The Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) scientific session begins this weekend in Washington, D.C., so charge up your mobile devices now.
The annual conference continues to explore the possibilities of all things electronic, which is in keeping with a program that focuses on the latest technologies in cardiovascular care. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has risen to the top tier of hot topics for 2014, as witnessed by the selection of late breaking clinical trials. Saturday’s lineup starts with five-year results for PARTNER I and includes results from a cost-effectiveness analysis of the high risk CoreValve cohort and the use of embolic protection.
The upcoming trials will provide insights on bioresorbable platforms, novel stents, intravascular ultrasound, optical coherence tomography and a variety of pharmaceutical therapies. The presentations unveil findings on not only the latest technologies but also areas of clinical need that may benefit from technical advancements.
If TAVR is one of the headliners for 2014, will transcatheter mitral valve replacement be far behind? Conference organizers devoted several sessions to this emerging field. Can renal denervation, which took a knockout punch with SYMPLICITY HTN-3’s disappointing findings at the most recent American College of Cardiology scientific session, bounce back? Look for an update plus a status report on related studies.
Of course, there is much more. Not that long ago, attending sessions at a major conference meant eliminating choices. A person could be in only one place at a time. This year, while your body may be in the Main Arena catching a keynote speaker or clinical trial results, your mobile device can download slides or a videotaped interview from another venue for later viewing.
As Gregg Stone, MD, co-director of the Medical Research and Education Division at the Cardiovascular Research Foundation said in a recent interview, an attendee could observe conference events remotely now from his or her hotel room. While virtual attendance is feasible, it can’t match the energy of first-hand participation in a live event.
Technology, whether it is a cutting-edge cardiovascular device or a loaded laptop, is a means, not an end. At TCT.14, technology holds a deserved place in the spotlight, but only if it achieves a desired goal. We will know more soon.
We look forward to sharing the latest news from TCT with you on CardiovascularBusiness.com and in our newsletters. Look for highlights from the late-breakers as well as articles from other practice-changing presentations.
See you there.
Candace Stuart
Editor, Cardiovascular Business