Before your doctor appointment, it is a good idea to learn the basics about coronary artery disease diagnosis and treatments. Then you can use your appointment time to ask questions specifically about your own coronary artery disease and your doctor’s treatment recommendations.

This question list can be a useful guide. You may not need to ask your doctor all of these questions. Use the questions that are most appropriate to your situation and to where you are in the diagnosis and treatment procedure.

Diagnostic Tests

• What tests have I been given?
• What further tests do you recommend for me?
• How reliable are these tests?
• How will these tests affect our treatment decisions?
• When will I get the results and who will explain them to me?

Diagnostic Test Results

• Do I have coronary artery disease?
• How many blockages do I have? How severe are they?
• Which parts of my heart are being affected?
• How well is my heart pumping?

Treatment Options and Recommendations

• What might happen if I don't get treatment?
• Which treatments would be options for me?
• Do you recommend bypass surgery?
• What kind of bypass surgery is appropriate for me? Why?
• What are the risks and benefits associated with bypass surgery?
• Do you recommend a catheter-based treatment for me (angioplasty or stenting)?
• What results do you expect?
• Are you considering implanting a stent?
• What are the risks and benefits associated with stents?
• Are you considering a drug-eluting stent (DES)?
• What are the risks and benefits associated with drug-eluting stents (DES)?
• Are there allergies, sensitivities, or other medical conditions I may have that you need to know about to decide which treatment is best for me? (Be sure to tell your doctor if you have any allergies.)

Your Care Team

• Will you be doing my procedure, or will you refer me to another doctor?
• Does the doctor who will perform my procedure specialize in certain procedures?
• How many of these procedures does this doctor do each year?