CROINTERVENT 2013 — VI. National Meeting on Interventional Cardiology and Fellows Course in Interventional Cardiology with international participation, and

V. Meeting of nurses and technicians in Interventional Cardiology taking place every second year with intention to present and promote the achievements of interventional cardiology in the treatment of heart diseases in Croatia.

The venue of the event this year is Hotel Sheraton, 5-6 April, 2013, Zagreb, Croatia.

Traditionally, this year too, with National Meeting we integrated a one-day Fellows Course in Interventional Cardiology (April 5, 2013) for all those young cardiologist already enrolled in Cat Lab training programs as well as for all those cardiologists considering or preparing to enroll in the near future. As long as, a completion of a legal mandatory curriculum is not required for practicing interventional cardiology in Croatia, The Working Group of Interventional Cardiology of the Croatian Cardiac Society will continue to organize one practice oriented educational course in interventional cardiology accredited by Croatian Cardiac Society, Croatian Medical Chamber, EAPCI and EBAC. Aimed primarily but not exclusively to cardiologists from Croatia, the course may equally be useful to potential attendees from neighboring countries of South-East Europe and countries of former Yugoslavia. The cautious choice of topics and lecturers among some of the best international experts in the field, guarantees the highest quality and state of the art of the presented lectures.

In contrast to previous practice, the official part of this year meeting is almost exclusively case-oriented and focused at “hot” clinical issues, interventional controversies and topics of unsettled agreements, all in format of live case interventions and case-in-the box format with televoting capabilities.

The number of formal invited lectures is drastically reduced, same as oral and poster presentations and satellite symposia.

Accredited by EBAC and EAPCI, CROINTERVENT 2013 and “The 3rd Fellows Course in Interventional Cardiology” are extremely important for continual education of young interventional cardiologists, interventional nurses and technicians in Croatia.

Along with Croatian interventionists, course lectures and plenary lectures are given by some of the best European experts in the field.

Thus beside being a national meeting, CROINTERVENT 2013 is equally international in character, gathering more than hundred cardiologists from EU as well as from neighboring countries.

CROINTERVENT 2013 is also a manifestation of strong dedication to excellence and a manifestation of persistence in pursuance of standards of best interventional practice in a small interventional community of Croatia.

The largest part of most relevant abstracts submitted to Organizing Committee is presented in this issue of Cardiologia Croatica.

On behalf of The WG of Interventional Cardiology of The Croatian Cardiac Society and on behalf of The Organizing Committee I want to thank all participants, our official organizer Spektar Putovanja d.o.o, our numerous sponsors in pharmaceutical industry and to all manufacturers of interventional devices and radiological facilities for their understanding and support in this economically tough times, without which, such event would not be possible whatsoever.