Cardiology

Thomas Brunner, MD
Deputy Medical Director and Head of Angiography

Special Clinical Focus

Radial angiography
Cardiac catheter
Cardiac pacemaker
Ablation for atrial fibrillation
Cardiovascular diseases

Cardiology at Rudolfinerhaus Private Hospital provides its patients with the most up to date diagnostic and therapeutic techniques, such as ECG, ergometry, 24-hour ECG with heart rate variability, 24-hour blood pressure measurement and transthoracic and transoesophageal echocardiography. The range of procedures is completed by vascular ultrasound, which allows the cardiac specialists to investigate cardiac conditions with a high degree of precision. The insertion of emergency pacemakers is also possible.

Constrictions of the coronary vessels and of other arteries of the body (carotid arteries, vessels of the lower extremities, etc.) are very common conditions which affect a large number of patients. There are various causes, such as a genetic predispositions, which cannot always be influenced by the patient. High cholesterol and blood fat levels, diabetes, smoking, stress and high blood pressure, are lifestyle factors interfering in the health condition. Frequently a more detailed examination of the coronary vessels is necessary. Which is also performed at Rudolfinerhaus Private Hospital by means of a cardiac catheter examination. A contrast medium is injected via the catheter and thereby the coronary vessels can be visualized. The cardiologist can detect vascular constrictions or occlusions due to cholesterol crystals, calcification or even a blood clot (in a cardiac infarct) much more precisely. The advantage of catheter treatments is that the doctor can also perform the treatment directly within the heart and can re-open blood vessels by means of balloon dilatation. For this dilatation to last, cardiologists at Rudolfinerhaus inserts a small metal support device, a so-called stent. Under the excellent follow-up care at Rudolfinerhaus, patients will have to take special medication in order to keep this freshly inserted stent open.

It is a specialty that catheter access is taken via a blood vessel in the wrist (“radial” method). Which results in markedly fewer vascular and bleeding complications. On the other hand, this technique makes the procedure more convenient since there is no need for long hospital stays or bed rest.

Diagnostic Services