SUDDEN CARDIAC DEATH AWARENESS SYMPOSIUM 2012
On Tuesday, April 24, over 100 healthcare professionals from St. Luke’s and Roosevelt Hospitals attended an educational symposium at St. Luke’s Hospital to promote sudden cardiac death (SCD) awareness that was hosted by the ACAP Cardiac Research Group. The event featured Andrew D. Krahn, MD, FACC, FHRS, President of the Canadian Heart Rhythm Society, who spoke on the genetic predictors related to this disorder.
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Dr. Andrew Krahn |
Dr. Eyal Herzog |
Dr. Farooq A. Chaudhry |
Dr. Emad F. Aziz |
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Several University Medical Practices Associates (UMPA) cardiologists also gave presentations, including Emad F. Aziz, DO, MB CH
B, FACC; Farooq A. Chaudhry, MD, FACC, FASE; and Eyal Herzog, MD, FACC.Dr. Aziz spoke on the gap in healthcare management and the role of the Advanced Cardiac Admission Program (ACAP). Dr. Chaudhry discussed the role of echocardiography in identifying patients at risk for SCD and the role of CRT therapy for heart failure patients. And Dr. Herzog spoke about the use of a novel clinical pathway – called ESCAPE – (low Ejection fraction and Sudden Cardiac death Awareness and Prevention Eligibility) to prevent sudden cardiac arrest. The symposium also included a question and answer session. According to Dr. Aziz, one of the key presentation highlights was the finding that only about 20 percent of all patients eligible for implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) therapy receive it. The rest are lost to follow-up or are not referred for evaluation for this treatment. Various myths about sudden cardiac death were also discussed during the event. Dr. Andrew Krahn’s lecture highlighted that the road is still in its beginning in identifying the genetics behind sudden cardiac death; “We only touched the peak of the iceberg when it comes to genetic predisposition and sudden cardiac death” said Dr. Krahn.
The symposium goals were:
Describe current trends in the epidemiology and etiology of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).
Describe the current evidence underlying the most recent ACC/AHA/ESC guidelines (2012) for the use of ICDs in patients at risk of SCA, and apply those guidelines.
Updates in heart failure Device Therapy List risk-assessment tools being used in clinical practice or under investigation, and describe the current evidence for each. Where is the GAP?
Genetics predictors of sudden cardiac death.
For symposium lectures
Symposium photo highlights
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Symposium possible by a Grant from Medtronic, Biotronik & St. Jude Medical