25^th February 2022

Dear Member

Joint statement by Presidents of BCS/BCIS/ SCTS to members about interpretation of the 2021 AHA/ACC/SCAI Coronary Artery Revascularization guidelines

The AHA/ACC/SCAI Coronary Revascularisation guidelines published in December 2021 have proved contentious, and have precipitated this statement.

We would like to reinforce to all our members that we encourage them to continue to assess and manage patients requiring coronary revascularisation according to the principles set out in “Getting the Best from the Heart Team” by the Association of Cardiothoracic Anaesthetists and Critical Care, British Cardiovascular Society, British Cardiovascular Intervention Society, the British Heart Valve Society and the Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery in Great Britain and Ireland.

We recommend that non-emergency cases involving left main or multivessel disease should be discussed at an appropriate MDM, and a suggested management plan/options should then be considered as part of a process of shared decision-making with the patient.  Specifically, we do not agree with the downgraded Level of Evidence for the use of CABG as laid out in the recent AHA/ACC/SCAI guideline document.

The appropriate management of patients with left main or multivessel disease will be optimally achieved via the MDM process and after informed discussion with the patient.

With best wishes

BHF CRC Consultancy Support with CTUs

The BHF CRC offer UK researchers the opportunity to consult with a leading CTU to address questions in, and refine the design of, research projects. Eligible projects must be towards the later stages of development (rather than conceptual) and be of sufficient scale or merit that they will attract the support of one of our established Research Groups. Smaller scale studies or those in early-stage development are not applicable for this initiative and should be directed towards the NIHR Research Design Service. Researchers can choose the CTU they would like to work with from the list of the BHF CRC’s partnered CTUs found here.

We hope that this initiative will allow researchers to:

• Establish a relationship with a premier CTU, best suited to their proposed study
• Promote CTU involvement at the appropriate stage in study design
• Provide answers to key questions in methodology, statistics or practical design to further study development.

For more information on how to apply to this scheme, please visit the BHF CRC webpage https://bhfcrc.org/clinical-trials-units/ or contact enquiries@bhfcrc.org.

CTO LIVE AID

CTO LIVE AID 2020 was a great success and the organisers alongside BCIS ask for our support for “CTO LIVE AID feat Bifurcation”. Not only will you be able to follow CTO PCI but also Bifurcation procedures.

MLCTO 2021

The ML CTO Course Directors are pleased to invite you to the 6th Edition of the Multi-Level CTO Course during July 1-3, 2021 in Nice, France.

ECC 2021

Bringing togethr the most amazing educational complication cases from around the globe, to be presented onsite or remote, and listening to particular lectures, unusual topics, from our faculty.

This 14th edition will be a particular challenge for sure. But we can count on the support of our valued industry partners and we trust on the community by submitting and sharing their clinical cases.

Who?

The International Conference of the ESC Council on Stroke is an educational conference for clinicians. It is designed not only for cardiologists, but also for neurologists, radiologists, vascular surgeons, neurosurgeons whose work has a component in “stroke”.

When?

2-4 June 2021 – Afternoon sessions

This format will allow the members to join the sessions that are professionally most relevant to their daily practice

What?

KOL‘s from a wide range of specialties will discuss multidisciplinary and focused aspects with emphasis on the latest developments, practical experience sharing and guidelines illustration in the light of the latest research

Join this interactive conference and benefit of the opportunity to present your poster and share your work with large ESC family audience

Dear Colleagues,

Valve for Life is an EAPCI initiative to increase delivery of trans-catheter valve therapies in member countries with under-penetration of valve intervention. Following successful VfL initiatives in Poland, Portugal, and France, the United Kingdom was approved by EAPCI in 2020.

As part of the initiative the UK Valve for Life Group have launched a website (https://www.valveforlife.co.uk/) which we hope will serve as a valuable resource for both clinical teams involved in valve interventions and their patients. It houses patient information documents and videos, patient stories and decision aids, as well as up-to-date UK TAVI statistics, service specifications, the latest international guidelines, and key trial publications. Most of this material can be downloaded for your personal use. The website is currently focused on TAVI, but will in due course encompass other valve interventions.

Please visit the site, and publicise it to your patients and primary and secondary care colleagues.

If you have any suggestions, or information you feel should be included please contact any of the Valve for Life team (Dan Blackman (Chair), Noman Ali, Clare Appleby, Jonathan Byrne, Sam Dawkins, Phil MacCarthy, John Rawlins, Uday Trivedi). This can also be done via the website.

With best wishes,

Dan Blackman, (Chair, VfL) and Clare Appleby (Honorary Secretary, BCIS), on behalf of the Valve for Life Team.

Aortic Stenosis is a ticking time bomb and many patients may die while waiting for AVR with 40% of patients on a waiting list requiring unplanned hospital admission in approximately a four-month period.

In the current context of the treatment for patients with aortic stenosis, Edwards Lifesciences would like to help contribute to the Heart Team Community by facilitating a webinar on future considerations for aortic stenosis patients for optimal treatment with minimal hospital footprint.

The Webinar will be entitled “The Future of TAVI in the UK” and will feature talks from Prof. Nick Curzen on the BCIS vision for the future and Dr Dan Blackman on the UK Valve For Life mission. The webinar will be chaired by Prof. Philip MacCarthy and live Q&A session panel discussion including Prof. Neil Ruparelia, Hammersmith Hospital, London, Mr Wil Woan, Heart Valve Voice as well as Prof. Nick Curzen and Dr Dan Blackman.

If you are interested in this event, please click the link below to find out more and register.