The American College of Cardiology Foundation and the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, in collaboration with the Society of Thoracic Surgeons and the Society for Vascular Medicine, released a consensus statement on modern cath labs that replaces a similar document published in 2001, according to the release.
The statement is designed to provide standards for clinical care. Some of the topics addressed include the following:
• Cardiac catheterization laboratories without on-site cardiac surgical back-up. The document states the risk of major complications with most invasive coronary procedures is very low, according to the release.
• Percutaneous coronary intervention for heart attack patients in hospitals without on-site cardiac surgical back-up. The document says hospitals without on-site surgical back-up should partner with a medical center that does offer backup.
• Minimum case volumes for diagnostic cardiac catheterization. The document states there is no data to support the use of minimum case volumes as a measure of quality. It recommends instead creating a quality assurance program to measure quality.
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