A Heart Team collaboratively examining a heart.

Heart Team: Can a Multidisciplinary Approach Improve Heart Disease Outcomes?

Lena Voss in Health & Wellness July 2025 • 4 min read.

"Exploring the safety, feasibility, and long-term benefits of Heart Team decision-making in coronary artery disease."

Coronary artery disease (CAD) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Making informed decisions about the best course of treatment can be a complex task, particularly with the increasing overlap in patient populations targeted for medical therapy, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

In recent years, the concept of a 'Heart Team' – a multidisciplinary group of specialists including interventional cardiologists, clinical cardiologists, and cardiac surgeons – has gained prominence. This collaborative approach aims to provide patient-centric, evidence-based healthcare decisions, ensuring that all treatment options are considered and tailored to the individual's specific needs and circumstances.

But does this team-based approach really improve patient outcomes? Are there potential delays or other drawbacks associated with involving multiple specialists in the decision-making process? And how do Heart Team recommendations translate into real-world results? A study published in Interactive CardioVascular and Thoracic Surgery sought to address these questions by examining the experience of a Heart Team in 1000 consecutive cases of coronary artery disease.

What is a Heart Team and How Does It Work?

A Heart Team collaboratively examining a heart.

The Heart Team approach brings together a diverse group of experts to collaboratively assess and determine the optimal treatment strategy for patients with complex CAD. Typically, a Heart Team includes:

The primary goal of the Heart Team is to ensure that all treatment options are carefully considered, taking into account the patient's individual clinical characteristics, the complexity of their coronary artery disease, and their personal preferences. By pooling their expertise and perspectives, the Heart Team can arrive at a consensus decision that is more informed and patient-centered than could be achieved by a single physician.

Cardiac Surgeon
Clinical Cardiologist
Interventional Cardiologist
Residents of the cardiology or cardiothoracic surgery department
Researchers
Other health care professionals

The Heart Team meeting involves a thorough review of the patient's medical history, diagnostic test results (including coronary angiograms and echocardiograms), and risk scores. The team discusses the potential benefits and risks of different treatment options, such as medical therapy, PCI, and CABG, and strives to reach a shared decision that aligns with the patient's goals and values.

The Future of Heart Team Decision-Making

The study by Domingues et al. provides valuable insights into the feasibility, safety, and real-world outcomes of the Heart Team approach. As healthcare systems continue to evolve, multidisciplinary collaboration will likely play an increasingly important role in ensuring that patients with complex conditions like CAD receive the best possible care. By embracing the Heart Team model and continuously striving to improve its effectiveness, we can work towards a future where every patient benefits from informed, patient-centered treatment decisions.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1093/icvts/ivy237, Alternate LINK

Title: Heart Team Decision Making And Long-Term Outcomes For 1000 Consecutive Cases Of Coronary Artery Disease

Subject: Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

Journal: Interactive CardioVascular and Thoracic Surgery

Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)

Authors: Carina T Domingues, Milan Milojevic, Daniel J F M Thuijs, Nicolas M Van Mieghem, Joost Daemen, Ron T Van Domburg, A Pieter Kappetein, Stuart J Head

Published: 2018-08-07

Everything You Need To Know

What is a Heart Team and how does it improve care for Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) patients?

A Heart Team is a multidisciplinary group of experts, including Clinical Cardiologists, Interventional Cardiologists, and Cardiac Surgeons, who collaborate to determine the best treatment strategy for patients with Coronary Artery Disease (CAD). This approach improves care by ensuring all treatment options, such as medical therapy, Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI), and Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG), are considered. The team reviews the patient's medical history, diagnostic test results, and risk scores to make informed, patient-centered decisions. This contrasts with traditional models where a single physician might make the decision, potentially missing valuable perspectives and treatment options.

Who are the key members of a Heart Team, and what roles do they play in patient care?

A typical Heart Team is composed of several key members, each contributing specialized expertise to patient care. These include the Cardiac Surgeon, who is essential for evaluating the need and feasibility of Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG). The Clinical Cardiologist provides a comprehensive understanding of the patient's overall cardiovascular health, and the Interventional Cardiologist focuses on procedures like Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI). In addition to these core members, Residents of the cardiology or cardiothoracic surgery department, Researchers, and other healthcare professionals may also participate, contributing different perspectives and insights to the decision-making process.

How does a Heart Team decide on the best treatment option for a patient with CAD?

The Heart Team uses a comprehensive, collaborative approach to determine the optimal treatment for Coronary Artery Disease (CAD). The process begins with a thorough review of the patient's medical history, diagnostic test results (including coronary angiograms and echocardiograms), and risk scores. Each member of the team contributes their specialized knowledge to evaluate the potential benefits and risks of different treatment options, such as medical therapy, Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI), and Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG). The team then strives to reach a consensus decision that aligns with the patient's goals and values, ensuring a patient-centered approach.

What are the potential benefits of using a Heart Team approach for patients with heart disease?

The Heart Team approach offers several key benefits for patients with heart disease, particularly those with complex Coronary Artery Disease (CAD). It ensures that all treatment options are considered, including medical therapy, Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI), and Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG). The collaboration among Clinical Cardiologists, Interventional Cardiologists, and Cardiac Surgeons leads to more informed and patient-centered decisions. This multidisciplinary approach also allows for a comprehensive assessment of individual patient characteristics, the complexity of the disease, and personal preferences, resulting in tailored treatment plans that improve patient outcomes.

What are the limitations or challenges of the Heart Team approach?

While the Heart Team approach offers significant advantages in treating Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), there may be certain challenges. One potential challenge could be the logistical complexity of coordinating multiple specialists, which could potentially lead to delays in treatment decisions. Another challenge might be the need for effective communication and collaboration among the various specialists, including Cardiac Surgeons, Clinical Cardiologists, and Interventional Cardiologists, to ensure a unified approach. Successfully implementing the Heart Team approach requires a commitment to teamwork and a patient-centered philosophy to overcome these challenges and maximize the benefits for patients.