Cardiology

Patients with acute myocardial infarction are treated at all times by a highly specialised team in the cardiac catheter laboratory as part of a 24-hour on-call service. This is where the infarcted vessel is reopened interventionally. Treatment is fast and efficient to save damaged heart tissue and minimise complications. If the patient's circulation is unstable (cardiogenic shock), mechanical circulatory support (e.g. ECMO, Impella) can be provided at any time. This is followed by further treatment in our Intensive Care Unit or Intermediate Care Unit (IMC).

CHD is a disease in which the blood supply to the heart muscle is impaired. The main cause is atherosclerosis, in which plaque (a build-up of fat, cholesterol and other substances) forms in the coronary arteries. This plaque can obstruct or block the blood supply.

Diagnosis and treatment

We treat stable patients with suspected or known CAD according to current guidelines and the latest recommendations. In addition to drug therapy and secondary prevention, an overall concept for symptom control and prognosis improvement is developed on an individual basis, taking into account the overall situation (symptoms, risk factors, ischaemia test, vitality, comorbidities). If cardiac catheterisation is required, it can usually be done on an outpatient basis or on the day of admission to the cardiac catheterisation laboratory. For example, if the blood flow to the heart muscle is severely impaired, a stent may be implanted directly after the diagnostic cardiac catheterisation, following an individual discussion of the findings. If the findings are unclear, a blood flow test (FFR, iFR) is usually performed immediately after the diagnostic cardiac catheterisation in order to initiate the best possible treatment. In our state-of-the-art cardiac catheterisation laboratories, we have all the technical options for optimal treatment (intracoronary imaging using IVUS and OCT, lithotripsy, rotablation, recanalisation of chronic coronary occlusions). If bypass surgery is required in the case of serious findings, this is discussed in the "Heart" team with colleagues from cardiac surgery and can be initiated directly.

Consultation hours

Patients with suspected coronary artery disease or with special problems in the case of known coronary artery disease (e.g. follow-up examinations, drug treatment, clarification of the indication for cardiac catheterisation) can attend our cardiology consultation hours.

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Heart failure is usually diagnosed with a full range of tests. This generally requires hospitalisation. In addition to echocardiography, modern imaging techniques (magnetic resonance imaging of the heart, positron emission tomography) play an important role in identifying rare causes of heart failure. If indicated, a tissue sample can be taken during a cardiac catheterisation to identify rare diseases. In addition to optimal medical therapy, interventional procedures (e.g. MitraClip" or the PASCAL system for severe mitral valve regurgitation) or resynchronisation therapy with special pacemakers can improve the prognosis. A defibrillator (AICD) is often implanted to prevent sudden cardiac death. Heart transplantation may be considered if the heart failure is severe. This is done together with colleagues from the Clinic and Polyclinic for Heart, Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery in the Heart Transplant Clinic.

Heart failure outpatient clinic patient questionnaire

Referral form for HTX registration

Mechanical assist devices are available in our intensive care unit for acute severe heart failure with cardiogenic shock.

In Rhythmology we treat patients suffering from cardiac arrhythmias. Our two fully equipped electrophysiology laboratories offer innovative diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Experienced specialists treat you with the highest level of expertise according to the latest scientific and research findings.

Slow and fast cardiac arrhythmias

We use catheter ablation to treat rapid cardiac arrhythmia (tachycardia). This means that we remove pathological excitation centres in the heart.

Our specialised team implants pacemakers in patients with slow arrhythmias (bradycardia). These replace the function of the sinus node (pulse generator) or bypass the conduction system so that an adequate heart rate can be restored without interruption.

Heart failure, sudden cardiac death and ventricular fibrillation

We use prophylactic implantable defibrillators in patients with heart failure or who have survived sudden cardiac death or ventricular fibrillation. We also use cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) devices to restore synchronised heartbeat and improve the heart's ability to pump blood.

In the case of heart valve defects, echocardiography (transthoracic and transesophageal, 3D imaging) plays a key role in assessing the severity of heart valve disease and in individualised treatment planning. Invasive cardiac catheterisation may also be necessary. In order to be able to offer you the best treatment (minimally invasive valve therapy or surgery) for your heart valve defect, the findings are discussed in a specialist heart conference (cardiology, heart surgery). For minimally invasive aortic valve replacement using TAVI, a CT scan is still required to plan the procedure. For minimally invasive therapy of the mitral and tricuspid valves (MitraClip", TricuspidClip, PASCAL system), 3D ultrasound examination during the procedure in our hybrid cardiac catheterisation laboratory is crucial. You are also welcome to attend a preliminary consultation on an outpatient basis at our specialist heart valve consultation.

Patients with atrial fibrillation and a high risk of stroke (CHA2DS2-VASc > 2) and a contraindication to oral anticoagulation (e.g. due to clinically relevant bleeding) can be treated with a percutaneous atrial appendage occluder system that eliminates the need for oral anticoagulation (so-called LAA occluder).

In young patients (< 60 years) with cryptogenic stroke and echocardiographic evidence of persistent patent foramen ovale (PFO), interventional closure of the PFO may be performed to prevent recurrence of paradoxical embolism after exclusion of alternative causes (so-called PFO occluder). Atrial fibrillation, stenosis of the brain-supplying vessels, thrombophilia and vasculitis must be excluded as alternative causes of stroke beforehand.  

Subject to clinical and haemodynamic relevance (i.e. Qp:Qs > 1.5 as determined by right heart catheterisation and staged oximetry), an atrial septal defect (ASD II) can be closed with a special ASD occluder if the anatomy is suitable.