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The concept of heart team in cardiac diseases: the patient is back as a priority in medical decisions

O conceito do heart team nas doenças cardíacas: o paciente novamente como prioridade nas decisões médicas

EDITORIAL

The concept of heart team in cardiac diseases: the patient is back as a priority in medical decisions* * A Portuguese-language version of this editorial will be published in the journal Diagnóstico & Tratamento, volume 17, edition number 2, April to June 2012.

O conceito do heart team nas doenças cardíacas: o paciente novamente como prioridade nas decisões médicas* * A Portuguese-language version of this editorial will be published in the journal Diagnóstico & Tratamento, volume 17, edition number 2, April to June 2012.

Walter José GomesI; Domingo Marcolino BraileII

IMD, PhD. Associate Professor of Cardiovascular Surgery, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

IIMD, PhD. Emeritus Professor and Pro-Rector of Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto (Famerp); Full Professor at Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp), Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil

Address for correspondence Address for correspondence: Walter José Gomes Rua Borges Lagoa, 1.080 — conj. 608 Vila Clementino — São Paulo (SP) — Brasil CEP 04038-002 E-mail: wjgomes.dcir@epm.br

The patient is back at the center of attention and should be the priority in medical decision-making. This is the recommendation of the recent guidelines on coronary revascularization from the ESC/EACTS (European Society of Cardiology/European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery) and the ACC/AHA (American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association).1-3

Through compilation and synthesis of the best scientific evidence for decision-making relating to patients with coronary artery disease, these guidelines reinforce and specifically recommend adoption of a multidisciplinary approach in clinical decision-making, involving discussion between cardiologists, interventional cardiologists and the cardiac surgeons, in order to provide the best patient-oriented care. The decision-making process and provision of medical information to patients should be guided by the approach known as the "four principles" for health ethics: autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence and fairness.1

Establishment of a multidisciplinary team has the aim of enabling balanced clinical decision-making through evidence-based protocols that are designed in collaboration between cardiologists, interventional cardiologists and cardiac surgeons. The cases of all patients with stable coronary artery disease must be discussed by a multidisciplinary heart team before making decisions on the type of revascularization procedure to be indicated or deciding to keep the patients on medication treatment only.

With the mounting complexity of cases and severity of patients' conditions, there is often a need to involve other experts, depending on the comorbidities that are observed, such as diabetes specialists, general practitioners, nephrologists, intensivists, referral physicians or anesthesiologists, such that their combined experience and expertise can decisively contribute towards the most appropriate decision. Therefore, it is essential for the heart team to review each patient's case before issuing a treatment recommendation relating to that patient's heart condition. Hospitals and healthcare institutions are encouraged to establish multidisciplinary teams so that procedures can be guided towards what is most appropriate and necessary for patients. One study in the United States has suggested that 50% of patients may not have received adequate treatment, in the way proposed through guidelines.4 Consequently, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is implementing a program in which Medicare auditors will review all medical records and assess the adequacy of the procedures and devices used and the procedure applications or hospital admissions made, prior to paying those bills. The new program went into effect in January 2012.5

Correct indications for procedures not only result in benefits for patients but also result in reduced costs for public and private payers, which can serve to redirect resources to areas that are most in need. It has been suggested that standard institutional protocols compatible with the current guidelines can be used to avoid the need for systematic case-by-case review of all diagnostic angiograms. This concept essentially gives shape to the collaboration among specialties that is necessary in order to match their skills and expertise through complementary approaches.

However, the concept goes beyond this: patients should also have active participation in the therapeutic decision-making process. Information provided to patients needs to be objective, impartial and based on current scientific evidence, and must be understandable, accessible and consistent. Informed consent requires transparency, especially in situations in which no consensus exists in relation to the treatment indicated, such as in cases of percutaneous intervention or other surgical or medication.

Patients need to understand the risks, benefits and uncertainties associated with their disease and its treatment. These measures are mandatory, and incomprehensible technical language should be avoided. The emphasis needs to be placed on use of consistent terminology that is understandable to patients. The information provided and medical decisions made should take into consideration the benefits relating to the procedure, the short-term risks and the expected long-term outcomes and risks. Risks and benefits in terms of survival, relief of angina, quality of life and the potential need for late reintervention should be clearly informed. It is also important to note that all other interests in decision-making, among the professionals involved in the different treatment options, should be clearly made known to patients. It is recommended that patients should be given enough time (even several days, if necessary) between diagnostic catheterization and intervention, so that they can reflect on the diagnostic angiographic findings, seek a second opinion if desired, or discuss the results and consequences with the cardiologist or referring physician.

The growing public demand for transparency in relation to implementation of procedures and hospital outcomes gives rise to a need to avoid anonymous treatment. Patients have the right to know who is about to treat them and to have information about the level of operator expertise and volume of procedures at the hospital where the treatment will take place. In addition, they need to be assured that all the treatment options are available and that on-site surgery can be offered, should the need arise.

The concept of the heart team is expanding and must necessarily also be applied to new technologies that come onto the market, with a multidisciplinary approach towards selection and treatment of patients with valve disease, use of transcatheter prostheses and interventions relating to atrial fibrillation.6

Therefore, through reestablishment of an obvious concept that until now had been forgotten and relegated, the multidisciplinary approach towards heart disease represents a new effort that, with the support of physicians, hospitals and specialty societies, will again restore patients as the primary goal of care and medication treatment, and the greatest beneficiaries from decision-making, taken as a whole.

REFERENCES

1. Task Force on Myocardial Revascularization of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS); European Association for Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions (EAPCI), et al. Guidelines on myocardial revascularization. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2010;38 Suppl:S1-S52.

2. Hillis LD, Smith PK, Anderson JL, et al. 2011 ACCF/AHA Guideline for Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery: executive summary: a report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines. Circulation. 2011;124(23):2610-42.

3. Levine GN, Bates ER, Blankenship JC, et al. 2011 ACCF/AHA/SCAI Guideline for Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: a report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines and the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions. Circulation. 2011;124(23):e574-651.

4. Chan P, Patel MR, Klein LW, et al. Appropriateness of percutaneous coronary intervention. JAMA. 2011;306(1):53-61.

5. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. CMS announces new demonstrations to help curb improper medicare, medicaid payments [press release]. November 15, 2011. Available from:

http://www.cms.gov/apps/media/press/factsheet.asp?Counter=4176&intNumPerPage=10&check

Date=&checkKey=&srchType=1&numDays=3500&srchOpt=0&srchData=&keywordType=All&chkN

ewsType=6&intPage=&showAll=&pYear=&year=&desc=&cboOrder=date

6. Leon MB, Smith CR, Mack M, et al. Transcatheter aortic-valve implantation for aortic stenosis in patients who cannot undergo surgery. N Engl J Med. 2010;363(17):1597-607.

Sources of funding: None

Conflict of interest: None

Date of first submission: January 30, 2012

Last received: January 30, 2012

Accepted: March 9, 2012

  • 1. Task Force on Myocardial Revascularization of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS); European Association for Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions (EAPCI), et al. Guidelines on myocardial revascularization. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2010;38 Suppl:S1-S52.
  • 2. Hillis LD, Smith PK, Anderson JL, et al. 2011 ACCF/AHA Guideline for Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery: executive summary: a report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines. Circulation. 2011;124(23):2610-42.
  • 3. Levine GN, Bates ER, Blankenship JC, et al. 2011 ACCF/AHA/SCAI Guideline for Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: a report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines and the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions. Circulation. 2011;124(23):e574-651.
  • 4. Chan P, Patel MR, Klein LW, et al. Appropriateness of percutaneous coronary intervention. JAMA. 2011;306(1):53-61.
  • 6. Leon MB, Smith CR, Mack M, et al. Transcatheter aortic-valve implantation for aortic stenosis in patients who cannot undergo surgery. N Engl J Med. 2010;363(17):1597-607.
  • Address for correspondence:

    Walter José Gomes
    Rua Borges Lagoa, 1.080 — conj. 608
    Vila Clementino — São Paulo (SP) — Brasil
    CEP 04038-002
    E-mail:
  • *
    A Portuguese-language version of this editorial will be published in the journal Diagnóstico & Tratamento, volume 17, edition number 2, April to June 2012.
  • Publication Dates

    • Publication in this collection
      11 Sept 2012
    • Date of issue
      2012
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