摘要ChallengesSince its inception,the field of invasive and interventional cardiology has witnessed tremendous procedural and technological advancements,thereby offering quantum expansion in clinical applications.As the complexity of the subspecialty continues to grow,so does the need for systematic guidelines and appropriate utilization criteria for these procedures.To this end,the American College of Cardiology (ACC),in association with the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) and several other professional societies,has developed recommended indications for diagnostic cardiac catheterizations and percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) based upon evidence-based literature or expert concensus.By and large,these guidelines have emphasized the importance of optimal medical therapy (OMT),regardless of whether an invasive or conservative approach is followed.The Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) aim "to improve patient care and health outcomes in a costeffective manner while recognizing that some ambiguity and nuance are intrinsic to clinical decision making".1