In this feature, the author provides an in-depth look into one of the upcoming events for EP professionals.

       The Electrophysiology in the West Summit (or “EP in the West Summit”) brings together a nationally-known group of experts in electrophysiology in a retreat-like, historic setting on the Northern California coast. The Summit will be held from November 30 to December 2, 2007, and will present the latest advances in state-of-the-art cardiac electrophysiology in a setting that provides an opportunity for extensive discussion and interaction with the faculty and others interested in the field. The target audience includes cardiac electrophysiologists, arrhythmia nurses and technicians, and cardiologists and internists with special interest in arrhythmias. Special tracks are designed to meet the needs of each group of attendees. During the course of the two and a half day program, attendees will gain a better understanding of the advances in the field of arrhythmias, and be able to apply this information to their practices. The program will also serve as way for practitioners who are located west of the Rockies and throughout the rest of the country to network.

"EP in the West" Program

- Program: Friday, November 30, 2007 7:00-8:00 am: Breakfast and Cases with the Faculty 8:00-8:10: Welcome & Introduction Paul Wang, MD 8:10-9:00: Keynote Address: What is the Best Way to Ablate AF? Fred Morady, MD 9:00-9:30: The Future of Gene and Biological Therapy for Arrhythmias Jeffrey Olgin, MD 9:30-10:00: Arrhythmias, Commotio Cordis, & Sudden Death in Athletes Paul Wang, MD 10:00-10:30: Genetics of Long QT Syndrome, Brugada Syndrome, and Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Euan Ashley, MRCP, DPhil 10:30-10:50: Break & Exhibits 10:50-12:00 pm: Choice of Concurrent Seminar Tracks (Please choose one:) Track 1 – EP Physicians & Fellows Tough Clinical Cases for the EP Specialist: Tips & Tricks Panel: Drs. Al-Ahmad (Chair), Callans, Morady, Stevenson • Ablating Tough AVNRTs • Ablating Tough Accessory Pathways • Ablating Tough Atrial Tachycardias Track 2 – Cardiologists & Internists Avoiding ECG Pitfalls: Tough Clinical Cases • Rhythm Diagnosis and Management Implications: Dr. Wang • Myocardial Infarction and its Mimics: Paul Cameron Zei, MD • ECG Manifestations of Life-threatening Problems: Dr. Wang Track 3 – Associate Professionals Managing Complex Arrhythmias: • ICD troubleshooting: Angela Tsiperfal, RN, BSRN, MSN • Pacemaker Troubleshooting: Linda K. Ottoboni, RN, BS, MS • Intracardiac Electrograms: Making the Diagnosis: Henry Hsia, MD 12:00-1:00: Lunch 1:00-1:30: Epidemiology of Sudden Death & Genetics of VT Zian Tseng, MD 1:30-2:00: ICD Therapy for Primary Prevention of Sudden Death Paul Wang, MD 2:00-2:30: Ablation of Ischemic and Non-Ischemic Ventricular Tachycardia Henry Hsia, MD 2:30-2:45: Break & Exhibits 2:45-4:00: Choice of Concurrent Seminar Tracks Track 1 – EP Physicians & Fellows Track 2 – Cardiologists & Internists Clinical Arrhythmia Topics: • Arrhythmias in Women: Drs. Wang, Friday • Arrhythmias and Sudden Death in Athletes: Dr. Wang • Managing Difficult Syncope Patients: Dr. Wang • Managing Difficult Autonomic Dysfunction Patients: Karen Friday, MD Track 3 – Associate Professionals SVTs and Reading Electrograms Melvin Scheinman, MD Saturday, December 2, 2007 7:00-8:00 am: Breakfast and Cases with the Faculty 8:00-8:30: Resynchronization Therapy for Heart Failure Paul Wang, MD 8:30-9:00: Echocardiography & Resynchronization David Liang, MD 9:00-9:30: New Advances in ICD, Pacemaker, and Resynchronization Therapy Paul Wang, MD 9:30-10:00: Management of Device Infections Amin Al-Ahmad, MD 10:00-10:20: Break and Exhibits 10:20-12:00 pm: Choice of Concurrent Seminar Tracks Track 1: Tough ICD, Pacemaker, & CRT Cases: Device Troubleshooting: Panel: Drs. Callans, Al-Ahmad, Wang (Chair) Track 2: AF Management in Difficult Cases: Panel: Drs. Morady, Packer, Al-Ahmad (Chair) Track 3: Associate Professionals EP Lab: • Complex Mapping: Dr. Hsia • EP Tracings: Dr. Hsia • Intro to Basic Electrophysiology: Dr. Zei 12:00-1:00: Lunch & Exhibits 1:00-1:40: Atrial Fibrillation Ablation Debate: Electrogram Ablation vs. Balloon Isolation David Callans, MD and Douglas Packer, MD 1:40-2:10: Atrial Tachycardias & Atrial Flutter David Callans, MD 2:10-2:50: Catheter Control Systems, Imaging, and Epicardial Access for Ablation Amin Al-Ahmad, MD 2:50-3:10: Break & Exhibits 3:10-4:20: Choice of Concurrent Seminar Tracks Track 1 – EP Physicians & Fellows Cases: Tips and Tricks in Complex Ablation and Mapping • Congenital Heart Disease Ablation: Drs. Van Hare, Stevenson • Epicardial Access for Ablation: Cases Panel: Drs. Al-Ahmad (Chair), Callans, Packer, Stevenson, Zei • Anatomic Mapping Cases: Tips, Tricks, and Traps Panel: Drs. Al-Ahmad (Chair), Callans, Packer, Stevenson, Zei Track 2 – Cardiologists & Internists • Identifying Patients with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy at Risk of Death: Dr. Wang • Selecting Patients for Pacemaker, ICD, and Biventricular ICD: Dr. Wang Track 3 – Associate Professionals • More ICD & Pacemaker Troubleshooting: Drs. Ottoboni, Tsiperfal • ECG Interpretation & Arrhythmia Cases: Drs. Ottoboni, Tsiperfal Sunday, December 2, 2007 8:00-8:30 am: Breakfast 8:30-9:30: Atrial Fibrillation Ablation: Techniques David Callans, MD and Douglas Packer, MD 9:30-10:00: Atrial Fibrillation Ablation: Creating a Follow-up Program Panel: Drs. Al-Ahmad (Chair), Callans, Packer, Stevenson 10:00-10:15: Break & Exhibits 10:15-10:45: New Imaging and Ablation Technologies Amin Al-Ahmad, MD 10:45-12:00 pm: Difficult Cases: All Arrhythmias and All Devices All Faculty 12:00 pm: Adjourn

Educational Objectives
       The participants should be able to:
• Outline and explain the ways that clinical cardiac electrophysiology continues to evolve, and investigate how the future appears to be one of continued evolution of techniques, refinement of indications, and continued clinical applications;
• Summarize the challenges faced in the electrophysiology community in developing new techniques and establishing uniformity of methods;
• Apply new data regarding techniques and indications for the ablation of ventricular tachycardias and atrial fibrillation;
• Detect and describe cardiomyopathies, genetically-based arrhythmias, and arrhythmias in athletes, and analyze the various treatments recommended by the AHA; and
• Define and compare HRS-approved resynchronization and ICD therapies and investigate new therapies.

Tracks
       There are 3 tracks designed to provide in-depth workshop sessions, enhancing the educational value of the programs. Track 1 will focus on Cardiac Electrophysiologists and Fellows; Track 2 will be for Cardiologists and Internists; and Track 3 is for Associated Professionals.

Venue
       The venue for the Summit is the historic La Playa Hotel in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. The La Playa Hotel was originally designed as a Mediterranean villa in 1905, and is now one of the prestigious Historic Hotels of America. The 80-room hotel is located two blocks from the Carmel beach, and offers a wonderful retreat for the Summit.

Course Directors and Faculty
       The Program Chair is Paul J. Wang, MD, Director of the Cardiac Arrhythmia Service at Stanford University School of Medicine. The honorary Co-Chairs are Jeffrey E. Olgin, MD and Melvin Scheinman, MD of the University of California San Francisco. The faculty are drawn from these two institutions. Guest faculty include Dr. David J. Callans, Professor of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Fred Morady, McKay Professor of Cardiovascular Disease at the University of Michigan, Dr. Douglas L. Packer, Professor of Medicine at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, and Dr. William G. Stevenson, Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School.

Sponsor and Accreditation
       The Continuing Medical Education of the Stanford Hospital & Clinics is the sponsoring entity for this program. The educational activity is designated for a maximum of 16 AMA PRA category 1 credits and up to a maximum of 19.4 contact hours as a category 1 nursing course.

Registration
       Information about registration may be obtained online at www.cme.stanford hospital.com. Hotel reservations may be made at (800) 592-8900.