Cardiology applications in a clinic encompass a variety of diagnostic, preventive, and treatment procedures aimed at maintaining heart health and treating cardiovascular diseases. One of the primary tools used in cardiology is the electrocardiogram (ECG), which monitors and records the electrical activity of the heart to detect abnormalities such as arrhythmias, ischemia, or signs of a heart attack. Clinics may also use advanced imaging technologies, including echocardiograms and stress tests, to assess heart function and evaluate blood flow through the heart and vessels. These diagnostic tools help cardiologists make informed decisions regarding patient care and treatment plans.
Additionally, clinics often offer interventions such as cardiac catheterization and angioplasty to treat patients with coronary artery disease or other heart conditions. These minimally invasive procedures can restore proper blood flow, alleviate symptoms like chest pain, and prevent heart attacks. Moreover, clinics may provide ongoing care through the management of chronic conditions such as hypertension and heart failure, using medications, lifestyle modifications, and regular monitoring. This comprehensive approach ensures that patients receive timely interventions and long-term support for maintaining optimal cardiovascular health.
Cardiology Treatment Topics
Coronary Artery Disease (Heart Vascular Obstruction)
Deciding how to perform heart surgery varies depending on the degree of narrowing in the heart vessels and the patient’s condition. For some, bypass surgery and for others, heart medications can be an effective solution, while for others, angioplasty can solve the problem.
Most patients who do not want to have open heart surgery ask us whether angioplasty and stent placement will be possible. Treatment must be planned according to the individual for this decision.
Coronary Stents
The most commonly used treatment method in patients with coronary artery occlusion worldwide is coronary stenting. Advances in technology over the last 30 years have also improved stent technology. However, efforts to produce the best stent are still ongoing. Although there are many types of stents, they are basically divided into two groups: metal and bioabsorbable. Metal stents are a mesh-shaped tube covered with a balloon. Dissolvable stents are also made of biotechnological material covered with a balloon. All stents are advanced to the blocked/narrowed part of the heart vessels on the balloon and open when the balloon is inflated and remain fixed there when the balloon is deflated.
Coronary Angiography
Angiography is an imaging test that uses X-rays to make pictures of your body’s blood vessels. The X-rays provided by angiography are called angiograms. This test is used to look for narrow, blocked, enlarged, or malformed arteries or veins in many parts of your body, including your brain, heart, abdomen, and legs. A coronary angiogram is an X-ray of the arteries in your heart. This shows the extent and severity of any heart disease and can help tell how well your heart is working. Cardiac catheterization and coronary angiography can provide important information about the heart and the surrounding blood vessels that feed it. It can help diagnose heart conditions, plan future treatments, and perform certain procedures. The heart has 4 chambers: the upper 2 smaller chambers are called atria, and the lower 2 larger chambers are called ventricles. Each ventricle has 2 valves to control the blood flow into and out of the ventricle.
Pacemaker
The pacemaker is very light and consists of two parts: The generators that contain the battery and the information needed to control the heartbeat, and the cables that carry messages, or leads, that connect the heart to the generator. Some batteries have a single cable, while others may have 2 or 3. This is decided by the heart doctor depending on the patient’s condition. This small battery-powered device sends an electrical signal to the heart to make it beat correctly and effectively. The device also constantly monitors the heart’s beats and if the heart is working properly, it does not work itself, it just waits like an uninterruptible power supply and immediately kicks in when needed. In this way, it can continue its life in a healthy way.
Peripheral Angiography
Peripheral angiography is a test that uses X-rays and contrast dye to help find narrowing or blockage in one or more arteries (peripheral arteries) that provide blood flow to the groin, legs, feet, and sometimes the hands and arms. It is a procedure performed with angiography devices. In peripheral angiography, unlike cardiac angiography, a special mode called DSA can be used that reduces radiation that suppresses bone structures.
Carotid Angiography (Carotid Artery Occlusion)
Carotid artery disorders, or carotid artery disorders, account for approximately 65% of all stroke cases. Detecting a narrowing of the carotid artery can prevent a stroke. Emergency intervention to the carotid artery within 15 days of a partial stroke and opening the narrowed artery with a stent can prevent a full stroke. The carotid arteries, the main arteries that supply blood to the brain, are located on either side of the neck. When the carotid arteries become blocked by fatty deposits called plaques, blood flow to the brain slows down or stops, starving the brain of oxygen, which can lead to a stroke.
