Paediatric Cardiology

Paediatric cardiology is a speciality which deals with diseases of the heart and the circulation in the growing individuals. It has become an important speciality over the past 50 years, which has achieved considerable progress in the methods of investigation and treatment.  Paediatric cardiologists care for patients from foetal life to adolescents and adults and collaborate with adult cardiologists in the care of an increasing number of adult patients affected by congenital cardiac malformations. 

The progress in recent years has occurred because of the development of new imaging modalities, catheter interventions and cardiac surgery. These diagnostic and therapeutic procedures demand particular skills. Teaching of these skills, the counselling, and the support for patients and their parents requires specific knowledge and approaches.

The Association for European Paediatric Cardiology (AEPC)

Was founded in Lyon in 1963 and subsequently has created a network of specialists working in the same field encountering similar problems. The mission of AEPC is to promote (a) the knowledge of the normal and diseased heart and circulation and (b) exchange of knowledge and (c) continuous education.

Over the years, 9 Working Groups have been set up within this Association to bring together workers with similar interests in order to facilitate collaborative research, such as collaboration with paediatric cardiac surgeons, adult cardiologists and other scientists in closely related fields.

AEPC's Working Groups include:

• Cardiac Imaging,
• Cardiovascular Morphology, 
• Congenital Heart Surgery, 
• Foetal Cardiology, 
• Genetics and Basic Science of Congenital Heart Disease,
• Interventional Cardiology,
• Paediatric Cardiac Dysrhythmias and Electrophysiology,
• Psycho-Social Aspects  
• and a newly formed Working Group of Cardiac Intensive Care and Anaesthesiology

A GUCH Committee (grown-up with congenital heart disease) of AEPC, in close co-operation with ESC, aims to promote continuous care of adolescents and adults with congenital heart disease.

AEPC and its Working Groups aim to enhance collaboration amongst members for scientific research and professional development and to maintain high standards of professional practice. The Ordinary Members of AEPC originate from 32 countries in Europe, and each country is represented within the Association by an elected National Delegate.

Annual Meetings

An Annual Meeting and a Teaching Course are organised by the AEPC in the third week of May in collaboration with one of the member countries.  Additional symposia and courses are usually a part of the annual meetings.

These meetings, courses, symposia are evaluated by EBAC (European Board for Accreditation in Cardiology) for continuous medical educational. EBAC is a joint board of ESC, UEMS-Cardiology Section and AEPC.  Information about EBAC is available on the website: www.ebac-cme.org

Detailed information of the annual meetings is available on the AEPC website: www.aepc.org

Your opportunity to get involved in AEPC and future research and teaching

• Become a member and share your experience, knowledge and skills with others.
• Develop professional contacts within AEPC

Membership information can be found on the AEPC web-site: www.aepc.org and in the journal "Cardiology in the Young".

•             From January 2005, AEPC will offer subscription of  "Cardiology in the Young" (CTY) as part of the annual membership fee of Euro 150.00.  Membership of one Working Group of your choice is also included.
•              AEPC members will be admitted to the Annual meeting at a reduced registration fee.
•             Junior members will receive the benefit of reduced rates for both Annual membership and admission to the Annual meetings.
•            AEPC will provide a "Teaching Course" each year a day before the Annual meeting begins.  Admission will be free of charge for Junior members and open to other members at a special registration fee. 

Latest News

•          Newsletters are sent regularly to all the members and are also available on the AEPC website and published in the journal "CTY".
•           'CTY' is an international journal dedicated to paediatric cardiology and congenital cardiac malformations in adults, produced by Cambridge University Press.  It is published 6 times per year and comes with two to three supplements per year, one of which is the abstracts book of the annual AEPC meeting.

Your opportunity to invest in our future generations

In the past, industry has strongly supported adult cardiology and studies on treatment of adult cardiac patients.  Dramatic changes are occurring in diagnostic and treatment methods in our specialty. The future lies with children representing the new generation.  Children therefore need stronger support for the future from Industry!

Sponsorship

AEPC is pleased to announce that several companies already support the activities of the Association.  Generous grants from those companies supporting AEPC ("Founding Fathers") have made particular teaching programmes possible. A European Paediatric Cardiology Coding System and several recommendations appropriate for our specialty have been published or are being prepared for publication.