Advancing Cardiac Care: Insights from the 3rd World Forum on Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices

On the evening of Saturday 26th August 2023, the RAI Convention Centre in Amsterdam, Netherlands, played host to the 3rd World Forum on the follow-up of Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices (CIEDs). It was an honour to be invited to attend an event that preceded the European Society of Cardiology 2023 meeting, setting the stage for a gathering of renowned professionals in the field focussed on advancing cardiac care.

Co-chaired by Dr David Slotwiner, Chief of Cardiology at New York Presbyterian, Queens, NY, USA, and former Chair of the HRS Interoperability Committee, and Prof Hein Heidbuchel, Cardiologist-Electrophysiologist and Chair of Cardiology at Antwerp University, Belgium, and EHRA Past President, the forum promised insightful discussions and updates on the evolving landscape of CIEDs.

Key Discussions and Recap:

The evening commenced with a comprehensive recap of the previous meeting held in New Orleans earlier in the year, accompanied by insights from a follow-up survey. Attendees engaged in discussions regarding the current ‘state of play’ within the community, emphasising the potential benefits of a worldwide survey of electrophysiologists. Notably, the suggestion to include physiologists and explore various scenarios in the survey was highlighted.

Updates and Presentations:

Craig Reister from Boston Scientific provided a crucial update on the latest version of the IEEE spec, focusing on enhanced information about device alerts. Dr Slotwiner’s presentation on his experience of the information flow over the CIED lifecycle in New York shed light on the complexity of current systems, offering a valuable comparison to more integrated workflows, such as EKORA®.

Exploring Future Developments:

The potential of utilising FHIR/CardX was discussed, accompanied by considerations of financial barriers that may hinder progress. Attendees delved into synergies between companies in the ‘middleware’ space, emphasising the need for standardisation in the information exchange between device companies and Electronic Health Record (EHR) providers.

The forum concluded with a unanimous decision to reconvene next year, with the EHRA conference in Berlin in April 2024 identified as the likely venue. The commitment to continued collaboration reflects the dedication of professionals in advancing cardiac care and ensuring seamless integration in the evolving landscape of CIEDs.

Conclusion:

The 3rd World Forum on Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices served as a pivotal platform for knowledge exchange, collaborative discussions, and updates on the latest advancements in the field. The commitment of the participants to meet again next year underscores the importance of ongoing collaboration in shaping the future of cardiac care.