Consensus statement regarding Credentialing Committee review of Cardiology Case Logs:
Regarding respiratory cases in the cardiology applicants' case logs, the following guidelines are recommended by the Cardiology Committee of AIMVT:
Respiratory cases in the case log will be allowed if:
1. The case presented with respiratory distress and the differential diagnosis was cardiac vs. respiratory disease, with cardiac disease being ultimately ruled out; there are many times that animals present for cardiac disease, when they are primary respiratory disease, and vice versa; the process of sorting through the steps for differentiating the two problems is applicable and useful.
2. The animal had underlying heart disease, but that particular presentation involved concurrent primary respiratory disease; in this case, the heart disease would also have been addressed, and so could be legitimately included in the case log.
3. Primary respiratory cases with no obvious cardiac cause in the differential diagnosis (e.g., kennel cough, young animals with upper respiratory infection, feline asthma) are not accepted.
4. Cases of primary respiratory disease with a cardiac differential diagnosis or concurrent cardiac disease cannot make up more than 10% (5 cases) of the case log.
5. Cases with a final diagnosis of primary respiratory disease may NOT be used for in depth case reports.
6. The credentialing committee may submit questionable cases to the Director at Large-Cardiology for a final decision.
Respiratory cases in the case log will be allowed if:
1. The case presented with respiratory distress and the differential diagnosis was cardiac vs. respiratory disease, with cardiac disease being ultimately ruled out; there are many times that animals present for cardiac disease, when they are primary respiratory disease, and vice versa; the process of sorting through the steps for differentiating the two problems is applicable and useful.
2. The animal had underlying heart disease, but that particular presentation involved concurrent primary respiratory disease; in this case, the heart disease would also have been addressed, and so could be legitimately included in the case log.
3. Primary respiratory cases with no obvious cardiac cause in the differential diagnosis (e.g., kennel cough, young animals with upper respiratory infection, feline asthma) are not accepted.
4. Cases of primary respiratory disease with a cardiac differential diagnosis or concurrent cardiac disease cannot make up more than 10% (5 cases) of the case log.
5. Cases with a final diagnosis of primary respiratory disease may NOT be used for in depth case reports.
6. The credentialing committee may submit questionable cases to the Director at Large-Cardiology for a final decision.