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| Cardiovascular BGS Section Update |
| Email your comments The BGS Cardiovascular Special Interest Group’s Annual General Meeting was held in the stylish surroundings of the Crowne Plaza Hotel. It was supported by a total of 150 attendees, made up mostly of consultants, but with a smattering of trainees and significant others. The meeting, which this year was co-organised with the British Association of Stroke Physicians (BASP), kicked off with an update on the Stroke Strategy from National Czar, Roger Boyle, the Society’s favourite cardiologist! He outlined the progress so far, whilst being careful not to say that there were no blocks or challenges - not least of which is the NHS’s own looming credit crunch, which may curtail some of the promised extra investment in stroke services. David Colin-Thomé, the primary Care Czar, took us through how the Quality Outcomes Framework, amongst other things, has helped improve the primary prevention of stroke, and what efforts the DoH are making, partly through the Darzi plan, to improve primary care in especially deprived areas. Helen Rogers, who is well known to all of us, then stepped into Gary Ford’s shoes( no mean task) to give us an update on the progress in stroke research fostered through the National Stroke Research network, and in particular, how trial accrual may be improved in the coming years. In a lunchtime sponsored satellite symposium, David Strain, Lecturer in Vascular Disease Prevention from the Peninsula Medical School, outlined the role of small vessels in target organ damage, and possible roles for new anti-hypertensive agents in prevention. The group enjoys a little controversy occasionally and to this end, Trevor Cleland, consultant vascular radiologist from Sheffield, was pitted against Alison Halliday in a two-round contest to see who could win the audience over regarding whether carotid Endarterectomy, or carotid Stenting was the best therapy. Sadly, despite our best attempts at provocation, they ended up mostly agreeing that there may be a future place for stenting, but CEA is the treatment of choice for the moment. Following tea, Prof Hugh Markus, whilst distancing himself from the politics of the stroke designation process occurring in London, set out what he thought thrombolysis could deliver, and inspired us with the possibilities of delivering it to more people. Helen Rogers discussed what community aspects of rehabilitation could deliver, ensuring that none of us forgot about the crucial area of improving stroke patients’ quality of life, after all the high-tech and glamorous aspects of the hyperacute service. Joe Harbison from Dublin, having the unenviable task of going last in the main afternoon session, did an excellent job of entertaining us whilst educating us about stroke mimics, the bane of the stroke physician’s life! Finally, a further symposium gave Chris Morley time to reminisce about viva’ing Steve Parry for his PhD, but more seriously, to discuss the modern management of medical therapy for stable coronary artery disease. We then enjoyed the buffet dinner and the bar, with the outdoor area feeling like a warm bath compared to the frigid air of the air-conditioned hotel! The second day of the meeting included the Section’s AGM. Steve Parry (Chairman of the section) presented Chakravarthi Rajkumar (Chairman of the section 2004-06 and current vice Chairman) with a trophy in appreciation of his excellent leadership in the previous years, and his ongoing valued contribution to the Section. The first scientific talk of the morning was an excellent overview of the role of stem cell research in stroke management by Kith Muir from Glasgow. The most recent evidence was clearly presented along with the challenges and the impact of that evolving field on the emergence of international medical tourism by stroke patients seeking recovery. John Potter from the University of East Anglia then explored the certainties and ambiguities of managing blood pressure in acute stroke in an excellent overview. Margaret Roberts from Glasgow described the structured training programme in stroke medicine, and the development of a national curriculum. Two interesting presentations followed from a geriatrician Nicola Sprigg and from a neurologist Marc Randall, outlining their personal experience in going through the specialist stroke training programme, and what they gained by doing an extra year to become an accredited stroke specialist. Both had come to the same conclusion; that the year is essential for anyone wanting to be a Stroke Physician, though interestingly, and possibly predictably, they did so for different reasons! During the lunch break the audience was informed and updated about the latest guidance in lipid management in patients with high cardiovascular risk, by the local expert Alan Jones from Birmingham. The afternoon session started with a review of the past and current evidence on antiplatelets in managing TIA and stroke patients. A balanced and informative review was given by Cathie Sudlow from Edinburgh. Catriona Good from Brighton presented a series of interesting Neuroradiology images of various stroke patients, in an interactive session with the audience. The final lecture of the day was a review of the promising new additions in pharmacotherapy as warfarin alternatives in managing AF patients. The meeting was exceptionally successful and was highly rated by the attendants as shown by the very positive survey with an overall grading of 4.6/5. Khalid Ali BGS Newsletter, September 2009 |