Urgent treatment of acute coronary syndromes by percutaneous coronary intervention in France: Current status, the future and concrete proposals

Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) such as ST segment elevation myocardial infarction or unstable non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction require immediate or emergent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) performed by an interventional cardiologist (IC). In France, these emergent situations are currently well treated, with an adequate number of catheterization laboratories and ICs. However, the number of cardiologists currently trained in interventional cardiology is less than the number of ICs retiring and the younger generation is less inclined to pursue training in interventional cardiology. The French Academy of Medicine formulates six recommendations to correct this situation: (1) adapt the number of cardiologists training in interventional cardiology in France to the number of ICs retiring and to changes in medical practice; (2) simplify the training process in interventional cardiology; (3) create a commission to evaluate and accept training performed outside of the official track; (4) develop bridges for training programs; (5) improve working conditions in interventional cardiology; (6) work with all actors treating patients with acute coronary syndromes requiring urgent PCI. (c) 2023 l'Academie nationale de medecine. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.