Four new practice guidelines for ESC Congress 2010 

Alec Vahanian Hopital Bichat, Paris, France Chairman Practice Guidelines Committee

The first is a full update of the previous ESC guidelines on the management of grown up congenital heart disease (GUCH). Helmut Baumgartner and his team faced a difficult challenge. Nevertheless, they were able to provide us with a clear and comprehensive document on its numerous pathologies, starting with a brief - but necessary for many of us - summary of the disease followed by recommendations on its diagnosis, management, and surgical and interventional aspects. There is also important practical advice, with recommendations on exercise, pregnancy, and even for insurance. 

Second is a joint guideline on myocardial revascularisation developed by ESC and the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS), a reflection of the importance of a team approach in patient selection and management. William Wijns, Philip Kohl and their team provide recommendations for the diagnosis and performance of revascularisation according to anatomy and clinical presentation. The document also gives guidance on medical therapy, especially the anti-thrombotic  therapy which accompanies revascularisation. Finally and very importantly, recommendations are given about organisation of PCI centres and patient information. 

This year's third task force dealt with atrial fibrillation (2010 ESC Guidelines on the Management of Atrial Fibrillation). John Camm and his group were briefed to update the 2006 ACC/AHA/ESC guidelines and review the new aspects of medical therapy, whether anti-arrhythmic drugs or anti-thrombotic agents. Of course, an important place is given to ablation either via interventional techniques or surgery.

Finally, our fourth guideline is thefirst focused update on the use of CRT and devices in patients with heart failure. This was felt necessary because of the recent publications which may well mark a change in practice since the publication of both the ESC Guidelines on pacing and on heart failure. The effort was led jointly by Panos Vardas and Kenneth Dickstein. The specific topics which are highlighted are the management of patients with left ventricular dysfunction but few symptoms, those with atrial fibrillation, and finally patients who already have stimulation in place. 

You’ll have the opportunity of listening to the presentation of these new guidelines during the main guidelines session which will be held on tomorrow from 08:30-10:00, and a more comprehensive presentation will be given in specific sessions for each of them. In addition - and new for this year - are 'Meet the Task Force' sessions, to be held on Monday from 12:45-13:45 and Tuesday from 10:05-10:55. Here you will have a chance to ask questions to three of the task force leaders. 

To download electronic versions of the Pocket Guidelines directly to your phone or portable device, visit the Guidelines Download Corner at the ESC stand in the exhibition zone C. Members can pick up the new printed Pocket Guidelines on the ESC Membership stand zone A (while stocks last). It's first come first served from Sunday lunchtime, when people with a smiley icon on their badge - having completed their 'Raise My ESC Profile' - can exchange the voucher in their delegate bag for a free ESC Guidelines Compendium 2010, normally priced at 59.99 euro. Location: Main entrance - Delegate Bag collection point - stocks are limited!  Information can also be found at the ESC Stand in the exhibition zone B.

The Clinical Practice Guidelines committee hopes that you find the new guidelines helpful in your daily practice. And we’d like once again to take this opportunity to thank all colleagues involved in their production, as well as the clinical practice guideline team at European Heart House for their excellent support.