Europe's finest to learn from SA cardiologist

His voice explaining each movement and step is clearly audible in the large auditorium. A question is asked and, without halting a single action, he provides an answer that has the heads nodding in understanding.

These heads belong to some of the world's finest cardiologists who are all in attendance at the European Cardiology Congress (EuroPCR) in Barcelona, Spain. The hands and the voice on the screen belong to Dr Farrel Hellig, a South African interventional cardiologist, who is performing an intricate procedure in a catheterisation laboratory (cath lab) at Netcare Sunninghill Hospital in Johannesburg.

This is the scenario that is playing itself off today - between the hours of 08h00 and 17h00, to be exact. The procedure described is one of four that are being beamed live to the EuroPCR congress in Barcelona from this cath lab. Dr Hellig has been invited to present these four cases to the congress, which will be attended by some tens of thousands of delegates from around the globe.

“This is a first for cardiology in Africa and I feel very honoured to have been invited to participate in this way,” says Dr Hellig. “EuroPCR contributes to the advancement of education and information on existing and new technologies in the fields of cardiovascular intervention. It is an innovative and interactive course that brings together the cardiovascular community as a whole and encourages the sharing of knowledge.”

During the four live procedures, which covers a cross spectrum of coronary artery disease, Dr Hellig remains in constant voice contact with an expert panel who interact with him while relaying questions from the floor to him. Two of South Africa's leading interventional cardiologists namely Dr Tom Mabin of Vergelegen Medi-Clinic, in the Cape and Dr Graham Cassel of Netcare's Milpark Hospital in Gauteng are represented on two of the expert panels thereby lending a strong South African flavour to the congress.

As an interventional cardiologist Dr Hellig regularly performs complex revascularisation procedures to heal blocked arteries. His extensive experience with high-risk patients has previously cast him in long-distance teaching roles similar to the one he will be performing for the EuroPCR.

It is thanks to new technology that large groups of experts can learn and draw from the experiences of their peers which, in years gone by, could only be achieved by donning scrubs and standing in theatre. Technology such as satellite image and sound broadcasting allows for live procedures to be broadcast interactively to large audiences thousands of kilometres from the sterile cath lab environment where the procedure is actually taking place.

“Education sessions such as these are very necessary as a means with which to share best techniques, practiced methods and new thoughts,” says Dr Hellig.

EuroPCR is taking place between 13 and 16 May 2008 in Barcelona, Spain.

Dr Hellig is performing the four live procedures today (Thursday, 15 May 2008). He is available for interviews which can be scheduled through Martina Nicholson Associates (MNA): kindly call 011 469 3016 to facilitate an interview.