News and views

News in brief from the world of cardiology ...

Correspondence from the world of cardiology...

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 considers how we talk to our patients....

In this new regular series ‘ECGs for the fainthearted’ Dr Heather Wetherell will be interpreting ECGs in a non-threatening and simple way. Confident interpretation of ECGs is fast becoming a dying art form. What’s more, it’s an art form that any good scientist can enjoy! ECGs are open to interpretation. The fun lies in solving the puzzle....

Bennett’s cardiac arrhythmias: practical notes on interpretation and treatment, 8th edition...

Highlights of the American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions 2013, held in Dallas, Texas, USA, last November included success with a fourth new oral anticoagulant in patients with atrial fibrillation, and some benefit with spironolactone for heart failure patients with preserved left ventricular function, a group for whom no treatment is currently available....

The 16th Annual Autumn Meeting of the British Society for Heart Failure (BSH) entitled ‘Making sense of acute heart failure’, was held on 28–29 November 2013 at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in London. Over 700 delegates attended the meeting, which was introduced by BSH Chair Professor Andrew Clark. Colin Cunnington reports on some of the highlights....

The development of an effective business case for heart failure services was discussed at a meeting held at the Royal College of Physicians on 14th October 2013. Approximately 90 delegates attended the meeting, which was organised by Hayward Medical Communications (HMC) and the York Health Economics Consortium (YHEC). The focus of the day was to provide information and advice on how to prepare and structure a business case, what sources of data and information to use, and how to employ a business case to inform service development....

The Heart Rhythm Congress (HRC) remains the largest and fastest growing heart rhythm meeting in the UK, providing education and training to promote diversity and improved technology for all involved in the treatment of cardiac arrhythmia patients. We report highlights from this year’s meeting, HRC 2013, held in Birmingham from September 20–23, 2013....

This year’s 8th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Cardiorenal Forum looked at clinical dilemmas in cardiorenal disease and co-morbidities. The meeting was held at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, London, October 4th 2013, and endorsed by the Renal Association and the British Society for Heart Failure. Alice Zheng and Katy Watson report on its highlights....