
Berzelius Symposium 111: Acute and Chronic Heart Failure
The Swedish Society of Medicine, together with the Swedish Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery, is pleased to announce Berzelius Symposium 111 — a multidisciplinary meeting focusing on acute and chronic heart failure.
This symposium will bring together leading national and international experts to review and discuss the latest developments in diagnosis, treatment, and management of heart failure.
Target audience:
Cardiologists, internal medicine specialists, general practitioners, cardiothoracic surgeons, anesthesiologists, intensive care clinicians and other professions interested in the field.
Key themes:
- Heart failure remains associated with very high morbidity and mortality
- Management and treatment are multidisciplinary and require close coordination
- Optimal care involves a broad spectrum of diagnostic and therapeutic approaches
- Collaboration across specialties is essential for improved outcomes
The program will run from Wednesday to Friday, featuring case-based discussions, expert presentations (15–20 minutes with discussion), and a symposium dinner on Thursday evening.
We warmly welcome you to join us for this important and inspiring symposium
Preliminary Program
Day 1 – Wednesday: Chronic Heart Failure – Pathophysiology and Diagnostics
Moderators: Göran Dellgren and Sofia Grudemo
07.30-08.00 Coffee
08.00-08.15 Welcome, introduction of the day, and case presentation by resident
08.15-08.45 Background, definitions (HFrEF/HFpEF), etiologies, characteristics of diseases leading to CHF
TBD
08.45-09.15 Epidemiology, molecular mechanisms and genetics in chronic heart failure
Gustav Smith, Cardiology, Sahlgrenska, Gothenburg
09.15-09.45 Congestive Heart Failure – what are the differential diagnoses?
Gerhard Wikström, Cardiology, Uppsala
09.45-10.15 Break and coffee
10.15-10.45 Arrhythmias and congestive heart failure
Frieder Braunschweig, Cardiology, Karolinska, Stockholm
10.45-11.15 From Cause to Consequence: Why Some Hearts Fail and Others Adapt
Kristjan Karason, Cardiology, Sahlgrenska, Gothenburg
11.15-11.30 Case unveiling presentation
11.30-12.30 Lunch
Diagnostic Section in CHF
12.30-13.00 Clinical Assessment of Advanced Heart Failure – When to Consider Advanced Therapies
Kristjan Karason, Cardiology, Sahlgrenska, Gothenburg
13.00-13.30 Imaging with Echocardiography in CHF
Maria Eriksson, Physiology, Karolinska, Stockholm
13.30-14.00 The Value of MRI in Congestive Heart Failure
Markus Carlsson, Physiology, Karolinska, Stockholm
14.00-14.30 Investigation of Specific Cardiomyopathies and Therapeutic Implications
TBD
14.30-15.00 A Pathologist’s Perspective on Pathophysiology in CHF
Anders Oldfors, Pathology, Sahlgrenska, Gothenburg
15.00-15.30 Break and coffee
15.30-16.00 Why Are Biomarkers Important in CHF – the Evidence and Clinical Use
Kieran Docherty, Glasgow, UK
16.00-16.30 Right Heart Failure and Interplay with Left Heart Failure – Myth or Reality?
Marko Astengo, Cardiology, Sahlgrenska, Gothenburg
16.30-17.00 Tricuspid Insufficiency and Right Ventricular Strain in Heart Failure
Per Lindqvist, Cardiology, Umeå
17.00-17.30 What Have We Learned from the Swedish Heart Failure Registry?
Charlotte Ljungman, Cardiology, Sahlgrenska, Gothenburg
17.30-17.45 Case unveiling, photography, and mingling
Day 2 – Thursday: Treatment and Optimisation of Heart Failure Care
Moderators: Lena Jideus and Nadia Sandström
07.30-08.00 Coffee
08.00-08.15 Introduction and case presentation by resident
Treatment of Congestive Heart Failure
08.15-08.45 CHF and Drugs – What Evidence and for Whom?
Lars Lund, Cardiology, Karolinska, Stockholm
08.45-09.15 CHF and Devices – Which Patient, When and How?
Cecilia Linde, Cardiology, Karolinska, Stockholm
09.15-09.45 Heart Failure and Valve Diseases – When Is Intervention or Surgery Preferred?
Anders Jeppsson, Surgery, Sahlgrenska, Gothenburg
09.45-10.15 Break and coffee
10.15-10.45 PCI or CABG in CHF and CAD – When to Choose What?
Elmir Omerovic, Cardiology, Sahlgrenska, Gothenburg
10.45-11.15 Heart Transplantation and LVAD Bridge-to-HTx – the Gold Standard?
Göran Dellgren, Surgery, Sahlgrenska, Gothenburg
11.15-11.45 The Evolution of Heart Transplantation – From Innovation to Global Leadership
Ashish Shah, Surgery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville
11.45-12.15 Myocardial Recovery: Future Challenges and Opportunities for MCS
Mandeep Mehra, Cardiology, Harvard University, Boston
12.15-12.30 Case unveiling and HTx patient perspective
12.30-13.30 Lunch
Optimising Care for CHF Patients – Hospital and Primary Care Perspectives
13.30-13.50 Heart Failure Management in Primary Care – Hospital Management at Home?
Åke Åkesson, Primary Health Care, Borgholm, Öland
13.50-14.10 Collaboration Between Hospital HF Clinics and Primary Care – Keys to Success
Jonas Spaak, Cardiology, Stockholm
14.10-14.30 Heart Failure Patients Managed by Nurses – Our Model in Practice
Maria Liljeroos, MSc, Heart Failure Clinic, Eskilstuna
14.30-14.45 Panel discussion
14.45-15.15 Break and coffee
15.15-15.35 Evidence for Fluid and Salt Restriction in CHF Patients
Linn Höög, MSc, Karolinska, Stockholm
15.35-15.55 Telemonitoring in Advanced Heart Failure – Clinical Benefits and Research Insights
Thomas Mellberg Rydenstam, Cardiology, Sahlgrenska, Gothenburg
15.55-16.15 Work-up of Severe Heart Failure Patients – Practical Experiences
Oscar Braun, Cardiology, Skåne University Hospital, Lund
16.15-16.45 Panel discussion and case unveiling
Ongoing Scandinavian Studies Impacting CHF Patients
16.45-17.45 Rapid-Fire Presentations (10 + 5 min discussions)
- STICH Swedeheart Study – Björn Redfors
- SweVAD Study – Göran Dellgren
- SPIRIT-HEFpEF Study – Lars Lund
- SCAPIS Study and Heart Failure Insights – Göran Bergström
17.55 Resolution of the day
18.00 Drinks
18.30-22.00 Symposium Dinner at the Swedish Society of Medicine
Day 3 – Friday: Acute Heart Failure and Cardiogenic Shock
Moderators: Sigurdur Ragnarsson and Markus Bjurbom
07.30-08.00 Coffee
08.00-08.15 Introduction and case presentation by resident
Acute Heart Failure and Cardiogenic Shock
08.15-08.45 Beyond the Pump: Reframing Cardiogenic Shock in Heart Failure
Mandeep Mehra, Cardiology, Harvard University, Boston
08.45-09.15 Acute Heart Failure Management in the ICU – How and for Whom?
Mattias Törnudd, Anesthesia, Linköping
09.15-09.45 Cardiogenic Shock in the ICU – When and How to Use ECMO?
TBD
09.45-10.30 Break and coffee
10.30-11.00 Registry Outcomes in Cardiogenic Shock – What Matters Most?
TBD
11.00-11.30 ECPR – A Resource-Intensive Treatment: For Whom and When?
Bengt Redfors, Anesthesia, Sahlgrenska, Gothenburg
11.30-12.00 Quality of Life After ECMO and Intensive Care for Acute Heart Failure
TBD
12.00-12.30 Acute Heart Failure and Short-Term MCS – What Is the Level of Evidence?
Emil Najjar, Cardiology, Karolinska, Stockholm
12.30-12.45 Case unveiling, conclusion, and farewell
12.45-13.30 Lunch