Live-case demonstrations: putting patients first

Live-case demonstrations have become essential teaching tools. Debate about their added educational value and risk-benefit considerations vis-à-vis patient safety demand that major interventional cardiology meetings offering live-case demonstrations carefully define and monitor the objectives and quality of the cases included at their meetings. To this end, Europa Organisation, the content-providing group that supports EuroPCR and other PCR conferences internationally, has convened the PCR VITAL-Live Workshop, bringing together senior interventional cardiologists and experienced live-case operators with the aim of defining and reviewing the key components and goals of valuable live-case demonstrations. The Vital-Live participants unanimously agreed that live cases provide an educational experience with an immediacy and intensity that is unmatched by taped cases, through audience engagement with unfiltered reality and participation in real-time decision-making. Best practices regarding case selection, preparation, objectives, delivery, and discussion of the demonstrations were designed to ensure that the lessons learned would be clear and implementable by audience members, leading to improved patient care and safety in their own practices. Today's on-line accessibility of live-cases underscores the need for operators, hospitals, panels, and meeting chairs to insure that the content, quality, and intent anticipate any public scrutiny. This requires putting patient outcomes first, both at the level of the live demonstration itself and its broader educational worth.