CARDIOLOGY

An event recorder is a device similar to an ECG Holter, used to capture infrequently recurring rhythm disorders. It can stay with the patient for a long period, and a recording taken at the moment of symptoms helps establish the diagnosis.

An ECG is a basic examination that records the electrical activity of the heart to assess the conduction system of the heart muscle. It provides quick, painless information in the initial evaluation of rhythm disorders and many heart problems.

A blood pressure Holter measures and records blood pressure and pulse at set intervals throughout the day. It is used to detect hidden hypertension and to monitor the effectiveness of treatment.

The exercise test evaluates how the heart responds to load at a gradually increasing pace on a treadmill. It is preferred for investigating coronary artery disease and measuring the effectiveness of treatment.

Echocardiography is a method that examines the structure and function of the heart using sound waves (ultrasound). It involves no radiation, is painless, and provides extensive information for assessing the valves and chambers.

Three-dimensional echocardiography images the heart valves and chambers in three dimensions. It offers clearer information, particularly for the detailed assessment of valve diseases.

Stress echocardiography examines changes in the contraction of the heart muscle while the workload of the heart is increased through exercise or medication. It is used to evaluate narrowing of the coronary arteries and valve problems.

TEE is an advanced echocardiography method performed through the oesophagus when the chest structure does not provide adequate images. The valves, atria and any clots are imaged at higher resolution.

Three-dimensional transoesophageal echocardiography provides three-dimensional detail for evaluating congenital heart defects, valve leaks and prosthetic valves. It is an advanced method performed in a limited number of centres in our country.

A rhythm Holter records the electrical activity of the heart, usually for 24 hours, via electrodes placed on the chest. It is effective at capturing rhythm disorders that vary throughout the day.

The tilt test is used to diagnose fainting caused by a sudden drop in blood pressure or heart rate due to prolonged standing. The patient is monitored on a tilted table and the source of the complaints is investigated.

Coronary angiography is a diagnostic method that images narrowing or blockages in the vessels supplying the heart. Contrast agent is delivered into the vessels through a thin catheter and the coronary network is examined in detail.

Percutaneous coronary angioplasty is the procedure of opening a narrowing or blockage identified during angiography using a balloon and stent. The vessel is widened and blood flow restored without the need for open surgery.

Cardiac catheterisation, similar to coronary angiography, is performed through a vessel in the groin or arm, and intracardiac pressures are often measured as well. It provides information for the advanced assessment of valve and muscle diseases.

In some patients who have had a heart attack, a vessel remains completely blocked. These vessels are opened using specialised interventional techniques requiring experience, restoring blood flow to the heart.

TAVI is the replacement of a narrowed aortic valve by catheter without open surgery. It offers a safe option especially for patients at high surgical risk.

Holes in the heart that were once closed surgically can now, in suitable patients, be closed without surgery using occluder devices placed by catheter. Recovery time is shorter and the patient quickly returns to daily life.

The endovascular method is the preferred option for patients at high risk for open surgery. It cannot be applied to every patient whose vascular anatomy is unsuitable, so the assessment is made by the physician.

Around the renal arteries are sympathetic nerves that raise blood pressure. In renal denervation these nerves are deactivated by catheter, contributing to the control of resistant hypertension.

This test evaluates the blood supply of the heart muscle at rest and under load. It examines whether there is a blockage in the vessels supplying the heart.

Coronary CT angiography is an imaging method performed with a multi-slice tomography scanner, without a catheter and within a breath-hold. It is bloodless and painless, requires no hospital stay, and the patient returns to daily life after the procedure.

Cardiac MRI is an imaging method that reveals diseases of the pericardium, heart chambers, valves, heart muscle and great vessels. The procedure takes about 45 minutes and requires no prior preparation.