British Societies' recommendations for Heart Team multidisciplinary meetings: broadly relevant principles with anticipated regional differences in process

Abstract

The concept of a Heart Team approach to evaluating patients with cardiovascular disease was fuelled by the Synergy between PCI with Taxus and Cardiac Surgery (SYNTAX) trial for severe coronary artery disease and the Placement of Aortic Transcatheter Valves (PARTNER) trial for aortic stenosis (AS). 2 It was subsequently included as a recommended practice in guidelines for the management of patients with coronary artery disease and AS. Unpacking the rationale, purpose, composition, process and work of the Heart Team has been an evolving process that is being increasingly applied to additional cardiovascular diseases. Professor Ray and working group colleagues provide a consensus statement which outlines guidance from the British Societies regarding the multidisciplinary meetings of the Heart Team to address myocardial revascularisation; aortic, mitral and tricuspid valve disease; and endocarditis (figure 1).