7 June, Glasgow, UK - ESC Vice-President Prof. Petr Widimsky, FESC, presented PCI For ST Elevation And ST Depression Acute Coronary Syndromes and was awarded the honorary membership at the Annual Scientific Conference of the British Cardiovascular Society.
In the same session chaired by ESC President Prof. Kim Fox, FESC and BCS President Dr Nicholas Brooks, FESC, former ESC President Prof. Jean-Pierre Bassand, FESC, presented the new ESC Guidelines On Non-ST-Elevation Acute Coronary Syndromes, published 14 June 2007 on our website.
The European Society of Cardiology was equally represented with an information stand which attracted considerable attention with members and non members.
We spoke to Prof. Petr Widimsky, FESC, after his lecture on "PCI for ST Elevation and ST Depression Acute Coronary Syndromes."
1. Are you here to support the soon to be released guidelines on Non ST Segment Elevation ACS, with Prof. Jean-Pierre Bassand, FESC?
This is not the primary goal of my visit, but my presentation on the above mentioned topic is complementary to the guidelines presentation. Prof. Bassand, FESC, was speaking about non-ST elevation ACS, while I was speaking mostly about ST-elevation infarcts.
2. Do you already know if there will be also pocket guidelines, slide-sets, PDA based guidelines to come? When would that be?
Of course, I am aware and looking forward to these. In my opinion, the new non-ST elevation ACS guidelines are among the best ESC guidelines to have been published in the last years.
3. Are the guidelines based on any recent EHS outcomes ? (The EHS survey on ACS was launched back in November 06 or is it too early still)
Guidelines are based on all existing evidence, mainly from randomized trials. EHS Heart survey is designed to reflect, how the guidelines are implemented into daily practice.
4. Prof. Bassand, FESC, recently supported these same guidelines at EUROPCR and hit the headlines. Are ESC leaders doing some kind of roadshow to support these guidelines, by giving lectures at national society and other meetings?
This question should primarily be given to the authors of these new guidelines (Prof. Bassand, FESC and Prof. Hamm, FESC). I am certain that they are so appealing that they will benefit from many national cardiology meetings presentations later this year. The full picture we shall have after the ESC Congress.
5. In a recent ESC interview, you said “one of my priorities will be to meet the needs of National Societies and facilitate all kinds of contacts and exchanges between them and the ESC” – is this why you are attending the BCS meeting and passing on the news about to be released guidelines? What other actions did you recently take that meet this objective? On what other fronts are you currently busy?
Absolutely and that is why I attend this meeting. I am currently busy on several fronts. I am just finishing my this year’s duties as the chairman of the ESC Credentials Committee (a record number of 358 new FESC’s have been elected this year), participating in the work of the ESC Committee on Practice Guidelines, discussing with the National Societies Education (including important discussion held here during the BCS meeting), etc.
6. How long have you actually been involved in the BCS? Are you in one of their committees?
The first time I came was 3 years ago in 2004, and today I am awarded as an honorary member of BCS.
More information:
Interview and article by the ESC Communications Team