Written by James Coker | Reporter, European Medical Journal | @EMJJamesCoker
The fabulous venue of the Palais des Congrès in Paris, France will this year once again play host to the world-renowned annual course in interventional cardiovascular medicine: EuroPCR. Organised by the European Association of Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions (EAPCI), a branch of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), the 4-day event is expected to attract about 12,000 participants between the dates of the 22nd and 25th May 2018. During this unique occasion, professionals in the field of interventional cardiology will be provided with insights into the latest techniques, devices, and trials being conducted in the field, as well as the chance to listen and debate the hottest topical issues, with the hope that consensus will be reached even on the most controversial subjects. There will also be numerous opportunities to network and ultimately initiate new collaborations and research opportunities. As always, the EMJ team will be in attendance to keep track of everything that takes place, and we’ll be reporting our findings in our substantive review of EuroPCR in the upcoming edition of EMJ Interventional Cardiology, published in July. Click here to subscribe for free to make sure you receive details of the journal as soon as it’s published!
History of the Congress
The first ever course of what is now known as EuroPCR took place back in 1989 in the city of Toulouse, France, with the aim of sharing knowledge and findings in interventional cardiology. This particular meeting focussed on complementary cardiological examinations or endovascular treatments. Since then the congress has grown in size, scope, and stature, with attendance climbing to around 4,000 in the late 1990s and on to the present, with roughly 12,000 participants expected in 2018. The expansion necessitated a move to a bigger venue in the late 1990s, the Palais des Congrès, which has hosted EuroPCR ever since, aside from a brief hiatus in the years from 2007–2009 when it was held in Barcelona, Spain.1
Interesting Fact
The EACPI was formed in 2006 from the union of the EuroPCR congress and the ESC Working Group on Interventional Cardiology, the latter of which no longer exists.2
Last Time Out
A major highlight of last year’s EuroPCR was the celebrations commemorating the 40th anniversary of angioplasty, which included an exhibition of the major milestones during the history of interventional cardiology. In front of 11,787 participants who descended upon Paris between the 16th and 19th May 2017, a number of ground-breaking studies were presented. These included a pilot trial of rapidly induced therapeutic hypothermia in patients with anterior ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) without cardiac arrest, an exciting study finding that outcomes could be improved in patients with acute coronary syndrome by switching treatments after percutaneous coronary intervention, and news of encouraging developments in bioresorbable stent technologies. The full review of last year’s meeting is available in the 2017 edition of the EMJ Interventional Cardiology eJournal, and can be accessed by clicking here.
Important Timings
The Opening Ceremony will take place on Day 1 of the congress, Tuesday 22nd May, from 10:00–10:30 in the Main Arena/Level 1 and will feature addresses from leading names in the field of interventional cardiology involved in the creation of this year’s EuroPCR programme, such as Dr Jean Fajadet and Dr Alberto Cremonesi. The exhibition area, where representatives from more than 120 companies from the pharmaceutical industry and device and equipment manufacturers will showcase their latest products will be open on each of the 4 days: from 08:00–18:45 on Tuesday 22nd May, 07:30–18:45 on Wednesday 23rd and Thursday 24th May, and 07:30–13:00 on Friday 25th May. The highly-anticipated Best Abstract Award, fondly known as ‘PCR’s Got Talent’, will culminate in the Main Arena/Level 1 on Friday 25th May. Finally, the Closing Ceremony will bring the action-packed event to an end from 12:45–13.00 on the same day, again in the Main Arena/Level 1. Here, the winner of PCR’s Got Talent will get the opportunity to present their research once more.
Hot Topics
The topics covered in the extensive programme fall under six main categories: coronary interventions, interventions for valvular disease, interventions for heart failure, peripheral interventions, interventions for hypertension, and interventions for stroke. Within session formats such as live streams of procedural demonstrations, abstract submissions, and clinical case submissions, there will be coverage of many different cardiovascular conditions and procedures, ranging from non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) to ischaemic stroke, and mitral valve replacement to renal artery angioplasty, respectively.
Social Media
Social media will be highly active throughout the 4 days, with participants and organisers alike posting frequently about the sessions and congress in general using the hashtag #EuroPCR. Make sure you follow the twitter handle @PCROnline for official updates about the event! The official PCR Facebook page will also provide fascinating insights, and can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/PCRonlinecommunity/
With members of the EMJ team in attendance, our twitter accounts @EMJReviews and @EMJInterventional will be replete with news updates from all 4 days, so feel free to give us a follow and tweet us your thoughts throughout!
Did You Know… About Paris?
The French national flag, le drapeau tricolore, is heavily influenced by the city of Paris. When the flag was first adopted in 1790 in the aftermath of the French Revolution, the red and blue colours were used because they are the colours of Paris, which was at the centre of that seismic historical event.3
EuroPCR 2018 promises to once again illuminate the field of interventional cardiology and provide attendees with updated knowledge and skills to take back to their clinical practices. Representatives from the EMJ will be there to witness all the major talking points, and of course, interact with attendees. Pop over and say hello if you see us around!
REFERENCES
- PARIS: Official website of the Convention and Visitors Bureau. EuroPCR Congress 2018: why one of the biggest meetings of cardiologists has chosen to come to Paris again? 2018. Available at: https://en.convention.parisinfo.com/latest-news/fresh-news/2018/congress-euro-pcr-2018-paris-palais-des-congres. Last accessed: 26 April 2018.
- European Society of Cardiology. The EAPCI, born from the union of EuroPCR and the ESC Working Group on interventional cardiology. Eur Heart J. 2011;32:1-9.
- French Affair. Five Fun Facts on the French Flag. Available at: https://www.frenchaffair.com.au/explore-france/french-flag. Last accessed: 26 April 2018.
