October saw the successive hosting of four medical and scientific congresses of national and international significance. Destination Bordeaux was the venue of choice to host these important gatherings, such as the 19th edition of Echo Cardio Bordeaux. Professor Stéphane Lafitte, Chairman of its organising committee and member of the scientific committee, gives us an insight.
The ECHO CARDIO congress was held at Bordeaux Congress Centre from 9 to 11 October. What was the specific theme of the event?
Echo Cardio meets a need for training in the field of echocardiography, the equivalent of the cardiologist’s stethoscope, the tool used on a daily basis to treat patients. The indications for this technique are evolving rapidly and require ongoing training. It is therefore with this in mind that the national congress is held in Bordeaux every two years, and attracts more than 1,100 doctors and paramedics. During the three-day event, we explore three key areas which are mainly dealt with by cardiologists: myocardial ischemia, valvulopathy and heart failure.
How does this event contribute to breakthroughs in the echocardiology field and the development of professional techniques?
All the participants follow presentations by leading cardiology experts. At the same time, Echo Cardio offers an opportunity for manufacturers to organise demonstrations and thus showcase sector innovations and keep professionals up to date. The event is also conducive to human interaction, during lunches and breaks, intervals we see as fundamental in creating ties and encouraging discussions which ground knowledge, expertise and sharing.
How did Bordeaux Congress Centre meet the requirements of Echo Cardio Bordeaux?
Bordeaux Congress Centre offers an ideal setting for interconnections, with the possibility of modular areas addressing all our needs. Auditorium A, which seats up to 1,200 people is perfect for our conference programme. There is also the Espace Pluriel modular area, which we divided into several spaces including an exhibition area for some twenty industrial partners. It must be pointed out that Echo Cardio also raises another major challenge for us – to provide lunch at 1pm each day for participants! This was made possible thanks to the versatility of this venue. 800 meals were served daily to tables of 10 to 12 people, which is an extremely efficient way not only to forge ties but to keep your audience in one place!
This venue also offers highly efficient advanced technology, such as live video broadcast from the cardiology hospital or the use of a full screen with an impressive projection surface area for exceptional visual output.
