heart team approach
Pronunciation: hart teem uh-PROHCH
Multidisciplinary consultation process involving cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, and other specialists to determine optimal treatment for complex coronary disease.
Full Definition
The heart team approach is a collaborative decision-making process mandated by clinical guidelines for patients with complex coronary artery disease, particularly those with left main disease or multivessel disease. The team typically includes interventional cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, clinical cardiologists, and may include anesthesiologists, perfusionists, and other specialists. This multidisciplinary evaluation helps determine whether patients are better candidates for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), considering factors such as anatomical complexity, comorbidities, and patient preferences.
Usage
Usage note: Use 'heart team approach' rather than 'heart team' when referring to the consultation process.
In Context
- "The patient was presented to the heart team approach for evaluation of left main coronary disease." — Multidisciplinary case conference
- "Following heart team approach discussion, the consensus was to proceed with surgical revascularization." — Clinical decision documentation