Objective:

The article describes when early structural heart consultation may help clarify anatomical complexity, treatment candidacy, and care planning, while maintaining collaboration with the referring physician.

Approach:

• Specialist assessment: Structural heart specialists review anatomy and imaging to assess disease complexity, treatment candidacy, and whether advanced techniques or multidisciplinary planning may be needed.
• Collaborative care: The program describes ongoing coordination with referring physicians, with the primary cardiologist remaining central to longitudinal care and decision-making.
• Heart team review: Interventional cardiology, cardiac surgery, advanced imaging, anesthesia, and heart failure clinicians participate in multidisciplinary case discussions.

Key Findings:

• Dr. Giustino encourages physicians to consider consultation when disease severity or progression, evolving symptoms, prior valve surgery or repair, or anatomical uncertainty on imaging raises questions.
• Early evaluation can clarify candidacy for transcatheter therapy, surgery, or continued monitoring, even when intervention is not immediately needed.
• The article says early involvement allows time for imaging review, heart team discussion, and shared planning before symptoms escalate or urgency develops.

Interpretation:

The article describes early consultation as an opportunity to assess structural complexity and discuss care options collaboratively, with the primary cardiologist remaining central to longitudinal management and shared decision-making.

Limitations:

• The article is an institutional overview and provides no study methods, patient outcomes, or comparative data demonstrating that early referral changes outcomes.

Conclusion:

The article encourages physicians to consider structural heart consultation when disease progression, symptoms, imaging uncertainty, or prior valve interventions raise questions about treatment planning.

Sources:

• Atlantic Health structural heart disease page