CASSA Symposia 2020 The annual CASSA symposia were held over 2 successive weekends in Cape Town on the 29 February and in Johannesburg on the 7…

CASSA Symposia 2020

The annual CASSA symposia were held over 2 successive weekends in Cape Town on the 29 February and in Johannesburg on the 7 March. These CASSA symposia have become a regular event on the CASSA calendar for the past 5 years with the aim to provide clinical updates in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. This year, CASSA hosted 2 dynamic international electrophysiologists from the United Kingdom: Prof Sabine Ernst (from the Royal Brompton Hospital) and Dr Neil Sulke (Eastbourne Hospital). Prof Ernst spoke on the approach to the management of patients with adult congenital heart disease and cardiac arrhythmias. She is an expert in the field of complex arrhythmia ablation in the setting of congenital heart disease and spoke on the role of catheter ablation in the treatment of these complex arrhythmias. Dr Neil Sulke gave an update on the management of patients with syncope and ventricular tachycardia storm and spoke on the role of implantable loop recorders in the follow-up of patients with atrial fibrillation. These talks were supported by an excellent local faculty of electrophysiologists.

African Heart Rhythm Association

The 1^st meeting of the African Heart Rhythm Association (AFHRA) was held in Nairobi, Kenya in January 2020.  This was the largest arrhythmia conference ever held in Africa.  CASSA members (Dr Andrew Thornton, Dr Brian Vezi and myself) were invited faculty. AFHRA was formed in November 2019 by the arrhythmia task force of the Pan African Society of Cardiology (PASCAR). CASSA has established strong links with the association together with other national arrhythmia societies. Dr Brian Vezi was elected to be a regional representative for South Africa and I will serve as regional representative for the Asia/Pacific region. The aim of this association is to 1) Detect, prevent and treat cardiac arrhythmias in Africa 2) Educate and train African healthcare professionals on the management of arrhythmogenic disorders and their outcomes 3) Educate the public to recognize and prevent risk factors for cardiac arrhythmia outcomes and 4) facilitate the research of cardiac arrhythmias and conduction disturbances as well as in sport cardiology.

by Ashley Chin