The Panhellenic Congress “Days of Cardiology: Latest Developments” takes place September 13 – 15, 2024 in Athens (Divani Caravel Hotel).

The Conference is organized by the Society for the Study of Cardiovascular Diseases (E.ME.K.A.P.) with the cooperation of the Cardiology Department of the G.N.A. “Evangelism” and is under the auspices of the Faculty of Medicine of EKPA as well as the Society for the Study and Research of Heart Failure (EMEKA).

The scientific and clinical work proves to be beneficial for the doctor and especially the hospital when it is combined with continuous educational activity. Due to this fact, the creation and implementation of Educational programs and Conferences is required with the aim of continuous, multidimensional and up-to-date information.

Such a goal is the realization of the Panhellenic Conference of the Cardiology Clinic of the Athens General Hospital “EVANGELISMOS” with thematic object: “Cardiology Days: Latest Developments”, which will be held at the Caravel Hotel September 13-15, 2024, with the participation of distinguished and experienced speakers in specific fields of Cardiology.

Cardiovascular diseases are a major health problem in modern times since they are the first cause of death in modern western societies. In Europe, 49% of all deaths are from cardiovascular diseases, of which 55% are women and 43% are men. Coronary artery disease is responsible for approximately 50% of these deaths and almost 1/3 in A.E.E. Arrhythmias, valvular diseases, heart failure and other perhaps less common heart diseases also play an important role.

The development of science in general has been leaps and bounds in recent years. Especially in Medicine, new data are constantly emerging regarding the understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms, the diagnostic approach, as well as the way to treat the various diseases. In Cardiology in particular, significant progress has been observed in a wide range of Coronary Disease, Valvular Diseases, Arrhythmias, Heart Failure, Arterial Hypertension and Metabolic Syndrome. Often the new treatments that are proposed are disruptive, they come to shake the waters and with new, often revolutionary, methods to greatly increase the success in dealing with many pathological conditions.

At the conference, a detailed report will be made on all current issues concerning the various fields of cardiology and the newest data that have emerged in recent years will be analyzed.

In the field of Coronary Artery Disease, reference will be made to the treatment of chronic Coronary Artery Disease, functional assessment and imaging methods beyond classic coronary angiography, but also to the further treatment of polyvascular or complex disease, stem disease with the newest and best methods either with percutaneous angioplasty or by-pass.

In the field of Heart Failure, special mention will be made of the newest treatment methods, either pharmaceutical or invasive, which are a revolution in the treatment of this group of patients, offering not only relief to their symptoms and an improvement in their quality of life, but also a significant improvement in their prognosis and an increase in their life expectancy.

The field of valvular diseases has also seen leaps and bounds in recent years. Transcutaneous Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVI) operations pioneered by the Evangelism Cardiology Clinic are being performed more and more frequently, providing a solution to the problem of many moderate or high risk patients who cannot undergo surgery, thus improving their quality of life but also most importantly by prolonging their survival. At the same time, severe mitral valve insufficiency, which is also common in patients with heart failure, is treated in many cases with a percutaneous intervention of Mitral-clip placement with great success, while very recently methods of percutaneous treatment of insufficiency and the tricuspid valve have also been developed. key topics that will be developed at the Conference. An extensive reference will be made to the indications and methods of percutaneous treatment of all valvular diseases as well as to the newest minimally invasive surgical repair techniques where these should be preferred.

Arrhythmias are also often directly associated with increased morbidity and mortality in cardiac patients. The modern methods in their treatment, mainly in an invasive way in recent years but also with the use of newer devices, has significantly changed the landscape in this field with significant benefits even with a reduction in the mortality of seriously ill patients. Particular reference will be made to the newest methods of ablation of arrhythmias, both atrial fibrillation, which is very common in patients with heart failure, and dangerous ventricular arrhythmias.

Finally, there will be a detailed reference to the treatment of patients with congenital heart diseases, the newest diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, but also a reference to the current situation prevailing in the Greek area regarding the modern nursing treatment and care of heart patients by experienced and excellent nurse-speakers.

With the warmest thanks for your interest and with the certainty that your active participation is the best guarantee for the success of our Conference, we will be happy to welcome you to Cardiology Days.

On behalf of the Organizing Committee,
TRIKAS ATHANASIOS, MD, FESC, FACC
Chairman of the Organizing Committee
Coordinating Director of the Cardiology Clinic, G.N.A. “The Evangelism”
Associate Professor of the Faculty of Medicine, EKPA