2026 EDITION
Prevention & Intervention – Central European Summit 2026
For the first time the Prevention & Intervention meeting brought together the cardiovascular community from across Central Europe and beyond, establishing a shared platform for scientific exchange, education, and collaboration tailored to the needs of our region.
We sincerely thank all participants, faculty members, and partners for their involvement and contribution to the success of this edition.
What we achieved together
- Regional collaboration: We connected cardiovascular specialists from across Central Europe and beyond, strengthening professional relationships and encouraging cross-border cooperation.
- Scientific exchange: The programme combined expert lectures, case-based discussions, hands-on workshops, original research presentations, and interactive debates.
- Comprehensive perspective: Together, we explored key challenges in interventional and preventive cardiology, from advanced coronary interventions to cardiovascular risk management and emerging treatment strategies.
- International expertise: Leading regional specialists and internationally recognized experts shared their knowledge, clinical experience, and perspectives.
- A foundation for the future: This first edition of the Central European Summit marked an important step toward building a lasting scientific and educational platform for the cardiovascular community.
Thank you for being part of Prevention & Intervention – Central European Summit 2026


















Mirvat Alasnag
Nikola Bakracheski
Birgit Beger
Flavio Biccire
Michal Błaszkiewicz
Salvatore Brugaletta
Kamil Bujak
Piotr Buszman
Filippo Cademartiri
Milenko Čanković
Stephane Carlier
Michał Czapla
Dragana Dabovic
Maciej Dąbrowski
Salvatore De Rosa
Mikołaj Derewońko
Piotr Desperak
Anthony Dissen
Aleksandra Djokovic
Anna Draus
Kamila Drobina
Dariusz Dudek
David Erlinge
Simone Fezzi
Łukasz Furtan
Pasquale Gagliardi
Grzegorz Gajos
Marek Gierlotka
Robert J. Gil
Martine Gilard
Josep Gómez-Lara
Jacek Gonos
Tomasz Górnik
Paulina Gorzelak-Pabiś
Krzysztof Griesmann
Marek Grygier
Aleksandra Gulevska Vuchinikj
Rania Hammami
Stefan Harb
Mark Hayter
Lynne Hinterbuchner
Katarzyna Holcman
Zenon Huczek
Bartosz Hudzik
Ivana Iveljić
Miłosz Jaguszewski
Adam Janas
Katarzyna Jessa
Adrian Jurczyk-Kubielas
Omeir Kadri
Petr Kala
Patrycja Kalecińska
Alicja Kalitka
John Kantor
Agnieszka Katarzyńska-Szymańska
Elvin Kedhi
Kamil Kędzierski
Sophia Khattak
Eleni Kletsiou
Viktor Kočka
Jorgo Kostov
Mila Kovačević
Weronika Kowalska
Katarzyna Kozak
Marek Koziński
Paweł Kralisz
Zbigniew Krasiński
Grzegorz Kubielas-Jurczyk
Piotr Kübler
Ekaterini Lambrinou
Ahmed Magdy
Mamas Mamas
Nikola Manev
Stephane Manzo-Silberman
Eduard Margetic
Marta Markiewicz
Zlatko Mehmedbegović
Maksymilian Michalik
Anna Michnikowska
Anna Mierzyńska
Dejan Milasinovic
Ulvi Mirzoyev
Irena Mishikj
Carmen Moldovan
Jakub Morze
Jacek Niedziela
Vojtěch Novotný
Anna Oleksiak
Maksymilian Opolski
Tadeusz Osadnik
Biljana Parapid
Radosław Parma
Ivan Pećin
Milovan Petrović
Małgorzata Piekarska
Rafał Piotrowski
Zsolt Piróth
Joanna Popiołek-Kalisz
Francesco Prati
Aleksander Prejbisz
Anna Prokopowicz
Krystian Pustelak
Łukasz Pyka
Davor Radić
Jamal Rana
Sarita Rao
Tomasz Roleder
Andi Rroku
Marcin Ruciński
Zoltan Ruzsa
Nicola Ryan
Bartosz Rymuza
Karol Sabatowski
Jerzy Sacha
Antonia Sambola
Sandra Šarić
Filip Sawczak
Karsten Schenke
Rokas Serpytis
Sylwia Sławek-Szmyt
Sonja Smiljic
Alicja Sołtowska
Bojan Stanetić
Zuzanna Stankowska
Giulio Stefanini
Angelina Stevanović
Haris Sulejmani
Andrzej Świątkowski
Wiktoria Szumlińska
Aleksandra Tomaszek
Bartosz Uchmanowicz
Marija Vavlukis
Ercole Vellone
Piotr Waciński
Piotr Wańczura
Adam Witkowski
Szymon Włodarczak
Agnieszka Wołczenko
Rafał Wolny
Michał Wróbel
Julia Ząber
Bilijana Zafirovska Taleska
Dona Zarevska
Željko Živanović
Grzegorz Zwijacz
Scientific programme
- Heat, Climate, and the Heart: Cardiovascular Risk in a Changing Environment 15′ Izabella Uchmanowicz
- Air Pollution and Vulnerable Plaque – Why High-Risk Patients Decompensate 15′ Massimo Piepoli
- Acute Coronary Syndromes Triggered by Environmental Exposure – What Interventional Cardiologists Actually See 15′ Ahmed Magdy
- Discussion 15′
- iHeartX 15′ Michał Hawranek
- Beyond echocardiography: new imaging technologies in cardiomyopathies 15′ Katarzyna Holcman
- Meril 15′ Tomasz Roleder
- ZOLL 15′ Grzegorz Zwijacz
- Discussion 15′
- ECG Fundamentals: Lead Placement and a Systematic Approach to Interpretation 15′ Alicja Sołtowska
- Recognising Life-Threatening Arrhythmias at the Bedside 15′ Magdalena Dudek, Filip Sawczak
- ECG Changes in Acute Coronary Syndromes 15′ Alicja Sołtowska
- Common Pitfalls and Artefacts in ECG Interpretation 15′ Magdalena Dudek, Filip Sawczak
- STEMI 2026: current standard of care and the key gaps that require new strategies 12′ Marek Gierlotka
- Massive thrombus burden in STEMI – how to manage the most challenging scenarios? (case-based presentation) 12′ Davor Radić
- No-reflow in STEMI – identifying the mechanism and treating immediately (case-based presentation) 12′ Marta Kałużna-Oleksy
- From successful reperfusion to long-term recovery: why cardiac rehabilitation must start during the STEMI pathway 12′ Jacek Niedziela
- Discussion 37′
- Take home message 5′
- Interventional cardiology in Central Europe: strengths, disparities and critical system gaps 20′ Michał Hawranek
- Risk factors in Central Europe – the silent drivers of coronary instability 20′ Rokas Serpytis
- Prevention & Intervention concept 10′ Izabella Uchmanowicz
- Discussion 20′
- Take home message 5′ Jamal Rana
- Residual lipid risk – what truly drives atherosclerosis progression? 12′ Paulina Gorzelak-Pabiś
- LDL, TG, Lp(a) – a practical algorithm of therapeutic targets 12′ Ivan Pećin
- Rapid treatment intensification: optimal sequencing of lipid-lowering therapies 12′ Jakub Morze
- Discussion 19′
- Take home message 5′
- Ischemic risk – how to assess it in advanced atherosclerosis and complex PCI? 15′ Giulio Stefanini
- Multivessel disease in ACS – should we treat the left main immediately? (case-based presentation) 15′ Sarita Rao
- Bifurcation with severe calcifications – how to plan a comprehensive PCI strategy? (case-based presentation) 15′ Salvatore Brugaletta
- Very high-risk patient: MVD + LV dysfunction / CKD / diabetes (case-based presentation) 15′ Zsolt Piróth
- Discussion 25′
- Take home message 5′ Eduard Margetic
- Therapeutic targets in 2026: how low should we go? 12′ Aleksander Prejbisz
- Modern pharmacotherapy and strategies for effective BP control 12′ Joanna Popiołek-Kalisz
- Interventional treatment of hypertension: indication & patient selection 12′ Robert J. Gil
- Discussion 19′
- Take home message 5′ Rania Hammami
- VP definition, histopathology, and imaging modalities 8′ David Erlinge
- Deep dive in intravascular imaging modalities for VP detection: IVUS / OCT / NIRS and combined modalities …what should we use? 8′ Tomasz Roleder
- The role of Foton Counting CT in VP detection 8′ Filippo Cademartiri
- Panel discussion 8′
- Case in the box: How to treat (first part) (opening the discussion of medical vs PCI for VP) 4′ Szymon Włodarczak
- Case in the box: How to treat (first part) (opening the discussion of medical vs PCI for VP) 4′ Josep Gómez-Lara
- Optimal medical treatment for VP 8′ Flavio Biccirè
- VP and Dangerous VP …is PCI an option? 8′ Elvin Kedhi
- End of the Case: How was treated (second part) 4′ Szymon Włodarczak
- End of the Case: How was treated (second part) 4′ Josep Gómez-Lara
- Panel discussion 8′
- Update on ongoing VP trials 8′ Francesco Prati
- The future is AI (AI options for OCT/ CT/ IVUS/ OFR/QFR and new indexes) 8′ Simone Fezzi
- Closing remarks 2′ Elvin Kedhi
- Closing remarks 2′ Francesco Prati
- Organizational Strategies to Prevent Burnout in Healthcare Systems 12′ Izabella Uchmanowicz
- Team Dynamics and Psychological Safety in High-Stress Clinical Environments 12′ Lynne Hinterbuchner
- Mental Health Support for Healthcare Workers: From Crisis Response to Prevention 12′ Eleni Kletsiou
- Building Individual Resilience: Practical Strategies for Healthcare Professionals 12′ Anna Mierzyńska
- Discussion 12′
- DynamX bioadaptor: what do randomised trials tell us about late outcomes? 12′ Zlatko Mehmedbegović
- LithiX in calcified coronary lesions: mechanism, imaging and early clinical evidence 12′ Michał Hawranek
- Lithix in action (case presentation) 8′ Marta Kałużna-Oleksy
- Bioadaptor in action (case presentation) 8′ Piotr Desperak
- Bioadaptor in action (case presentation) 8′ Adrian Włodarczak
- Discussion 12′
- Structuring a Scientific Manuscript 15′ Ercole Vellone
- Choosing the Right Journal and Preparing for Submission 15′ Mark Hayter
- Understanding the Peer-Review Process 15′ Mark Hayter
- Increasing Research Visibility and Impact 15′ Stephane Manzo-Silberman
- Discussion 15′
- Case presentation 5′ Omeir Kadri
- Case presentation: When Calcium Wins: Strategy Optimization in Complex Calcified Lesions 5′ Julia Ząber
- Case presentation 5′ Kamil Bujak
- Discussion 5′
- Case presentation: ROTA-SHOCK TREATMENT OF SEVERE CALCIFIC LM-LAD DISEASE - A DOUBLE HIT AGAINST CORONARY CALCIUM 5′ Pasquale Gagliardi
- Discussion 5′
- Case presentation 5′ Sophia Khattak
- Discussion 5′
- Case presentation: Heavy Calcium, Easy IVL, Two Stents and One Last Look 5′ Tomasz Górnik
- Discussion 5′
- Case presentation: ART OF WAR - A practical algorithm for calcified PCI 5′ Łukasz Furtan
- Discussion 5′
- Case presentation: Underexpanded Stent causing STEMI: OCT-Guided Optimization with Intravascular Lithotripsy 5′ Dragana Dabović
- Discussion 5′
- Metabolic-inflammatory phenotypes of atherosclerosis progression 12′ Stephane Manzo-Silberman
- Key metabolic and inflammatory parameters to monitor 12′ Jakub Morze
- Obesity treatment and metabolic therapies in ASCVD risk reduction 12′ Mirvat Alasnag
- Discussion 19′
- Take home message 5′ Grzegorz Gajos
- DEB design considerations 15′ John Kantor
- Leaving nothing behind strategies – why the future of PCI is minimizing permanent implants 15′ Biljana Zafirovska Taleska
- De-novo small vessel lesion treated with DCB – redefining the strategy (case-based presentation) 15′ Bojan Stanetić
- Complex lesion with loss of vessel compliance – when does a Bioadaptor change the PCI approach? (case-based presentation) 15′ Michał Hawranek
- Bioresorbable scaffold in a young patient – optimal long-term strategy? (case-based presentation) 15′ Jorgo Kostov
- Discussion 10′
- Take home message 5′ Zsolt Piróth
- High-risk patient – who requires treatment intensification most? 12′ Bartosz Hudzik
- Risk factor management post PCI 12′ Mamas Mamas
- Optimization of antiplatelet and antithrombotic therapy 12′ Ulvi Mirzoyev
- Discussion 19′
- Take home message 5′ Nicola Ryan
- Ischemia without significant stenosis: how to diagnose microvascular dysfunction and identify the true source of symptoms 15′ Stephane Carlier
- Chest pain with a normal angiogram – what next? (case-based presentation) 15′ Omeir Kadri
- Vasospasm or microvascular dysfunction? When iFR/FFR and imaging do not explain the symptoms (case-based presentation) 15′ Salvatore De Rosa
- Persistent ischemia after successful PCI – what did we miss? (case-based presentation) 15′ Marek Koziński
- Discussion 25′
- Take home message 5′ Martine Gilard
- Sex as a risk modifier: differences we often overlook 12′ Marija Vavlukis
- Key risk factors specific to women and men 12′ Izabella Uchmanowicz
- Sex-oriented prevention: practical principles of management 12′ Antonia Sambola
- Discussion 19′
- Take home message 5′ Ekaterini Lambrinou
- Cardiogenic shock in STEMI: what truly drives survival – timing, reperfusion strategy, or optimal mechanical support? 15′ Marta Kałużna-Oleksy
- Persistent shock despite successful PCI – what next? (case-based presentation) 15′ Andi Rroku
- STEMI + multivessel disease + Impella – should we perform multivessel PCI? (case-based presentation) 15′ Vojtěch Novotný
- Sudden cardiac arrest in acute myocardial infarction 15′ Agnieszka Katarzyńska-Szymańska
- Discussion 25′
- Take home message 5′ Milovan Petrović
- Coronary artery disease in TAVI candidates — what should be treated and what can be left alone? 15′ Martine Gilard
- PCI before, during or after TAVI — timing, completeness of revascularization and real-world decision-making 15′ Petr Kala
- Coronary access after TAVI — valve selection, commissural alignment and future PCI strategy 15′ Dariusz Dudek
- Discussion 15′
- Optimizing TAVI Outcomes: Matching Valve Choice to Patient Anatomy and Clinical Profile 15′ Radosław Parma
- TAVI in Bicuspid Aortic Valve and Heavily Calcified Anatomy: How to Plan and Avoid Complications 15′ Viktor Kočka
- Coronary Obstruction and Future Coronary Access After TAVI: Prevention and Procedural Strategies 15′ Marek Grygier
- Long-term durability of TAVI valves 15′ Piotr Buszman
- Polish Perspective – Patient Definition & Pathway Framework 15′ Aleksander Prejbisz
- Discussion 10′
- International Experience – What Works in Practice 15′ Dejan Milasinovic
- Discussion 10′
- Interventional Perspective – Treatment & Outcomes 15′ Adam Witkowski
- Discussion 10′
- Heart Failure 2026 – what really changes in our daily practice? 10′ Tadeusz Osadnik
- Heart meets kidney – a new cardiovascular–renal paradigm 10′ Marta Kałużna-Oleksy
- Myocardial infarction redefined – from troponin rise to the mechanism of injury 10′ Michał Hawranek
- Cardiac rehabilitation 2026 – from discharge to long-term cardiovascular care 10′ Michał Czapla
- Mechanical circulatory support as a bridge from haemodynamic deterioration to complete complex revascularization 5′ Maksymilian Michalik
- Discussion 5′
- When the support becomes the bailout: coronary perforation during high-risk PCI and rescue with Impella 5′ Katarzyna Kozak
- Discussion 5′
- Nano-crush high-risk PCI – managing heart and renal failure 5′ Karol Sabatowski
- Discussion 5′
- High-risk LM PCI 5′ Pasquale Gagliardi
- Discussion 5′
- Case presentation 5′ Anna Michnikowska
- Discussion 5′
Abstract sessions
- Cardiac Anxiety in Adults with Cardiovascular Disease: Prevalence, Predictors, and Implications for Cardiac RehabilitationHenry Nwankwo
- Discussion
- Persistent angina after successful LAD stenting: coronary-subclavian steal syndrome as the hidden culpritNikola Bakracheski
- Discussion
- Predictors of metabolic Heart Failure with preserved ejection fraction in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver diseaseAngelina Stevanović
- Discussion
- Associations of the TyG Index, TG/HDL-C Ratio, and CHG Index with Hypertension in Young and Middle-Aged IndividualsSonja Smiljic
- Discussion
- Determinants of carotid intima-media thickness in severe obesity: the role of adiposity and atherogenic lipid profileAleksandra Gulevska Vuchinikj
- Discussion
- When Revascularisation Fails: Intracoronary Adrenaline for Refractory No-Reflow During PCI for Acute Stent ThrombosisNikola Manev
- Discussion
- Sociodemographic and clinical determinants of treatment adherence and illness acceptance in patients with hypertensionPatrycja Kalecińska
- Discussion
- Management of iatrogenic dissection and intramural hematoma after DCB angioplastyDona Zarevska
- Discussion
- Baseline determinants of cardiovascular risk factor profile change in middle-aged adults with multimorbidityJacek Gonos
- Discussion
- When atherosclerosis arrives too early: Nstemi and diffuse multivessel coronary disease in a 31-year-old patientIrena Mishikj
- Discussion
- Assessment of blood pressure monitoring during the postpartum periodKamila Drobina
- Discussion
- Lipoprotein(a) and lipid-lowering strategies in patients with acute coronary syndrome: a single-center retrospective studyWiktoria Szumlińska
- Discussion
- Predictive value of post-TAVI myocardial work indices in patients with aortic stenosisMichal Błaszkiewicz
- Discussion
Workshops
ePOSTERS
- Psychosocial outcomes of cardiac rehabilitation in working-age adults with coronary artery disease: a systematic review – Henry Nwankwo
- Hypertension in young adults in Nigeria: a review of prevalence and emerging trends – Henry Nwankwo
- The risk factors of gestational hypertension in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome – Angelina Stevanović
- Beyond conventional PCI hybrid DES and DCB treatment in rare complex coronary anatomy – Dona Zarevska
- Crack, Modify, Heal: An Imaging-Guided Stent-less Strategy with Intravascular Lithotripsy and Drug-Coated Balloon – Dona Zarevska
- Sociocultural and structural determinants of self-care among individuals with heart failure: an explanatory sequential mixed-methods study – Hussan Zeb
- Meaning and Essence of Experiential Knowledge Regarding Self-Management Among Individuals with Multimorbidity: A Phenomenological Inquiry – Hussan Zeb
- Symptom burden and experiential knowledge of individuals with chronic cardiovascular disorders: A metasynthesis – Hussan Zeb
- Associations of clinical severity and NT-proBNP levels with illness acceptance and Quality of Life in patients with HFrEF: a pilot study – Zuzanna Stankowska
- Right ventricular dysfunction, disease acceptance, and Quality of Life in patients with HFrEF: a pilot study – Weronika Kowalska
- Social context and information sources as determinants of blood pressure control – Jacek Gonos
- Illness Acceptance and Self-Reported Treatment Adherence in Adults With Hypertension: A Cross-Sectional Study. – Krystian Pustelak
- Challenging the Dogma: Low-Dose Spinal Anesthesia in Moderate-to-Severe Aortic Stenosis – Haris Sulejmani
- Protocol for a Nurse-Led Intervention to Improve Medication Adherence in Adults With Chronic Disease – Alicja Kalitka
- Adverse pregnancy outcomes, cardiometabolic risk and the post-partum cardiovascular follow-up gap: a cross-sectional study – Sylwia Makara-Paciorek
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Compliance

The event complies with the MedTech Europe Code of Ethical Business Practice and the EFPIA Code of Practice (EMT-26-10061).


























