A rapid, user-friendly method for entering lesion morphology data after cardiac catheterization
An expert panel Task Force of the AHA/ACC reported that determination of lesion morphology was predictive of adverse events after diagnostic/interventional procedures. To date, the classification system proposed by the Task Force has not been routinely used in clinical practice because of the complexity in acquiring this data on a routine basis. We have developed a coronary artery tree diagramming system that employs a graphical-user interface to allow rapid and facile data entry by clinical personnel. In addition to the baseline anatomic descriptors of coronary artery anatomy, lesion morphology descriptors comprising each data element comprising the AHA/ACC class is easily entered. Average time for data entry per tree is 2 minutes. The system is used on a daily basis at Duke University Medical Center for recording the results of the 20-25 diagnostic and 10- 15 interventional procedures. The recording of complex lesion morphology data can now be easily performed as part of routine clinical care in large clinical populations undergoing catheterization procedures.