EAPCI Core Curriculum for Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions (2020): Committee for Education and Training European Association of Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions (EAPCI). A branch of the European Society of Cardiology.

Abstract

The proposed 2020 Core Curriculum for Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions aims to provide an updated European consensus that defines the level of experience and knowledge in the field of percutaneous cardiovascular intervention (PCI). It promotes homogenous education and training programmes among countries, and is the cornerstone of the new EAPCI certification, designed to support the recognition of competencies at the European level and the free movement of certified specialists in the European Community. It is based on a thorough review of the ESC guidelines and of the EAPCI textbook on percutaneous interventional cardiovascular medicine. The structure of the current core curriculum evolved from previous EAPCI core curricula and from the "2013 core curriculum of the general cardiologist" to follow the current ESC recommendations for core curricula. In most subject areas, there was a wide -if not unanimous -consensus among the task force members on the training required for the interventional cardiologist of the future. The document recommends that acquisition of competence in interventional cardiology requires at least two years of postgraduate training, in addition to four years devoted to cardiology. The first part of the curriculum covers general aspects of training and is followed by a comprehensive description of the specific components in 54 chapters. Each of the chapters includes statements of the objectives, and is further subdivided into the required knowledge, skills, behaviours, and attitudes. KEYWORDS • miscellaneous* Level I and II intervention skills may be acquired outside the primary training centre, as part of a cooperation programme. ** Level V intervention skills are not expected in all areas at the end of the two years of training in interventional cardiology.

Echocardiographic-Fluoroscopic Fusion Imaging Improves Interventionalists’ Learning Curve for Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Closure—Initial, Single-Center, Retrospective Observations

“…The initial stages during interventional cardiology training are crucial for acquiring the necessary skills and ensuring patient safety, as the expert consensus summarized the key points of training of new interventionalists: “master the technique, know the device, know the patient” [ 18 , 23 ]. Depending on the complexity of the procedures, the progressions may vary [ 24 ].…”

“…We performed a retrospective single-center study and analyzed data of two interventional cardiologists (ICs), who performed 273 LAAC between 2011 and 2022 at our heart center (see Figure 1 ). The first interventionalist (IC 1) was experienced in both coronary and structural interventions (level of competence V defined by EAPCI [ 18 ]) and worked with FI (N = 180; +FI) and without FI (N = 36; −FI). The second interventionalist (IC 2) was also experienced (level of competence IV) but was a novice at LAAC.…”

Actualizaci�n de las recomendaciones sobre requisitos y equipamiento en cardiolog�a intervencionista.

“…La SEC, a través de la ACI-SEC, aplica un sistema de acreditación interno para profesionales y centros de formación desde el año 1998 4 . Los requisitos para este sistema de acreditación, junto con la actualización del core curriculum en cardiología intervencionista propuesta por la European Association of Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions (EAPCI) 9 , son la base de las recomendaciones que se exponen a continuación.…”