Cardiology deals with the heart and blood vessels. Many heart conditions are managed with medication and lifestyle changes. When surgery or an intervention is needed, cardiologists and cardiovascular surgeons choose the approach together, based on the patient's examination and tests.
Common conditions
Coronary artery disease
The coronary arteries supply the heart muscle with blood. They can narrow or become blocked over time, influenced by diet, lifestyle and inherited factors. Narrowed arteries can cause chest pain and, eventually, a heart attack. When surgery is needed, a common operation is coronary artery bypass grafting, which creates a new route for blood around the blockage.
Heart valve disease
The heart's valves keep blood flowing in the right direction. A valve may become narrowed (stenosis) or may not close properly (insufficiency), usually because of structural problems. Depending on the case, a valve can be repaired or replaced.
Congenital heart disease
Some heart conditions are present from birth. Many can be detected before birth with a foetal echocardiogram. Depending on the condition, treatment may be planned during pregnancy or after the baby is born.
Heart rhythm disorders
The sinus node, in the wall of the right atrium, controls the heart's electrical system. Problems in this system can cause palpitations or fainting. Rhythm disorders are diagnosed with a physical examination and an electrocardiogram (ECG), and sometimes further monitoring.
Surgical approaches
- Open surgery. The surgeon works directly on the heart or vessels through an incision, without a camera system.
- Minimally invasive interventions. Many procedures can be done from inside the blood vessels (endovascular), without opening the chest or abdomen. Suitable patients with conditions such as aneurysms or varicose veins may be treated this way.
- Robotic surgery. In recent years, robotic systems have been used for some heart operations, including certain bypass operations, rhythm disorder procedures and closing holes in the heart with a patch.
Not every approach suits every patient. The heart team weighs the condition, its severity and the patient's general health before recommending one.
How MedAssist helps
MedAssist is an intermediary. We send your reports to a cardiology team at a partner hospital for review, arrange your appointments, organise travel and accommodation, and provide a coordinator in your language before, during and after treatment. The treatment plan is decided by the treating doctors.