CardioExchange Archive

The light and heat outside are intense as I emerge from the darkened, cool room where I spent the last 4 hours, focused on the treatment of aortic stenosis. A good crowd had gathered, and a stunning line up of experts led the way, lecturing on what is known and what is to come. From John Webb on the newest sheaths (14 french expandable), radically diminishing vascular complications and bleeding (and leading me to appreciate my peripheral training more than ever), to David Holmes outlining strategies for rational dispersion of the technology, I marvel at how well this field is managed.

Once again it is easy to prove within the first hour why attendance in person is so important: I stategize with an old friend from residency, Susan Bell, now on staff at Vanderbilt and an emerging expert in Geriatric Cardiology, about how best to deliver care to our elderly TAVR patients. Her insight is instrumental to my own research in shared decision making, and yet I hadn’t yet identified her as a research partner. I laugh with friends from other interventional fellowships about our own experience with getting to the front of the table on TAVR cases…this shared experience is helpful. I meet John Webb during a break, and am impressed with his foresight, helpful for a trainee. And the meeting has just begun.

I’ll sign off now as I head to a meeting for an ACC committee focused on delivering care to patients with aortic stenosis…the ability to bring work groups together in person is another benefit of traveling to LA. By the way, I also didn’t realize how gorgeous the mountains would be. Looking forward to the late breakers- especially FREEDOM- this afternoon. Until then…