CardioExchange Archive

See previous post (ACC Day 1) and the following one (ACC Day 3)

Several Fellows in Cardiology who are attending this week’s ACC meeting are blogging together right here. The Fellows include Shane LaRue, Justin Bachmann, Nihar Desai, Shanti Bansal, and Hansie Mathelier. Check back often to learn about the biggest buzz at the ACC — whether it’s a poster, a presentation, or the word in the hallways.

Shanti Bansal
3/15   11:54 pm

As the meeting is wrapping up, I wanted to reflect upon my time at the ACC.

5 favorite things:
1. Meeting some really famous cardiologists — whom I didn’t even know were still alive
2. The new robotics system for surgery
3. The live CTO case from Yale
4. Catching up with old friends
5. Showing off my poster

5 annoying things:
1. Authors who claim to have no disclosures – when that is not true
2. Bad pizza for sale
3. Topics that were well above my head
4. 6 AM meeting on a Sunday —  Yuk!
5. No time to see Atlanta

Shane LaRue
3/15  6:42 p.m.

Few thoughts as my 2nd day comes to an end. (I actually had many profound thoughts, but due to iPhone operator error, it was erased before I sent it, so you get the quick rehashing.)

The meeting is exhausting. I have to agree with the earlier post, the variety is incredible. As a first year fellow, it is tough to plan my day. Do I go to the review/educational sessions or to new research presentations, or do I support the faculty from my institution?

I did all of the above today, hopefully with an appropriate balance.

The FIT bootcamp talks have been the most useful. The ‘my own worst complication’ talk (draw your own parallel to my maiden voyage into the blogosphere) was the most entertaining part of my day.

Now, time for drinks and sushi (likely even more entertaining)

Nihar Desai
3/15 12:38 p.m.

Wow, another day of wonderful programming, too many options! I made it to the late breaking trials and was fairly underwhelmed by the claimed benefit of ablation in afib. The interventional trials this morning looking at cilostazol and duration of dual antiplatelet therapy were underpowered but generated some buzz… Looking forward to the FIT programming as well and will likely see you all there, Shane and Justin.

Justin Bachmann
3/15 11:33 a.m.

I spent the morning moving between two Core Curriculum sessions up on the 4th floor, Hemodynamics and Electrophysiology. I’m on my cath rotation right now so the hemodynamics review was helpful. The electrophysiology session was taught by one of my instructors back in Baltimore, Joe Marine.  It’s nice to see familiar faces at the meeting.

I’ll see you at the FIT forum, Shane. Apparently Dr. Fuster and Dr.Harrington will both be speaking.  Looking forward to it.

Hansie Mathelier
3/15 10:08 a.m.

“Feel the Burn or take a pill”- the motto of my first experience on Day 2. I attended the later part of the late breaking session. The first discussion I heard was warfarin vs. long-acting oral direct Xa. Interesting result but the exclusion criteria was quite extensive. For me, rat poison is winning out thus far. My next session  was discussion for the CABANA trial — a multicenter study involving older patients. Should be interesting to see the final outcome…burning (ablation) vs a pill (rate /rhythm). Try to listen to “heart sounds” but the line was too long. Oh well perhaps this afternoon. Now off to “atrial fibrillation and heart failure”…where there is a packed house. Hope I will get a seat.

Shane LaRue
3/15 9:33 a.m.

Monday morning is here.. A happy day because I am officially no longer the consult fellow.  Also had a great breakfast meeting the CardioExchange folks. (during which dr krumholz took my first blog topic and outed my awe in having breakfast with such an esteemed group)

Moved onto FIT bootcamp, interventional fundamentals. Not a single seat in the room, so learned about ivus and thrombotic lesions from the hallway. Looking forward to FIT forum lunchtime talks at the Omni Hotel about career paths.