Results from lipid studies presented at the meeting will help in this aim....

Our latest podcasts feature the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress held recently in Barcelona, Spain, and highlight our selection of trials, registry data and guideline updates that will change UK clinical practice. ...

PCR London Valves 2014 was a dynamic meeting outlining multiple technological advances and novel concepts.  Held in London from 28th September 2014 – 1st October 2014, the main discussion topics included transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) for intermediate risk and younger patients, refining known complications of the procedure, novel device technology and advances in transcatheter mitral valve implantation (TMVI).  In a series of discussions and live case presentations, audience participation was actively encouraged.  The ‘React@PCR’ system enabled audience members to post questions and comments for the panel of each session via the PCR London Valve App. Dr Katie O’Sullivan reports...

In this new regular series ‘ECGs for the fainthearted’ Dr Heather Wetherell will be interpreting ECGs in a non-threatening and simple way. She hopes this will help keep the art alive in primary care. In the latest article, she looks at abnormal ECGs...

Correspondence from the world of cardiology...

Correspondence from the world of cardiology...