Cardiac examinations make it possible to diagnose and treat diseases of the heart, the circulatory system and the vessels close to the heart at an early stage. The most important examinations include ECG, echocardiography, cardiac catheterisation and myocardial scintigraphy. They are used, for example, to clarify suspected heart diseases such as coronary heart disease, heart failure or cardiac arrhythmia.
The electrocardiogram (ECG) measures the electrical currents of the heart muscle that occur with every heartbeat, in particular the heart rate and heart rhythm. The recording of these impulses can indicate deviations from normal function and thus provide important indications of heart disease or cardiac arrhythmia within minutes and with little effort. Exercise and long-term ECG as well as spiroergometry, which tests the resilience of the cardiovascular system and the lungs, are used for an even more differentiated clarification.
Echocardiography (cardiac ultrasound, cardiac echo) is a painless ultrasound examination of the heart in which cardiac structures such as the heart muscle, heart valves, heart cavities and pericardium are visualised. This makes it possible to assess how efficiently the heart is pumping and whether a heart disease such as cardiac insufficiency or a valve defect is present.
Cardiac catheterisation is a minimally invasive examination of the heart and is used for the diagnosis and treatment of many cardiological diseases. During the examination, a thin, flexible tube (cardiac catheter) is advanced through a blood vessel to the heart, usually via the groin or wrist. Cardiac catheterisation is often used to assess the coronary arteries or the heart valves. Minor interventions can usually be carried out directly during the examination.
Myocardial scintigraphy (MSC) is an examination in which blood flow, vitality and function of the heart muscle (myocardium) are visualised using a contrast agent and a special camera (gamma camera). This produces cross-sectional images of the heart, similar to a CT or MRI. The examination is usually carried out if there is a suspicion of coronary heart disease or as a check-up after cardiac surgery.
In coronary heart disease (CHD), the coronary arteries are narrowed or calcified, which leads to a circulatory disorder in the heart. The aim of treatment is to improve quality of life and slow or stop the progression of the disease. In addition to drug therapies, surgical procedures such as bypass surgery or minimally invasive balloon dilatation are also available.
Heart failure or cardiac insufficiency occurs when the heart no longer pumps strongly enough to supply the body with sufficient blood and therefore oxygen. This results in limited physical resilience. The treatment of heart failure consists of several components and depends primarily on the severity of the disease. In addition to drug treatment, surgical measures such as the insertion of a pacemaker may also be necessary. Therapy often requires interdisciplinary cooperation between different specialities, which is offered at the highest level at the Vienna Private Clinic.
In a cardiac arrhythmia, the heart beats too slowly, too quickly or irregularly. Cardiac arrhythmias can occur in various forms, such as atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. Not all cardiac arrhythmias need to be treated. If treatment is necessary, it is usually carried out with medication to regulate and stabilise the heart rate. In some cases, treatment by implanting a pacemaker or an implantable defibrillator (AICD) may be necessary. This is often done by means of a cardiac catheter or as part of a bypass operation.
