The Impact of Heart Team Discussion on Decision Making for Coronary
Revascularization in Patients with Complex Coronary Artery Disease
Abstract
Background and aim: Revascularization guidelines support routine heart
team (HT) discussion of appropriate patients. The effect of HT on
decision making and clinical outcomes hasn’t been explored. The aim of
our study is to investigate the impact of the HT on the mode and delay
to revascularization. Methods: We compared data from a prospective
cohort of consecutive patients with multivessel coronary artery disease
referred for HT discussion between 2016-2017 (HT group) with a historic
control group of patients matched according to clinical and angiographic
characteristics treated between 2005-2015 (No HT group). Results: There
were 93 patients in each group. The HT group and the No HT groups had a
similar rate of ACS as well as cardiovascular risk factors and
significant left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. No difference was
observed in the mean Society of Thoracic Surgery (STS) score (2.5± 3 vs.
3 ±3 p=0.32) and the mean SYNTAX score was low and similar in both
groups (21±6 vs. 19±6 p=0.59). The treatment recommendations changed
greatly, with 63% of patients being referred for coronary artery bypass
grafting (CABG) after HT discussion but only 23% in the no HT group
(p<0.01). HT discussion led to a significant delay to PCI (8±5
vs. 1.8±4 days, p=0.02), while surgical revascularization times were not
affected. Conclusion: HT discussion in patients with multivessel CAD was
associated with an increased referral to CABG but led to a significant
delay in revascularization by angioplasty. The impact of these findings
on patient satisfaction and outcome should be further investigated.