The modern diagnosis methods used in Memorial Health Group Cardiac health Centers

Electrocardiography: It is the recording of electric activities happening in heart to examine the running of cardiac muscle and neural transmission system. When ECG is evaluated with the data the doctor obtained in the diagnosis of cardiac diseases, it helps the diagnosis by taking also the other tests and x-ray results into consideration.

EFFORT TEST: This test is consulted to investigate the presence of a cardiovascular disease, detect the effectiveness of treatment in a known cardiovascular disease, understand if there is any irregularity or arrhythmia in heartbeat during effort, investigate the capacity of patient to make an effort in case of various cardiac diseases and explore the effects of effort on blood pressure in case of hypertension.

Stress Echocardiography: Stress echocardiography is used in investigating whether there is a blockage or narrowing in the veins which nourish the heart (coronary veins), whether there are any treatments needed apart from the medications in the patients who had heart attack (myocardial infarction)  and staging the severity of disease in coronary valve diseases.

TEE Test: TEE measurement is a method consulted when the chest structure of the patient does not give sufficient echocardiographic screening (because of a liver disease or deformation etc.) or when it is needed to evaluate with a closer look to the intracardial formations.

Rhythm Holter: It is a test applied in the diagnosis of rhythm disorders by measuring the cardiac rhythm .

Blood Pressure Holter: With blood pressure holter, patients’ blood pressure is checked frequently within the day, their blood pressure and pulse are recorded during their daily activities, sleep and rest.

Tilt Table Test: It is a test applied for the diagnosis of the blackouts happen while rising up after a long time of standing afoot or sitting inactively because of the sudden decrease in blood pressure and/or cardiac speed (syncope).

Interventional operations applied at Memorial Cardiac health Centers

Aortic Valve Narrowing Treatment –TAVI Method: This is a method which enables to change the aortic valve without an open surgery.

Temporary and permanent pacemakers:  Temporary pacemakers are applied when the heartbeat slows down extremely because the warning center in the heart cannot form a quick warning or the formed warning cannot be transmitted to the sub-centers. Pacemakers are used for many reasons like preventing the slowdown of heart, treating cardiac insufficiency, running like a pump for heart or preventing sudden death.

Electrophysiology Procedure: This is an interventional diagnosis and treatment method with placing thin cables named electrode catheter into the heart via the thin covers placed into the pelvic veins in the electrophysiology /angiography laboratory.

Catheter Ablation: Catheter ablation is a rhythm disorder treatment by giving radio waves. This method is applied in the rhythm disorders which cannot be controlled with medication or in the patients who do not want to take pills during their lifetime.

Coronary Angiography: This method is used in the detection of a disease in the arteries which nourish the heart. If there is any blockage in the arteries, balloon or stent is applied during the angiography.

Mitraclip:  This process is to treat the mitral valve which is located between the left auricle and left ventricle.

Balloon Mitral Valvotomy: This process is applied in the valve disorders between the left auricle and left ventricle like in the Mitraclip.

Pulmonary Balloon Valvotomy: With this method, the valve is reached by entering the leg vena of the patients who suffer from congenital narrowing of valve on vena which passes into the lungs and the valve is opened by inflating the balloon. In this way, long run and successful results can be taken.

Septal Ablation: Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, which is seen frequently in recent years mostly for genetic reasons and advances with the thickening of the septa between the ventricles of heart, can be treated without a surgical operation thanks to this method.

ASD/VSD/PDA Closure: ASD/VSD/PDA are the holes between the cardiac septum congenitally. In the past, patients with a congenital hole had to have surgical operation. Now these holes can be closed with apparatus looking like stoppers without any need of surgical operation.

Paravalvular Leak Closure: After closing the heart valves with metal lids by an operation, there can be leaks from the edge of the lids towards behind. In order to prevent this situation, the leakages are closed with paravalvular leak closure for the last 3-4 years.

Ablation Methods for Tachycardia: With these methods, the elements which cause bounding pulses are annihilated. In order to annihilate these pulses which are originated from the various parts of heart, radio frequency energy or freezing method is used.

Renal Denervation: In the patients with the high blood pressure which cannot be controlled with medication (resistant hypertension), controlling tension by burning the nerve of the kidney vein with radio waves is possible.

Treatment of Enlarged Aorta and Aortal Aneurysm without Surgical Operation: Until recently, the enlarged aorta and aortal aneurysm could be only treated with surgical operation but now it can be treated via special stents without a surgical operation.

Tricuspid Clip (Triclip): The problem of insufficiency in tricuspid valve can be treated with the interventional method of “Tricuspid Clip” which is also known as the method of latching. Entering from the pelvis with angio method without needing to open the chest, this method is especially used in the patients with insufficient benefits of medication.

Stereotactic Radiotherapy in Resistant Rhythm Disorder:  The rhythm disorder caused from the ventricle (ventricle tachycardia) can be treated with Stereotactic Radiotherapy. With this method, which can be applied on the resistant arrhythmias which repeat in spite of the burning therapies, in the patients whose parts which cause the bounding pulse cannot be reached and the ones who have bounding pulse caused by the scar tissues after the cardiac attack, it is aimed to extend the living period and ensure the living quality.

Operations performed at the Nuclear Medicine Department of Memorial Cardiac health Center

Myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (Thallium Test): With this test, the blooding (or nourishment) of cardiac muscle during a rest and under stress is examined. It is investigated whether there is a narrowing in the vessels which nourishes the heart, and if so, whether the existent narrowing creates any irregularity regarding the nourishment of heart.

Modern screening methods applied at Memorial Cardiac Health Centres

Coronary CT scan Angiography:  Coronary CT scan Angiography can be performed without any preparation, catheter and only in a uptake duration of breathe with the “Multi detector- multi slice CT scan” device. Because this method is easier, faster and can be done without any blood or pain in comparison with the conventional angiography, it blazes a trail in the screening.

Cardiac MR: This is a screening method which shows  the structures of cardiac membrane, ventricles, myocardium, the big arteries coming out the heart and some coronary artery diseases (for now, only the ones belong to the main branches)  quite easily, without any need for medication or application.

Sometimes, if the cardiovascular problems cannot be solved with interventional methods, cardiovascular surgery becomes involved.

Which operations do we perform for your cardiac health?

Coronary Bypass: This is a surgical method when there is a narrowing or blockage in the coronary arteries which nourish the heart. The veins like leg artery, forearm artery or chest artery are prepared and transplanted to the patient.

Valve repair and replacement operations: In all problems in aorta, tricuspid or mitral valves, the treatments are made with a multidisciplinary approach and minimal invasive methods.

Surgical treatments of aorta aneurisms and rhythm disorders: In the operations of major aorta, the stents in 2-3 mm calibre can be placed into the aorta with success. This process is handled with the Department of Interventional Radiology.

Treatments of Varicose Veins: Doppler investigation is made to determine the best method of treatment for the patient. Thanks to this, some important info about the veins of the person is also obtained. According to this info, methods like operation, interventional treatments, sclerotherapy, stripping, intravenous thermal ablation (laser), and intravenous foam sclerotherapy are applied.

Cardiac tumour treatments: Open surgery, minimal invasive surgery or robotic surgery can be applied in the tumours occurred in heart or cardiac valves. The method is determined according to the situation of the patient.

The surgical processes applied at the departments of Cardiovascular Surgery in Memorial Health Group can be categorized as:

Open surgery

This is one of the oldest methods of surgery. The operation is performed with a giant staff. Many processes are applied during the operation safely. One of the operations performed in this way is coronary bypass operations. These operations are performed as open surgery, extend the living period and can be performed with a quite minimum risk.

Coronary surgery with minimal cut

Coronary operations can be performed with minimal cuts, that is, minimal invasive method. In this method, the operation is performed via small cuts. This small cut method can be used in the coronary valve operations, coronary bypass surgery, closures of coronary holes, taking off the intracardial tumours.

Robotic coronary surgery

Coronary diseases can be treated with also robotic methods. Coronary bypass, mitral valve reparations or replacements, tricuspid valve reparation and replacement, atrial septal defect, sinus venosus type, IHSS, cardiac tumour and taking out a blood clot, arrhythmia surgery can be done. Robotic coronary surgery is performed in Memorial Bahçelievler and Memorial Ankara Hospitals conveniently.

Carotid artery operations

These operations are one of the most frequently performed arterial surgery operations. The operations can be performed with local or general anaesthesia according to the situation of patient. The carotid artery operations are also performed conveniently in the Departments of Cardiovascular Surgery in Memorial Health Group Coronary Health Centre.

Varicose vein surgery

Varicose may be triggered by the reasons like overweight, sedentary lifestyle and standing afoot for a long time and this may cause serious problems if not treated. Because of this, treatment of varicose is quite important. At the Departments of Cardiovascular Surgery in Memorial Health Group,  methods of varicose treatments are applied for each patients’ needs. These methods are:

Sclerotherapy: It is a method applied in eliminating the 1 mm or smaller varicose. In this method, the ill vein is entered into with a quite small needle, and a medicine which dries (scleroses) the vein is given. This medications cause the closure of the vein by disrupting the intramembrane of it. No rest is needed after the sessions; patients may live their daily routine.

Conventional surgical intervention (stripping): This is taking the biggest superficial vein-the saphena- in the leg off with surgical method. When the saphena has enlarged so much, there is an existence of venous insufficiency and there are big varicose veins and phlebitis, this method is applied. Small cuts are made, one is in the pelvis and the other is in the inner side of the ankle. Via a special surgical wire, the saphena is taken off without needing any further cut.

Endovenous Thermal Ablation: This is a more recent and interventional method as an alternative to taking off the venous blood vessel with surgical intervention, aiming the annihilation of saphena with varicose by using intensive heat. In this process, a quite thin catheter is put in the venous blood vessel and heat is applied from its edge onto the wall of the vein. After pulling the catheter back, the heat causes the closure of the venous blood vessel and redirection of the blood to the healthy vessels.

Radiofrequency (VNUS) thermal ablation: In this method, it is the radiofrequency waves which is applied from the edge of the catheter and causes the closure of venous blood vessel, not heat, which is different from endovenous thermal ablation.

Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVLA):  This is based on the principle of applying the same process by giving laser energy. Reaching out the ill part in the venous blood vessel with a bare laser fibre, the laser energy is given.

Chemoembolization methods: It is a method which enables the closure of venous blood vessel and redirecting the blood to the healthy veins by giving an adhesive- stopper emboligenic matter into the saphena with the help of catheter.

Endoscopic Perforating Vein Surgery: This is a method preferred when there is a serious deep venous insufficiency and skin ulcers. “The perforating veins” which enable a connection between the  the venous blood vessels in the deep areas of leg and the superficial venous blood vessels near the skin are tied up by placing a video camera via a small cut.

Ambulatory Phlebectomy: Thanks to this procedure, the varicose veins except the saphena are taken out with 3-6 mm small cuts on the skin.

Superficial Laser/Radiofrequency Thermal Ablation: This is annihilation of the vein by applying the laser or radiofrequency waves on the capillaries or thin, small, superficial veins. This can be done in a policlinic and this is one of the most used methods cosmetically.

Compression (varsity) socks: While it is preferred on the patients with no urgent need of intervention, it can also be used in the patients with “venous insufficiency” in their deep vein systems after the intervention. 

The cardiac health of your children is also under the guarantee of Memorial!

In recent years, the ratio of cardiac problems in children and young persons is rising. While the cardiac diseases can be congenital in children, it can also develop later with the effect of various elements. Beginning from the heart of the baby in mother’s womb until 18, the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of the cardiac diseases in fetus, infants, children and teenagers is quite important.  In the Paediatric Cardiology Departments of Memorial Health Group Cardiac Health Centre, detection and treatment of the cardiac problems in infants in mother’s womb, congenital cardiac diseases, disorders like cardiac rheumatism which are seen in the later period and cardiac diseases which occur during childhood is performed with an experienced staff and modern technology. Electrocardiographic evaluation can be made on the patients whose electrocardiographies are taken and examinations are made.  Rhythm holter, 24 hour blood pressure analysis and effort test can be performed at the Department of Paediatric Cardiology. Effective treatments are applied in the sphere of paediatric cardiology in the locations of Şişli, Ankara and Diyarbakır.

Why Memorial for your cardiac health?

Memorial Health Group has been established with the mission of being a global brand in health while creating a difference with the industry - leading applications under the lead of their outstanding staff, understanding of service in the international quality standards and ethical principles, and admitted their first patient in February 2000. Having introduced Turkey to the world-class qualified healthcare service, Memorial is the first hospital in Turkey and 21st in the world which received the JCI (Joint Commission International) Accreditation Quality Certification. The Memorial Health Group Cardiac Health Centre is the address of trust with their specialist doctors, the staff who combine their knowledge with intensive care, the patient-oriented service understanding, quality policy, diagnosis-treatment units which are endowed with an advanced medical technology, modern places and comfortable patient rooms. The Memorial Health Group Cardiac Health Centre doctors provide word-class services with their experienced academic staff, outstanding technological endowments and multidisciplinary approach. Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery specialists apply the most recent treatment methods. The entire specialty is at one place, this means that your diagnosis and treatment process continue with the consultations of the relevant branch doctors, rapid results of the tests, and the coordinated planning of the appointments. The highly specialized cardiology specialists work with you and for you. The investigations and treatments which may take weeks or months somewhere else are performed quickly. Besides this, Memorial Health Group Cardiac Health Centre also executes their work successfully in the sphere of paediatric cardiology.

11 hospitals, 2 medical centres, 1 wellbeing centre in Istanbul, Ankara, Kayseri, Antalya and Diyarbakır, Memorial is always with you for your health…