Cardiac catheterisation laboratory

The cardiac catheterisation laboratory of the Centre for Cardiovascular Diseases of the Technical University of Munich has five cardiac catheterisation measuring stations at its disposal. Two of these are used primarily for the diagnosis and therapy of arrhythmias and three for the diagnosis and therapy of other cardiovascular diseases. A multitude of various diagnostic (5600 examinations in 2002) and therapeutic catheterisations (2200 examinations in 2002) are performed annually in the area of cardiovascular diseases.

Diagnosis

All the usual and necessary diagnostic procedures associated with arteriosclerosis of the heart and large vessels, myocardial disorders, cardiac valvular disease and diseases of pulmonary circulation are performed, including special procedures (intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), intracoronary Doppler flow measurements and tonometries). Should catheterisation therapy be required subsequent to a diagnostic cardiac catheterisation, this is performed in our department immediately afterwards, i.e. a separate second appointment will have to be arranged.

Therapy

Treatment of constricted coronary vessels (coronary heart disease) incorporates the dilatation (PTCA) and the implantation of vascular supports (stents), including the new drug eluting stents in many cases. Other advancements and innovations to improve therapy are constantly being reviewed, and applied where required. Patients suffering from advanced or complex diseases in particular are treated in our department. Patients with grave symptoms at rest (acute coronary syndrome) or those suffering from acute myocardial infarction can avail of such treatment in our department 24 hours a day seven days a week. A team of qualified physicians and assistants are on call around the clock for this purpose. All additional techniques and procedures required for the treatment of severely ill patients or for treatment of complications that may occur, such as intra aortic balloon pump counterpulsation, are available.
Furthermore, some other rarer illnesses are treated in our cardiac catheterisation laboratory: Constriction of heart valves can be treated by means of balloon dilatation ("valve blasting", valvuloplasty). Pathological thickening of the myocardium (hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy) is treated by means of ablation of septal branches of the coronary arteries (TASH), where suitable.