What are some important tasks that need to be done by the care team before the procedure?
Before the procedure, the care team needs to determine whether the patient can and would be likely to take dual-antiplatelet therapy on an ongoing basis (an important requirement if drug-eluting stents are to be used), as well as document the patient's renal function (which can influence both the patient's candidacy for the procedure and procedural strategies, such as the amount of iodinated contrast). Other important tasks include determining the procedural appropriateness of PCI in line with a growing body of evidence in this area, and considering the use of embolic protection devices and the documentation of ionized radiation and iodinated contrast dosage.