Scientific distinction for HYGEIA: New Guidelines by the European Society of Cardiology for the Management of Supraventricular Tachycardia

16 September 2019

It is a great honor and privilege for HYGEIA Hospital to announce the appointment of Dr. Demosthenes G. Katritsis, MD, PhD, FRCP, FESC, FACC, Director of the 3rd Cardiology Department, as Chairman of the Task Force responsible for the new guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) for the management of supraventricular tachycardia.

Guidelines issued by the ESC in Europe, and the American College of Cardiology in the USA constitute key clinical manuals for the diagnosis and treatment of heart conditions, and have both medical and legal significance.

In September 2019, the ESC announced in Paris the new guidelines for the management of supraventricular tachycardias, which are the most frequent regular arrhythmias in the human. Dr. Demosthenes G. Katritsis, and world-renowned Professor Dr. Josep Brugada, presented the new guidelines as Chairmen of the Task Force responsible for writing the evidence-based recommendations for the management of these patients. The two Chairmen of each new guideline are chosen among the most acclaimed scientists who have conducted extensive research on the relevant topic.  The selection of Dr. Katritsis is a great honor, and attests the high standards of medical services offered at HYGEIA.

During the presentation, Dr. Katritsis noted: “the new guidelines are introducing many changes to the use of antiarrhythmic medications. Most drugs used to treat arrhythmias are proarrhythmic, meaning they may exert antiarrhythmic action, but at the same time they may also promote other arrhythmias. One of the major changes in clinical practice, as recommended by the new guidelines, concerns the use of catheter ablation instead of drugs for most forms of supraventricular tachycardias, due to the impressive outcomes achieved with success rates approaching  100%.”

The HYGEIA Hospital 3rd Cardiology Department offers comprehensive cardiology car, having been set up according to European and US standards. It is staffed with a team of cardiologists with multiple sub-specialties, headed by Dr. D. Katritsis, Honorary Consultant Cardiologist at St Thomas’ Hospital, London, UK, and, until recently, Visiting Professor, City University, London, and member of the Faculty of Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA.