The cardiac patient: when to refer?
The decision to ask for a cardiological consultation depends on many factors. The principal guideline should always be "Will a consultation be of ultimate benefit to my patient?" One should not hesitate to ask for help whenever there is doubt either in establishing an accurate diagnosis or in deciding upon the best therapeutic regime for the patient. Our most important task as family practitioners is to arm ourselves with the basic knowledge necessary to decide when to ask for cardiac consultations.
Macnaughton
D B
DB