Percutaneous cardiological intervention and cardiac surgery: patient-centered care. Position statement of the Spanish Society of Cardiology

Abstract

The percutaneous treatment of coronary artery disease and some structural cardiovascular diseases has undergone spectacular changes. More and more patients with different types of heart disease are being treated by percutaneous or transcatheter interventions, with no such increase in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. This situation has led to different types of approach, requiring an objective analysis that includes all the factors possibly influencing these changes. This document assesses the 2 scenarios where this problem is most evident: coronary revascularization and the treatment of aortic stenosis. The document analyzes the situation of coronary revascularization in Spain, and the causes that may explain the differences between the number of patients who currently undergo percutaneous revascularization and those who undergo coronary surgery. In contrast, treatment of aortic stenosis through transcatheter aortic valve implantation will lead to a foreseeable reduction in the number of candidates for surgical replacement. Several international scientific societies have published the requirements on training and experience and the necessary operator and center volumes to implement a transcatheter aortic valve implantation program, conditions that the Spanish Society of Cardiology, adopting a patient-centered approach, considers absolutely essential. Given that the 2 forms of intervention (percutaneous and surgical) are complementary, multidisciplinary patient assessment (Heart Team) remains crucial to offer the best treatment option. In this scenario of diverse approaches, a key figure is the clinical cardiologist. Finally, the changes currently occurring in the treatment of structural heart disease will, in future, lead to the performance of procedures requiring the participation of professionals from both specialties. This approach will require a redesign of current training programs.

Keywords: Cirugía coronaria; Coronary revascularization; Coronary surgery; Heart Team; Implante percutáneo de válvula aórtica; Intervención coronaria percutánea; Operator volume; Percutaneous cardiological intervention; Requisitos de formación; Revascularización coronaria; Training requirements; Transcatheter aortic valve implantation; Volumen de los operadores.