Valvulopathies are often not referred or tardily referred for directed treatment (surgical or percutaneous), especially in older individuals or with multiple comorbidities – with data recently published and collected from national and European registers confirming this consideration. Raising awareness to the need of better identifying these cases, acknowledge the range of therapies available, as well as their better selection, was the goal of the first edition of the Course on Cardiac Insufficiency and Valvulopathy , a learning destined to physicians which took place between 10 and 11 February at Hospital da Luz Learning Health. The Cardiac Insufficiency and Valvulopathy Course: Is a theoretical-practical learning, coordinated by the team of the Centre of Valvular Disease from Hospital da Luz Lisboa, in close collaboration with the units of cardiac intervention, cardiac surgery and the centre of cardiac insufficiency; Is destined to specialists in Internal Medicine, General and Family Medicine, and General Cardiology; In addition to the goals above described, there was an intention to “refer and observe”, based on the Heart Team model, which was the format of the whole course; Is an innovative learning, in the subject and also in the format, as it is conducted on the basis of a simulation platform, where real clinical cases are developed, shared by trainers and trainees, with a “multidisciplinary” discussion throughout the process and a particular emphasis on the decision-making stage of the therapeutic strategy. The (multidisciplinary) Heart Team is always present throughout each case, issuing opinions and answering specific questions posed by the trainees. These multidisciplinary teams consist of a clinical cardiologist, an imaging cardiologist, an interventional cardiologist, a cardiac surgeon and a specialist in cardiac insufficiency. Another quite relevant aspect of this course is the focus placed on the present pharmacological therapy for cardiac insufficiency, as essential and long-lasting, that is, remaining even after a succeeded valvular intervention, either surgical or percutaneous. The clinical cases, structure and team of trainers of this first edition of the course can be consulted at Curso de Insuficiência Cardíaca e Valvulopatia — Hospital da Luz Learning Health・UpHill Events . The Cardiac Insufficiency and Valvulopathy Course counts with the scientific sponsorship of the Portuguese Society of Cardiology. It is intended to have a biannual periodicity. Hospital da Luz Learning Health thanks all the participants, trainers and sponsors. We will be back soon! All those interested in these kind of information may follow up all the activity of Hospital da Luz Learning Health on social media and its respective learning platform ( UpEvents ).
