In order to improve the diagnosis and treatment level of cardiovascular diseases in Sichuan province, promote the comprehensive planning and treatment capacity of atrial fibrillation (AF) in Sichuan province, set up a network of AF whole-process diagnosis and treatment in the primary medical institutions of the province, and effectively boost the popularization of interventional technology of AF catheter ablation, the 2023 “South Sichuan Meeting” — The Fourth Session of Sichuan Special Atrial Fibrillation Program Construction Project Academic Exchange Series, was successfully held in Luzhou on July 29, 2023. The meeting was sponsored by Sichuan International Medical Exchange & Promotion Association (SCIMEA) and co-organized by the Heart Rhythm Branch of SCIMEA and the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University.

More than one hundred medical workers in the province participated in this meeting, including Prof. Jiang Jian and Prof. Fu Hua from West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Assoc. Prof. Chen Yu from Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Prof. Luo Caidong from Mianyang Central Hospital, Prof. Fan Zhongcai, Prof. Li Gang and Assoc. Prof. Ye Qiang from Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Prof. Zhao Lizhi and Prof. Luo Gang from Affiliated TCM Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Prof. Dan Xuechuan of Yibin Second People's Hospital, Prof. Cao Wenzhai from Zigong First People's Hospital, and Assoc. Prof. Yuan Quan from The First People's Hospital of Neijiang.

Prof. Jiang Jian from West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Honorary President of the Heart Rhythm Branch of SCIMEA, fully affirmed the achievements made by the South Sichuan Special Atrial Fibrillation Program Group. In his speech, he mentioned that due to the continuous updating and upgrading of treatment technologies and concepts in the past decade or so, the treatment of tachyarrhythmia, especially the comprehensive management of AF and catheter ablation to maintain sinus rhythm, has made rapid development. The number of AF ablation surgeons and the quality of AF diagnosis and treatment in primary healthcare institutions in South Sichuan have been significantly improved, providing patients with full-cycle, all-round services, and helping the comprehensive management and new technologies of AF in Sichuan Province to reach a new level.

 Prof. Jiang Jian of West China Hospital of Sichuan University delivers a speech.

Due to work arrangement, Prof. Fu Hua of West China Hospital of Sichuan University, President of the Heart Rhythm Branch of SCIMEA, had to express his thanks to the participants of this meeting through video conferencing.  He noted, through the unremitting efforts of electrophysiology peers, the standardized treatment of AF has been fruitful in Sichuan. He also made a lecture titled “Analysis of ‘Clinical Value Assessment Indexes’ of Electrophysiology Device Comprehensive Value Assessment System”.

 Prof. Fu Hua, West China Hospital of Sichuan University

“Analysis of ‘Clinical Value Assessment Indexes’ of Electrophysiology Device Comprehensive Value Assessment System”

This meeting is divided into three parts: AF surgical skills training course, regional development planning and electrophysiology discipline construction, and AF diagnosis and treatment management. Through the combination of theoretical lectures and surgical exercises, a lot of knowledge was introduced to the electrophysiology medical peers in the South Sichuan, which played a great role in promoting the homogenization of AF diagnosis and treatment in the province.

I. AF Surgical Skills Training Course

 Attending Physician Ou Dengke, Chengdu Fifth People's Hospital (Online), “Johnson & Johnson Lecture: Three-dimensional Intracardiac Ultrasound-Guided Total Solution for Atrial Fibrillation”

Assoc. Prof. Yuan Quan, The First People's Hospital of Neijiang

“Identification of Key Anatomical Positions in 3D Ultrasound Sector Images”

Surgical operation practice and explanation 1

Surgical operation practice and explanation 2

II. Regional Development Planning and Electrophysiology Discipline Construction

Prof. Fan Zhongcai, Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University

“Regional Development Planning and Project Progress of Atrial Fibrillation”

 Assoc. Prof. Lan Jianjun, Panzhihua Central Hospital (online)

“Application of New Clinical Technologies: Construction of Surgeon Teams”

Prof. Dan Xuechuan, Yibin Second People's Hospital

Prof. Luo Gang, Affiliated TCM Hospital of Southwest Medical University

Discussion: Experience Sharing of Atrial Fibrillation Admission in Cardiology Department

 Assoc. Prof. Liao Rui, The First People's Hospital of Neijiang (left), Assoc. Prof. Zhu Bin, Luzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital (right) 

Discussion: Optimizing departmental management to promote the development of electrophysiology

Moderator: Prof. Cao Wenzhai, Zigong First People's Hospital

III. AF Diagnosis and Treatment Management

 Prof. Cao Wenzhai, Zigong First People's Hospital

“Interpretation of the 2023 Guidelines for Atrial Fibrillation”

 Discussion: Discussing the current concept of admission and treatment of patients with AF in the light of the latest guidelines and the changes.

Moderator: Prof. Luo Caidong, Mianyang Central Hospital

 Assoc. Prof. Yuan Quan, The First People's Hospital of Neijiang

“Treatment Benefits for Patients with PsAF Seen from Cases”.

 Discussion: Treatment Benefits for PsAF Patients in the Context of Cases

 Moderator: Prof. Zhao Lizhi, Affiliated TCM Hospital of Southwest Medical University

 Assoc. Prof. Ye Qiang, Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University

“Changes in the Indications for Left Auricular Occlusion from the Advancement of Clinical Evidences”

Moderators: Prof. Fan Zhongcai and Prof. Li Gang, Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University

Prof. Luo Caidong, Mianyang Central Hospital

“Exploring Common Problems of Anticoagulation of Bleeding in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation”

At the end, as a representative of the Department of Cardiology of the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, one of the organizers of the meeting, Prof. Fan Zhongcai expressed his gratitude to the experts who came to the meeting, and encouraged the participants in South Sichuan to actively devote themselves to the standardized diagnosis and treatment of AF and make efforts to improve the electrophysiological interventional diagnosis and treatment.

This meeting gathered a group of backbone teams for future AF diagnosis and treatment in South Sichuan, and through in-depth exchanges around the construction of electrophysiology discipline and standardized diagnosis and treatment strategies of AF in South Sichuan, it made plans for the construction of future AF centers in this region, which will help to unify the quality of medical care and improve diagnosis and treatment capacity in the region. The successful convening of this meeting will comprehensively promote the high-quality development of the comprehensive management capacity of AF in the region.