The Heart Rhythm Society and the Pediatric and Congenital Electrophysiology Society Offer New Training Guidance for the Care of Pediatric and Congenital Heart Patients
New clinical competency statement outlines training pathways for implantation of cardiac devices in pediatric and congenital heart patients

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ann-Marie White
Heart Rhythm Society
(202) 464-3476
awhite@hrsonline.org

Lucy McDonald: (202) 306-3456
Heart Rhythm 2008 Press Room: (415) 978-3520 (number effective May 14-17, 2008)

SAN FRANCISCO, May 14, 2008 — As devices such as pacemakers, implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) devices become more advanced, these life-saving therapies are being used more frequently in pediatric and congenital heart patients. To ensure physicians are prepared to provide these patients optimal care, the Heart Rhythm Society and the Pediatric Congenital Electrophysiology Society (PACES) have released the first training guidelines (PDF, 108K) for physician knowledge and experience for treating this unique patient population. The statement was released today at Heart Rhythm 2008, the Heart Rhythm Society’s 29th Annual Scientific Sessions.

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The Heart Rhythm Society and PACES developed a task force comprised of adult and pediatric cardiologists as well as adult and pediatric surgeons to prepare the Heart Rhythm Society/PACES Clinical Competency Statement: Training pathways for implantation of cardioverter-defibrillators and cardiac resynchronization therapy devices in pediatric and congenital heart patients. The task force assessed implant volumes and physician background in 49 pediatric programs that implant pacemakers, ICDs and CRT devices, and these findings serve as a framework for the new recommendations.

“Healthcare teams involved in the care of these patients should have proper knowledge and expertise surrounding implantation indications, techniques, programming and follow-up of these devices, as well as the non-technical issues relevant to children,” said the statement’s lead author J. Philip Saul, MD, Professor and Chief of Pediatric Cardiology at the Medical University of South Carolina. “This statement complements prior training guidelines and also establishes new criteria for ICD and CRT implantation in pediatric patients as well as adults with congenital heart disease.”

Multiple Training Pathways
To address the spectrum of specialists who participate in the care of pediatric and congenital heart patients, the new statement is the first to offer competency criteria and training pathways for a variety of specialties, including pediatric and adult electrophysiology, pediatric and adult cardiology as well as pediatric and adult cardiac surgery. Since many pediatric programs do not have the adequate number of implants in the typical one-year training period, the new guidelines are also the first that allow physicians to acquire the recommended number of procedures through either the use of additional years after formal training, or through participation in cases with an adult program. “Clear training pathways are of particular importance for physicians who implant cardiac devices in this special patient population because the number procedures is small but the average complexity for each procedure is very high,” said PACES incoming president Richard Friedman, MD, FHRS. “Comprehensive competency guidelines will ensure that regardless of their specialty, these physicians have the unique knowledge, skills and necessary experience to best serve these patient groups.”

Universal Criteria
While the new guidelines provide multiple training pathways for different specialties, the task force also established Universal Criteria for institutions where pediatric and adult congenital cases are performed. The criteria help ensure patients receive the best care, regardless of the physician’s training pathway. The new Universal Criteria require physicians to have IBHRE (formerly NASPExAM) or Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology certification as well as the following requirements for each institution:

• Facility and staff appropriate for the patient population
• An organized program for device tracking and follow-up
• An organized program for tracking outcomes and complications
• For institutions that serve patients with complex congenital heart disease or patients under 12 years of age, the institution must provide pediatric and congenital interventional catheterization and cardiac surgical expertise.

About Heart Rhythm2008
Heart Rhythm 2008 takes place May 14-17 at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco. The meeting is the most comprehensive educational event on heart rhythm disorders, offering 250 educational opportunities in multiple formats. The world’s most renowned scientists and physicians will present a wide range of heart rhythm topics including advances in statins, cardiac resynchronization therapy, catheter ablation, cardiac pacing and heart failure and the latest technology, including state-of-the-art pacemakers and defibrillators.