PCR London Valves 2018 - Editorial from Jean Fajadet and William Wijns
The PCR Vice-Chairman and PCR Chairman share on the culture and philosophy behind the gathering
Dear friends and colleagues, dear PCR Family members,
It is with great pleasure that we welcome you to the 9th edition of PCR London Valves, the world’s largest educational Course focused on Valvular Interventions, and an official Course of the European Association of Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions.
This gathering offers healthcare professionals who care for patients with valve disease a unique exchange platform. Although the focus is specific to valve treatments, the culture and philosophy that characterise PCR remain intact. Therefore, you will be able to experience a highly educational programme built By and For the cardiovascular community within a trustworthy, non judgemental and interactive atmosphere.
PCR London Valves is also the flagship learning-platform among the three specialised PCR Courses, which also include PCR Tokyo Valves and PCR-CIT China Chengdu Valves. At each of these meetings you will be able to witness the benefits and outcomes of cross-fertilisation between the specialised Valve Courses. Indeed, the Course Directors have made it their goal to coordinate the needs assessment, teaching objectives and learning outcomes across different disease presentations, cultural contexts and diverse communities, all for the unique benefit of the individual patient in need.
Cross-fertilisation is also key in supporting our efforts to ensure a balance of educational objectives in the field of valve disease across the spectrum of dedicated and general PCR Courses. The number of colleagues who are not (yet) involved in valvular interventions but are keen on learning more about established procedures — TAVI in the first instance — is growing significantly. We aim to address their educational needs by optimizing the transfer of technological and procedural know-how, using the best available teaching capacity of the PCR London Valves community, and through the platform offered by PCR general Courses.
At the same time, expanding the spectrum of interventional solutions for mitral and tricuspid disease will remain at the forefront of specialised Courses such as PCR London Valves. This focus will greatly benefit in the near future from the recently announced collaboration between PCR and the Zurich Mitral Valve Meeting, directed by Professor Francesco Maisano. Although this joint
venture will only begin in 2019, you will be able to witness some of the creative educational skills of Professor Maisano and the MVM team at this year’s PCR London Valves. On behalf of the entire PCR family, we extend a warm welcome to Francesco and his team.
Year after year, the PCR London Valves Course Programme integrates know-how from widely dispersed specialists. Heart Teams are in fact built by the attraction of very special professionals who recognise each other as unique contributors to the best of innovation and care for patients suffering from valve disease. These colleagues are not just interventional cardiologists, but also cardiac surgeons, imaging specialists, anaesthesiologists, specialized theatre nurses and technicians. They are primarily the ones who dedicate their talent and fantasy to the development of new procedures and the optimisation of existing ones, as well as to inventing new diagnostic and treatment paradigms.
For a number of years, it seemed that interventional practice may be splitting between the « old » coronary crew and the « new » valve and structural teams. Yet, experience has demonstrated that this breach has not transpired. Indeed, TAVI patients are often in need of PCI, and this trend will increase during longer-term follow-up. The performance of PCI with different TAVI devices in place requires integrated skills. In the medium term, as more and more large teams engage in the treatment of valve disease, intervention will be one again - remaining patient- and problem-centred rather than revolving around individual physicians or procedures.
We are delighted to welcome you to this new edition of the Course and trust that you will enjoy the superb Programme that has been prepared by the Course Directors and Programme Committee. Please make the very best of your time at PCR London Valves, use the PCR Courses App to design your preferred learning pathway, be vocal, and take advantage of this unique exchange platform to expand your network, skills and knowledge.
Editorial signed by the PCR Vice-Chairman and PCR Chairman
