After reviewing the results of the history and physical plus the findings of a battery of tests (blood work, EKG, echocardiogram, stress testing, etc.) the differntial diagnosis (or the list of possible diagnoses) is narrowed down to a single most likely diagnosis.

For example an abnormal stress test may lead to a cardiac catheterization procedure, which in turn may demonstrate severe coronary artery disease. The cardiologist then reviews the findings of the test, location of the disease, size of the coronary artery, age of the patient, associated diseases and other clinically important conditions.
Upon conclusion of this review, a recommendation about a specific therapeutic or treatment procedure is made. This may consist of medical therapy, bypass surgery, coronary angioplasty (PTCA), stenting, etc.

     Determination of the procedures that may be neede in a specific patient begins with the patient's history that can be reviewed by clicking the next button on the right corners of this page