Precautions and Procedures for Coronary and Structural Cardiac Interventions During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Guidance from Canadian Association of Interventional Cardiology.

The globe is currently in the midst of a COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. This pandemic has placed considerable stress on health care resources and providers. This document from the Canadian Association of Interventional Cardiology- Association Canadienne de Cardiologie d'intervention, specifically addresses the implications for the care of patients in the cardiac catheterization laboratory (CCL) in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic. The key principles of this document are to maintain essential interventional cardiovascular care while minimizing risks of COVID-19 to patients and staff and maintaining the overall health care resources. As the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, procedures will be increased or reduced based on the current level of restriction to health care services. Although some consistency across the country is desirable, provincial and regional considerations will influence how these recommendations are implemented. We believe the framework and recommendations in this document will provide crucial guidance for clinicians and policy makers on the management of coronary and structural procedures in the CCL as the COVID-19 pandemic escalates and eventually abates.

Structural heart diseases interventional training in Canada.

Structural heart disease interventions have evolved into an important component of interventional cardiology fellowship programs worldwide. Given the complexity of such interventions, the breadth of knowledge needed for optimal patient selection and postprocedural management, and the skills to perform them efficiently, advanced training has become mandatory. Postgraduate medical training in Canada has always been on the cutting edge of new technology, and excellent care is provided to the increasing population of adult patients with congenital heart disease. The current survey sought to collect relevant information and assess the opinion of interventional cardiology program directors in Canada regarding training in structural interventions. Our study reports the approximate number of structural procedures performed by interventional cardiology fellows in Canadian interventional cardiology fellowship programs, the form of the structural training, and the suggestions of program directors who are actively trying to integrate structural training into interventional cardiology fellowship programs.