Summary of the Abstracts Contents at Cardiostim 2010

Abstract

Cardiostim is a congress dedicated to devices, interventional electrophysiology and noninvasive electrophysiology. It was born in 1978, and imagined by Dr Jacques Mugica for educational purposes, and is held traditionally in Nice, French Riviera, on even years. This 2010 edition had 5700 participants coming from 92 countries. A large Japanese attendance was present and two joint sessions were organized with the Japanese Heart Rhythm Society. The program was divided into three sections: updates, education, and presentations based on selected submitted abstracts. Following is a summary of these selected abstracts, which does reflect the trends of our specialty, and of technological advances. For devices, telemedicine, MRI compatibility, full automaticity were the main topics. In cardiac pacing, respect of spontaneous AV conduction is confirmed as being essential, and positioning of the right ventricular lead remains an issue. For ICDs, better definition of candidates, utility of DFT testing, and reduction in inappropriate shocks are the main concerns. In CRT, extension of indications toward earlier stages of HF, implementation of hemodynamic sensors, and new approaches to the left ventricle are at the first row. Ablation techniques benefit from new technologies: interest and limits of cryo-ablation, new radio-frequency catheters, visualization of ablative lesions, contact control, and use of imaging techniques. The goals are: to speed up procedures, make them safer, and more efficient.