A Call for an Evidence-Based Approach to the Heart Team for Patients With Severe Aortic Stenosis

Application of a Heart Team approach is now a central concept in the care of patients with severe aortic stenosis. It has Class I recommendations from American and European professional societies and is required for reimbursement for transcatheter aortic valve replacement in the United States. The rationale for changing traditional practice models is to improve patient selection, procedural planning, and management of patients at high or prohibitive surgical risk, thus improving outcomes. Although the concept is intuitive, a clear definition of the Heart Team, and data supporting its effectiveness, are lacking. Other specialties, including oncology, provide a precedent for investigation of the use of a multidisciplinary team and its impact on patient care. We highlight the need for clear definitions and shared metrics to advance our understanding of an optimal Heart Team approach, focusing on patient, clinician, and health system outcomes. (C) 2015 by the American College of Cardiology Foundation.