The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress is one of the most important events in medicine in general, and in cardiology in particular. It is held annually in various European cities and brings together cardiologists, researchers, students, nurses, and representatives of the modern medical industry. Its main goals are to present:
Guidelines: The ESC periodically updates or presents new, evidence-based guidelines that subsequently influence treatment approaches worldwide.
Introduction and Presentation of Clinical Research: Innovative research is presented at sessions known as “Hotlines.”
Strengthening Relationships: It promotes collaboration between cardiologists, researchers, nurses, and related industries.
Education and CME (Continuing Medical Education) accreditation opportunities.
The European Society of Cardiology Congress is global in nature and covers all areas of cardiology, such as myocardial infarction, arrhythmology, heart failure, valvular pathologies, and others. A significant role is given to cardio-oncology, a field that is relatively new but has been developing very rapidly in recent years.
The need for cardio-oncology as a field has become more important since the development of oncological disease treatments and the sharp increase in the number of patients who have survived. It serves to assess the cardiovascular risk of patients with an oncological diagnosis and to monitor the patient during the treatment period to enable the prevention, early detection, and treatment of heart damage as a result of specific oncological treatment as soon as possible. This, in turn, contributes to the continuity of anti-tumor treatment and a favorable outcome for the patient.
The activity of Georgian doctors in the congress has increased significantly, both as speakers and as session moderators. The number of doctors who have been awarded the status of a significant member (Fellow) of the European Society of Cardiology has also increased.
Cardio-oncology in Georgia is only a few years old. It can be said that its initiation in Georgia occurred in 2017-2018. In 2018, a cardio-oncology group was already formed at the N. Bokhua Cardiovascular Center.
This year was particularly important in that Georgia was allocated individual time on the global stage to talk about the development of cardio-oncology and the existing problems in the context of clinical cases. The session also discussed the problems of implementing existing guidelines and the introduction of cardio-oncology as a component of a multidisciplinary approach.
The session was chaired by Zviad Kereselidze, head of the cardio-intensive department at the Tbilisi Heart Center and president of the Georgian Association of Interventional Cardiologists. The discussion was led by Mariam Lomidze, secretary of the Tbilisi Society of Cardiology. Two reports were presented at the session. One was presented by Giorgi Gogishvili, head of the newly established cardio-oncology working group, and Tamar Gapfrindashvili, a member of the same group and head of the cardio-oncology group at the N. Bokhua Cardiovascular Center.
My report was about establishing a multidisciplinary team in Georgian cardio-oncology services. It discussed a complex clinical case of a patient with an oncological diagnosis and a severe valvular pathology, and the step-by-step approaches to solving this dilemma, which answered the question of which disease to treat first. The correct, timely, and academic use of the guidelines was discussed, which, in the end, was not sufficient given the problems of a wide practice of the multidisciplinary approach, the problem of raising awareness among oncologists, and a number of financial problems related to treatment decisions, the coverage of which is not yet included in the universal healthcare system.
