Appropriate Use Criteria for Coronary Revascularization is reportedly the first set of guidelines focusing on treatment rather than diagnostic testing.
The guide will assist physicians on when to treat chest pain, a symptom of clogged arteries, with medical therapy alone or with prescribed medical therapy.
Other times, it may be appropriate to perform a revascularization, a procedure to restore good blood flow to the heart muscle with a balloon-tipped catheter or bypass surgery.
"One of the strengths of this document is that it provides a framework for thinking about clinical scenarios and having a discussion about coronary revascularization. These recommendations describe when coronary revascularization would be expected to improve a patient's health status," said Dr Manesh R Patel, chair of the appropriate use criteria writing group.
The group examined 180 clinical scenarios to determine when revascularization or other measures were appropriate. The guidelines will appear in the February 10th issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, as well as online.
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