The most common heart valve diseases: aortic stenosis and mitral regurgitation. A few comments on guidelines and recommendations by societies of cardiology
Cerbák, R.
Vnitrni Lekarstvi 55(9): 784-787
2009
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-773X PMID: 19785376 Document Number: 636942
Recommendations of professional societies, frequently called guidelines as per the English translation, provide help to the general practice as well as specialized physicians. These are recommendations, not a legislative norm. Societies of cardiology have issued 3 new guidelines over the recent years; American ACC/AHA in 2006 and European ESC and Czech CSC in 2007. Guidelines for diagnostics and therapy are presented as Class I to III according to the suitability of the procedure and the level of evidence is classified in groups A to C. Emphasised is the effort of societies of cardiology to provide unbiased guidelines. They request the authors to provide a statement confirming they are not in any way related to any organization, institution or company that could be at present or in the future considered as a conflict of interests. Mentioned is the rapid growth of knowledge that does not allow the guidelines to consider the latest advances to trans-catheter therapy of the both most frequently occurring valve disorders.