Perspective:

The following are 10 points to remember about this focused update on appropriate use criteria for coronary revascularization:

1. The writing group and technical panel felt that some quantification of coronary artery disease (CAD) burden, either by description or SYNTAX score, could be helpful to clinicians. Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) was rated as appropriate in all of the new clinical scenarios developed, whereas percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was rated as appropriate only in patients with two-vessel CAD with involvement of the proximal left anterior descending artery (LAD) and in patients with three-vessel disease with a low CAD burden.

2. ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) ≤12 hours from onset of symptoms and revascularization of the culprit artery is rated as appropriate with a score of 9 (on a 1-9 scale).

3. Revascularization in patients with one- or two-vessel CAD without involvement of the proximal LAD and no noninvasive testing performed is considered inappropriate.

4. PCI is considered inappropriate for left main stenosis and additional CAD with intermediate to high CAD burden.

5. Revascularization is considered uncertain in unstable angina/NSTEMI and low-risk features (e.g., Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction [TIMI] score ≤2) for short-term risk of death or nonfatal MI, but appropriate for those with intermediate-risk features (e.g., TIMI score 3-4) and for those with high-risk features.

6. Appropriateness for PCI is uncertain for three-vessel CAD with intermediate to high CAD burden (i.e., multiple diffuse lesions, presence of chronic total occlusion, or high SYNTAX score), but CABG is appropriate.

7. PCI for isolated left main stenosis is now graded as uncertain.

8. For patients with acute MI (STEMI or NSTEMI) and evidence of cardiogenic shock, revascularization of one or more coronary arteries is appropriate.

9. It should be noted that uncertain indications require individual physician judgment and understanding of the patient to better determine the usefulness of revascularization for a particular clinical scenario.

10. The Appropriate Use Criteria writing group and technical panel favor the collaborative interaction of cardiac surgeons and interventional cardiologists heart team approach regarding revascularization decisions in complex patients or coronary anatomy, as recommended in the PCI guidelines.