Education and research on cardiovascular interventions reach new heights at the first EAPCI Summit

Key takeaways

• Percutaneous cardiovascular interventions - catheter-based procedures performed without open heart surgery - are now widely used to treat common conditions such as blocked arteries and heart valve disease.
• The EAPCI Summit 2026 is the first dedicated summit organised by the European Association of Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions (EAPCI) directly under the umbrella of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).
• The event will bring together leading experts and emerging talents in interventional cardiology and beyond, with a focus on education, the latest science and an integrated approach to promote high-quality care, from procedural planning to securing long-term benefit.
• Transforming ESC Guidelines into real-world patient impact will be a key thread running throughout the two-day programme.

Sophia Antipolis, France - 3 February 2026: The first official summit of the European Association of Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions (EAPCI) organised directly under the umbrella of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) will take place in Munich, Germany on 19-20 February 2026.

Percutaneous cardiovascular interventions are procedures performed without the need for invasive heart surgery. These interventions, including coronary artery stenting and heart valve replacement and repair, are becoming increasingly common as the burden of cardiovascular disease rises and the population ages.

"To support the growing interventional community, the ESC and EAPCI have devised this novel event as a way to strengthen training, showcase the latest research and provide a forum for all involved to come together and shape the future," said Professor Thomas F. Lüscher, ESC President and EAPCI Summit 2026 Programme Co-Chair.

The educational element of the two-day programme involves a series of workshops that bring the existing EAPCI Core Curriculum to life. "Around half of EAPCI members are young professionals," said Professor Alaide Chieffo, EAPCI President and EAPCI Summit 2026 Programme Co-Chair. "To support their development, experts will pass on their knowledge about the fundamental techniques needed by today's interventional cardiologists in a series of expert lectures, simulator-based training and hands-on activities, complemented by soft-skills workshops on writing papers, applying for funding and leadership."

Understanding how best-practice recommendations described in ESC Clinical Guidelines can be translated into clinical practice is a key learning component for all participants. Summit activities include symposia discussing guidelines on valvular heart disease and on coronary artery disease, held jointly with the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS).

Integrated care is at the centre of the EAPCI Summit. The 'Heart Team' approach ensures that cardiac surgeons are involved in decisions about whether an individual patient will benefit most from an intervention or from surgery. Patients treated with cardiovascular interventions not only require the expertise of interventional cardiologists but also of imagers to optimally plan and guide procedures and experts in prevention and heart failure to ensure sustainable benefit afterwards. To reflect this, joint sessions will be held with ESC Associations, Councils and Working Groups, with the vital role of nurses and allied professionals acknowledged in sessions on managing complex cases in the cath lab and improving outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) or percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). Additional joint sessions will involve ESC National Cardiac Societies and ESC Affiliated Cardiac Societies, as well as other scientific societies and partners from around the world. Participants will also benefit from the incorporation of valuable insights from patients.

More than 300 abstracts/clinical cases will be presented highlighting the latest research in areas such as optimised imaging/physiology to guide procedures, coronary and structural transcatheter procedures, the ideal medical therapy after a procedure and exciting new devices in development.

The regulation of medical devices is crucial in cardiology − advanced technologies can transform patients' lives but only if they are safe, effective and accessible. "In collaboration with the ESC Regulatory Affairs Committee, a unique session will focus on the evolving landscape of cardiovascular devices in Europe," said Professor Chieffo. "Together with regulators and industry partners, we will discuss ways to improve current regulations and better encourage innovation while also maintaining the highest standards of safety and efficacy to enable more patients to benefit from cutting-edge technologies."

Professor Lüscher concluded: "Backed by the collective expertise of the EAPCI and the ESC's Associations, Councils and Working Groups, the EAPCI Summit promises to be the first of a long series of insightful events for the interventional community and looks set to establish itself as an integral part of the cardiology calendar."

ENDS