How to run a specialist valve clinic: a collaborative series from the British Heart Valve Society and the British Society of Echocardiography

John B. Chambers,Richard P. Steeds

doi:10.1530/erp-19-0035

Abstract

As heart valve disease increases in prevalence in an ageing population, comorbidities make patients increasingly hard to assess. Specialist competencies are therefore increasingly important to deliver best practice in a specialist valve clinic and to make best advantage of advances in percutaneous and surgical interventions. However, patient care is not improved unless all disciplines have specialist valve competencies, and there is little guidance about the practical details of running a specialist valve clinic. In this issue of Echo Research and Practice, the British Heart Valve Society (BHVS) and the British Society of Echocardiography (BSE) introduce a series of articles to guide all disciplines in how to run a valve clinic.

Highlights

Valve disease is increasing in prevalence as our population ages (1) and is commonly regarded as the cardiac epidemic (2)
In the United Kingdom, responsibility for the surveillance of patients before valve surgery may be transferred to scientists in a sonographer-led clinic and, after surgery, to a nurse (5)
These are listed on the British Heart Valve Society (BHVS) website which permits self-nomination and the description of individual valvefocused experience and activity

Summary

Introduction

Key Words ff valve disease ff valve clinic Valve disease is increasing in prevalence as our population ages (1) and is commonly regarded as the cardiac epidemic (2). Patients are increasingly hard to assess as a result of comorbidities, while more is feasible in terms of percutaneous and surgical intervention.

Results

Conclusion