This CME Will Help You Keep Up With Congenital Heart Disease Innovations

Given that congenital heart disease is one of the most complex and least-studied realms of cardiovascular practice, why not come at it with the strengths of two powerhouse heart programs instead of just one?

That’s the thinking behind Old Problems, New Approaches: Innovations in the Management of Congenital Heart Disease, a distinctive CME course offered by Cleveland Clinic and Boston Children’s Hospital at the JW Marriott Essex House in New York on Friday, Oct. 4, to Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019.

The day-and-a-half program aims to extend the knowledge and experience of 25 expert clinician faculty from Cleveland Clinic and Boston Children’s to adult and pediatric providers in cardiology, cardiac surgery, pediatrics, internal medicine and beyond.

“The outcomes of both pediatric and adult patients with congenital heart disorders have improved substantially, thanks to innovations in imaging technology, research studies and surgical techniques,” says course co-director Lars Svensson, MD, PhD, Chair of Cleveland Clinic’s Miller Family Heart & Vascular Institute. “Yet these advances have been so numerous and rapid that it can be challenging for clinicians to keep up, particularly in view of the pathophysiologic complexity of congenital heart disease.”

“These challenges have informed the design of this course, which aims to improve attendees’ competence and skills in diagnosing congenital heart disorders and choosing appropriate treatment strategies,” adds course co-director Pedro del Nido, MD, Chair of the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery at Boston Children’s. One of his Boston Children’s cardiovascular surgery colleagues, John Mayer, Jr., MD, is a third co-director of the course.

The course relies on a mix of formats — short lectures, case studies, moderated discussions and more — to address its six sessions’ broad topical range in a highly tailored way:

• Hypoplastic left heart syndrome is explored in the first session through cases focused on imaging and perioperative care as well as reviews of surgical and medical management, outcomes and issues that matter most to patients and families.
• Next comes a session that spotlights innovative approaches to complex problems — including the biventricular pathway, complex heterotaxy, double-switch and cone procedures, and more — often through the lens of case studies in imaging and surgical management.
• A third session explores outcomes in congenital heart surgery though insights from multicenter database analysis, including the use of risk scores, quality ratings and big data.
• The next session revisits innovative approaches to complex problems, this time focusing on 3D printing applications in interventional and surgical management, blood conservation, preoperative rhythm assessment and more.
• A fifth and largely case-based session examines a range of issues in preserving and restoring valvular function in congenital heart disease.
• The final session features discussions of three high-interest topics in the care of adult congenital heart disease, each with perspectives from a medical and a surgical expert.

“The program was conceived to be highly multidisciplinary,” Dr. del Nido observes. “Sessions are structured so that most topics are addressed from a multiplicity of perspectives, including surgical, medical, imaging, interventional, perioperative, outcomes and more.”

“Planning this course has been a delight,” adds Dr. Svensson, “as it allows us to combine the expertise of Cleveland Clinic and Boston Children’s in highly complementary ways to address congenital heart disease in both adult and pediatric populations. Attendees will benefit from the synergy that results.”

Registration information and full course details are at ccfcme.org/congenitalheart19. Early-bird registration pricing ends Aug. 4.

This activity has been approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.