What is the purpose of a Heart Team approach in patients with unprotected left main and/or complex CAD?
The Heart Team approach is composed of an interventional cardiologist and a cardiac surgeon and is used to review the patient's medical condition and coronary anatomy, determine that PCI and/or CABG are technically feasible and reasonable, and discuss revascularization options with the patient before a treatment strategy is selected. This approach has been endorsed to allow for a collaborative assessment of revascularization options and for discussion of treatment options with the patient, particularly in cases where the optimal revascularization strategy is not straightforward. It has been reported that patients with complex CAD referred specifically for PCI or CABG in concurrent trial registries have lower mortality rates than those randomly assigned to PCI or CABG in controlled trials. The SIHD, PCI, and CABG guideline writing committees endorse this approach in patients with unprotected left main CAD and/or complex CAD.  