Top Five Reasons to Attend ACC.12: Countdown to Chicago
David R. Holmes, Jr., MD, FACC

The Annual Scientific Session is the high point of the year for the ACC family. It is the College’s chance to highlight its greatest offerings, to educate, to excite, to envision, and to plan for the future. ACC.12 and ACC-i2 with TCT, under the direction of Rick Nishimura, MD, FACC, and Patrick O’Gara, MD, FACC, has more to offer than ever. Here are some of the highlights that I look forward to seeing in action:

1. Learning from Legends: We can all name those individuals who have had an impact on CV disease, the lives of our patients and our society.  To learn from these legends, their lessons, their history, their future is an incredible opportunity you don’t want to miss. Be sure to add the Legends of Cardiovascular Medicine Lecture Series to your meeting schedule.
2. Just-in-Time Learning: We are each faced with the daunting challenge of the huge volume of scientific evidence which becomes available on a regular basis which forms the basis for optimal care. Managing the application of this tremendous volume of data for individual patients is a challenge. The College has worked to identify strategies that can bring the guidelines to the point of care. Don’t miss sessions at ACC.12 which showcase the College's vision for transforming the delivery of cardiovascular care.
3. Maintenance of Certification (MOC): Maintaining certification has become an increasingly important part of the practice of modern CV care mainly because of the dire need for lifelong learning.  Learning that is truncated leads to outdated systems of care lacking in optimal outcomes. ACC.12 offers many MOC specific sessions that will help to guide the future as we each embark on lifelong learning.
4. Engaging the Fellows: To ensure a promising future for our patients as well as each of us as we may become the patients of the future, we must engage ACC fellows through networking, scientific evidence and participation in all areas of the College’s work. These individuals will be highlighted throughout the meeting and pilot strategies for global dissemination of the scientific evidence presented. Also, don't miss special FIT coverage of ACC.12 in the "FITs on the Go" forum.
5. A Global CV Community: The list of incredibly important new learning and networking opportunities available at ACC.12 continues to grow. A crucial part is the wide exposure to our international colleagues with whom we will discuss strategies of global health care with the close involvement of global ACC chapters.

The excitement is building. We will see you there in less than two weeks!

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LBCTs to Showcase Latest Scientific Breakthroughs

Stay at the forefront of cardiology by being the first to see the latest scientific breakthroughs at five featured Late-Breaking Clinical Trial (LBCT) sessions. New for ACC.12, two LBCT sessions will be in collaboration with the New England Journal of Medicine and the Journal of the American Medical Association. The LBCT calendar:

ACC.12 Opening Session and Late-Breaking Clinical Trials
Saturday, March 24, 2012, 8 – 10 a.m.
McCormick Place North, Hall B, ACC.12 Main Tent

• Effect of Transendocardial Autologous Bone Marrow Mononuclear Cell Delivery on Functional Capacity, Left Ventricular Function and Perfusion in Chronic Ischemic Heart Failure: The FOCUS Randomized Trial
•  Evaluation of a Novel Antiplatelet Agent for Secondary Prevention in Patients with Atherosclerotic Disease: Results of the Thrombin Receptor Antagonist in Secondary Prevention of Atherothrombotic Ischemic Events (TRA 2°P): TIMI 50 Trial

Late-Breaking Clinical Trials II
Sunday, March 25, 2012, 8 – 9:30 a.m.
McCormick Place North, Hall B, ACC.12 Main Tent

• Outcomes of Non-Primary PCI at Hospitals  With and Without On-site Cardiac Surgery:CPORT-E Trial. Final Medical Outcomes
• INFUSE-AMI: A 2x2 Factorial, Multicenter, Prospective, Randomized Evaluation of Intracoronary Abciximab and Aspiration Thrombectomy in Patients Undergoing Primary PCI for Anterior STEMI
• Randomized Comparison of Adding Cilostazol Versus Doubling the Dose of Clopidogrel after Receiving Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: The HOST-ASSURE Randomized Trial
• A Multifaceted Intervention to Narrow the Evidence-Based Gap in the Treatment of Acute Coronary Syndromes: Main Results from the BRIDGE-ACS Cluster Randomized Trial

Joint ACC/New England Journal of Medicine Late-Breaking Clinical Trials
Monday, March 26, 2012, 8 – 9:30 a.m.
McCormick Place North, Hall B, ACC.12 Main Tent

• CORONARY: The Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Surgery Off or On Pump Revascularization Study
• ACRIN PA 4005: Multicenter Randomized Controlled Study of a Rapid “Rule Out” Strategy
• Using CT Coronary Angiogram Versus Traditional Care for Low-Risk ED Patients With Potential Acute Coronary Syndromes
• Oral Rivaroxaban Alone for Symptomatic Pulmonary Embolism: The EINSTEIN PE Study
• Late (≥ 2 year) Clinical and Echocardiographic Outcomes after Transcatheter vs. Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement: Results from the High-Risk Cohort of the PARTNER Trial

Late-Breaking Clinical Trials IV
Monday, March 26, 2012 10:30 a.m. – Noon
McCormick Place North, Hall B, ACC.12 Main Tent

• Comparison of Bariatric Surgical Procedures and Advanced Medical Therapy for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes in Patients with Moderate Obesity: 1-year STAMPEDE Trial Results
• A Mendelian Randomized Controlled Trial of Long Term Reduction in Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Beginning Early in Life
• A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial of the Safety and Efficacy of a Monoclonal Antibody to Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin Type 9 Serine Protease, REGN727/SAR236553, in Patients with Primary Hypercholesterolemia (NCT: 01288443)
• Pacemaker Therapy in Patients with Neurally-mediated Syncope and Documented Asystole

Joint ACC/Journal of the American Medical Association Late-Breaking Clinical Trials
Tuesday, March 27, 2012 8 – 9:30 a.m.
McCormick Place North, Hall B, ACC.12 Main Tent

• Survival after PCI or CABG in Older Patients with Stable Multivessel Coronary Disease: Results from the ACCF-STS Database Collaboration on the Comparative Effectiveness of Revascularization Strategies
• Multicenter Randomized Comparative Effectiveness Trial of Cardiac CT vs Alternative Triage Strategies in Acute Chest Pain Patients in the Emergency Department: Results from the ROMICAT II Trial
• Results of the IMMEDIATE (Immediate Myocardial Metabolic Enhancement During Initial Assessment and Treatment in Emergency Care) Trial: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial of Intravenous Glucose, Insulin, and Potassium (GIK) for Acute Coronary Syndromes in Emergency Medical Services
• Moderate Pulmonary Embolism Treated with Thrombolysis (MOPETT Study)

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Million Hearts Initiative Highlighted at ACC.12

The ACC’s partnership in the Million Hearts campaign includes plans to employ its outpatient registry and its consumer-oriented resources to help reach the shared goal of a preventing 1 million heart attacks and strokes over the next five years. The ACC joins the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and other federal and private organizations in the national campaign. CardioSmart also provides patients with online tools to help reduce heart disease.

While at ACC.12, attend the Million Hearts session:

• Million Hearts: Preventing a Million Heart Attacks and Strokes in the Next 5 Years
  Monday, March 26 from 10:30 – Noon; McCormick Place North, N426.
  Presenters include, ACC CEO Jack Lewin, MD, and Million Hearts Executive Director Janet Wright, MD

Also, don't miss Farzad Mostashari, MD, ScM, deputy national coordinator for programs and policy within the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) for Health Information Technology, on Sunday. He will discuss, in part, the role of health IT in achieving Million Hearts goals.

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Expo: The Heart of Innovation Featured Learning Destination

Physicians know the challenges of coronary artery disease and heart failure caused by valvular disease because they face them every day. Now ACC.12 attendees can explore the past, present and future state of care for these chronic conditions as part of a dynamic, interactive experience in the Heart of Innovation Featured Learning Destination (South Building, Hall A1, #1076).

The Heart of Innovation is a multi-vendor educational venue in which attendees can visit the Personalized Medicine, TechnoBiology, Minimally Invasive Procedures and Physician-Patient Engagement Galleries and the Thought Leader Theater™ to:

• Gain new insights into how genetic research is rapidly transforming ways to prevent, diagnose and treat patients
• Learn how revolutionary ideas like growing heart valves are being transformed into real possibilities, thanks to strides in stem cell research
• Find out how innovations like mobile apps are changing the relationship between cardiologists and patients
• Discover the newest minimally invasive techniques, implantable devices, multimodality imaging, dose reduction solutions and robotic surgical tools; and much more.

Throughout the experience, attendees are invited to vote on some of the most controversial topics. In addition, attendees can get up to speed on ACCF/AHA Guidelines in the context of the latest innovations. Plus, elevate the hands-on clinical learning experience by using an optional Apple iPad^® as a tour guide.

The adjoining Thought Leader Theater will feature presentations and panel discussions from world-renowned physicians, scientists and academics. These presentations correlate to the four Galleries of the Heart of Innovation. View the complete schedule.

From the partnership that brought the Hybrid Suite at ACC.10, unifying the worlds of surgery and intervention, and the Hospital to Home Learning Destination at ACC.11, sharing ways to reduce hospital readmissions, ACC and Philips join forces once again to bring attendees an unforgettable experience. Visit www.HeartofInnovation.com to learn more.

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ACC-i2 with TCT: A Closer Look at Abstracts

In the second of three interviews about ACC-i2 with TCT abstracts, CardioSourceNews interviewed Louai Razzouk, MD, MPH, regarding the abstract: “Is Minimal Luminal Area by Intravascular Ultrasound the Critical Determinant of Future MACE in Intermediate Lesions? Insights from PROSPECT.”

ACC: Briefly explain the hypothesis and overarching goals of your abstract.

Dr. Razzouk: It has been common practice for interventional cardiologists to utilize minimal luminal area (MLA) less than 4mm2 by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) as the sole criterion for performing PCI on non-culprit coronary artery stenoses. We hypothesized IVUS guidance could be enriched by the addition of other criteria, such as plaque burden and the presence of thin-cap fibroatheroma. Utilizing the PROSPECT trial registry of 697 patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome, we assessed the impact of these IVUS criteria on long-term adverse clinical outcomes.

ACC: What are you looking forward to most about ACC.12?

Dr. Razzouk: I am looking forward to attending fellows-in-training review sessions and late-breaking clinical trials presentations, including the CORONARY trial on the type of bypass surgery and the late results from the PARTNER trial. ACC.12 is also a great opportunity to meet with colleagues and investigators from across the nation.

This abstract will be presented on Saturday, March 24 from 9:30 a.m. – Noon in Hall A of McCormick Place South.

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Download the CardioSourceNews HD App

Receive the daily ACC.12 and ACC-i2 with TCT newspaper when you download the new CardioSourceNews HD App.  Download the latest news surrounding late-breaking clinical trials, guidelines, sessions and announcements as they occur on the site in one app for iPhone and iPad. To access this and the new ACC.12 eMeeting Planner app, visit CardioSource.org/MobileResources.

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COMMUNITIES: An AACC Perspective on ACC.12

CardioSourceNews sat down with Kimberly Birtcher, PharmD, AACC, of the University of Houston College of Pharmacy to learn how she became involved with the ACC and what she's most looking forward to at ACC.12 in Chicago.

What are you looking forward to most about ACC.12?
I am looking forward to meeting and networking with colleagues. I am on a couple of committees that have telephone conferences throughout the year. ACC.12 will give me the opportunity to meet with the other committee members face-to-face. I am also looking forward to attending the great educational programs and the late-breaking clinical trials.

How did you initially become involved with the ACC?
ACC has long had a team-based patient care philosophy.  I joined ACC several years ago when clinical pharmacists could first join as Cardiac Care Associate members.   I encourage pharmacists and other CCAs, who have dedicated their time and focused their practice on cardiovascular disease management and prevention, to apply for the AACC designation. The College truly embraces the philosophy of team-based care, and it is very exciting to be in the first class of AACCs.

What’s been the most interesting experience you’ve had at an ACC meeting in the past?
It was a very special experience to take part in last year's Convocation and to be recognized as an Associate of the ACC. 

What advice do you have for first-time meeting attendees?
The meeting can be a bit overwhelming.  Look at the conference schedule ahead of time and create a personal schedule of the events you want to attend.  Attend the CCA reception and programming. Take advantage of the CCA lounge. Introduce yourself to other colleagues.

To create your personalized schedule, download the ACC.12 eMeeting Planner app to your device.
 

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