Patent foramen ovale (PFO) diagnosis in ATOS Orthoparc Clinic Cologne

About the department

The Department of Cardiology at the ATOS Orthoparc Clinic Cologne specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cardiovascular disease. Believing that the best treatment is prevention, the department's medical team places great emphasis on check-up to identify cardiac risks and their timely elimination. The department has excellent state-of-the-art equipment for assessing the function and anatomical structure of the heart. The medical facility performs echocardiography, electrocardiography (24-hour ECG monitoring and resting and exercise ECG), cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, cardiac catheterization, and functional diagnostics. The department has its own laboratory for basic tests. The therapeutic capabilities of the medical facility include drug therapy and interventional catheter-based procedures with a special emphasis on percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) with stenting. The physicians of the department are guided by current clinical protocols and adhere to the recommendations of the German Society of Cardiology and the European Society of Cardiology. The department is headed by Prof. Dr. med. Achim Vogt.

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is one of the most common cardiac pathologies and can lead to myocardial infarction if left untreated. The development of CHD is caused by the formation of atherosclerotic plaques on the walls of the coronary arteries, leading to their stenosis or complete occlusion with impaired blood supply to the myocardium. In its early stages, CHD is usually asymptomatic, which is why the department's physicians recommend regular check-ups to assess the risk of developing heart disease. As CHD progresses, it causes angina pectoris and a burning sensation behind the breastbone. The pain syndrome usually occurs during physical exertion and is accompanied by panic and anxiety in most patients. In the advanced stages of coronary heart disease, even minimal physical exertion can provoke a heart attack or sudden cardiac death. Diagnosis of coronary heart disease includes clinical and biochemical blood tests, resting and exercise electrocardiography, echocardiography, Holter monitoring, and coronary angiography. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, the department's specialists discuss treatment options with the patient: oral medications (in the early stages of the disease) and/or interventional catheter-based techniques.

The gold standard for the interventional treatment of coronary heart disease is percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) with stenting. A surgical procedure is performed through an approach in the femoral artery. Under imaging guidance, a catheter with a miniature balloon is advanced to the site of the narrowing of the coronary artery; the balloon is inflated, restoring the lumen of the coronary artery and normalizing blood flow to the heart muscle. The final stage of the interventional procedure is the placement of a stent to prevent repeated occlusion of the coronary artery. PTCA is performed under local anesthesia. The procedure provides excellent therapeutic results and is very safe.

Treatment of heart failure is also a priority clinical task for the cardiology team of the department. This pathology is characterized by impaired pumping function of the heart, which leads to its inability to ensure normal blood flow through the blood vessels. Heart failure often occurs against the background of other cardiac pathologies, such as coronary heart disease, arrhythmia, congenital and acquired heart defects, cardiomyopathy, arterial hypertension, etc. Its classic symptoms are shortness of breath during physical exertion, swelling of the legs (especially in the afternoon), constant feeling of fatigue, weakness, fainting, and dizziness. The main diagnostic methods are echocardiography, electrocardiography, Holter monitoring, 24-hour blood pressure monitoring, chest X-ray, bicycle ergometry, treadmill test, laboratory tests (general blood and urine tests and a biochemical blood test). The tactics of treatment of heart failure depend on its form. The pathology may be acute or chronic. In the case of acute heart failure, the cardiologist's task is to normalize vital parameters with intensive drug therapy and oxygen therapy. Treatment of chronic heart failure is based on the use of individually prescribed medications and includes lifestyle changes such as avoiding salty and fatty foods, quitting smoking and drinking alcohol, daily moderate physical activity, and avoiding stressful situations as much as possible.

The department's clinical focuses include the following:

• Diagnostics and treatment of coronary heart disease
• Diagnostics and treatment of heart failure
• Diagnostics and treatment of heart valve disease
• Diagnostics and treatment of arrhythmias
• Diagnostics and treatment of cardiomyopathies
• Diagnostics and treatment of arterial hypertension
• Diagnostics and treatment of other cardiovascular diseases

The department offers the following diagnostic and therapeutic services:

• Diagnostic options
  • Basic laboratory tests
  • Echocardiography
  • Electrocardiography: 24-hour ECG monitoring and, resting and exercise ECG
  • Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging
  • Cardiac catheterization
  • Pulmonary function testing
• Therapeutic options
  • Drug therapy
  • Interventional catheter-based procedures with emphasis on percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty with stenting
• Other medical services