After renovation work: New device offers top technology for minimally invasive diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
Enthusiastic about the new technology: MHH Vice President Professor Dr. Frank Lammert, Dr. Dominik Berliner, Professor Dr. Johann Bauersachs, Michael Raasch, Head of Infrastructure, and Dr. Tobias König. Copyright: Karin Kaiser/MHH
The cardiac catheterization laboratory is the heart of modern cardiology. This is where, for example, pathological changes in the coronary vessels, defects in the heart valves and cardiac dysfunction can be detected. The Department of Cardiology and Angiology at Hannover Medical School (MHH) has now opened a modernized cardiac catheterization laboratory. "With the new facility, we are at the cutting edge of technology. This enables us to offer our patients a wide range of modern, minimally invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures," explains Clinic Director Professor Dr. Johann Bauersachs.
From examination to emergency care
The clinic has three cardiac catheterization laboratories with different minimally invasive focuses. In the renovated cardiac catheterization laboratory 1, coronary angiographies and dilatations of narrowed vessels are mainly carried out. This involves the cardiologists advancing a catheter through the vessels to the heart via an access at the wrist or in the groin. With the help of X-ray contrast medium, they can examine the coronary vessels and determine whether they are narrowed, calcified or blocked. If this is the case, they can often diagnose the problem during the same examination by inserting a fine vascular support, also known as a stent. If left untreated, narrowed or blocked coronary arteries can lead to circulatory problems in the heart muscle and even a heart attack. In addition, heart valve defects are also corrected in a minimally invasive manner in cardiac catheter laboratory 1. And last but not least, the heart specialists there treat emergencies - for example in the event of an acute heart attack or after resuscitation. A cardiology team is available around the clock, every day of the year.
Faster diagnoses, more effective treatments
The conversion work and installation of the new cardiac catheter system took just under two months. Now the whole team is delighted with the completely renovated rooms and the modern furniture, especially the new device. “It provides excellent image quality, works with less X-rays and has many special tools with which we can also treat complex coronary artery diseases,” enthuses Dr. Tobias König, who heads the cardiac catheterization laboratories at the MHH together with Dr. Dominik Berliner. The new device is a system with two X-ray tubes, which not only enables faster diagnoses and more effective treatments, but is also gentler on patients. “We need less contrast agent, which is a great advantage, especially for people with previously damaged kidneys,” explains Dr. Berliner. The device also offers the option of integrating three-dimensional ultrasound images from inside the heart into the examination. "This allows us to get an even better impression of the structures in the heart. This is very helpful when repairing damaged heart valves," explains Dr. Berliner.
Minimally invasive procedures on the rise
Minimally invasive procedures are playing an increasingly important role in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Nowadays, it is often possible to treat defective heart valves gently using catheters. Against this backdrop, Professor Bauersachs believes that the new cardiac catheterization laboratory puts MHH Cardiology in a position to face the future. “Such innovations help us to maintain a high standard of quality and successfully establish new procedures.”
Text: Tina Götting