CARDIOLOGY
CARDIAC RHYTHM OUTPATIENT CLINIC – PRECISE ANALYSIS AND TREATMENT OF RHYTHM DISTURBANCES
The heart rhythm outpatient clinic at the ETHIANUM Klinik Heidelberg offers you targeted cardiac medical examinations for optimal prevention and treatment of your heart rhythm.
Our heart is one of the most important organs in our body. Unnoticed heart disease can have serious consequences. Timely preventive healthcare is therefore important to maintain heart health. People often feel their heart stumbling or racing, for example, or suffer from a drop in performance or shortness of breath. The cause can often be a disturbance of the normal heart rhythm. In our heart rhythm outpatient clinic, we help you to make the correct diagnosis and then initiate targeted treatment.
The cardiac rhythm outpatient clinic at the ETHIANUM under the direction of Priv.-Doz. Dr. Dr. Felix Gramley, offers you a wide range of preventive examinations relating to your heart health with a focus on your heart rhythm. The cardiologist and specialist in internal medicine has been certified by the German Society of Cardiology (DGK) as a special rhythmologist and interventional electrophysiologist and has many years of experience in diagnosis and therapy in this field.
Find out about the individual services offered by our ETHIANUM Clinic in relation to your heart health.
OUR DOCTOR
Our cardiologist and specialist in internal medicine, Dr. Felix Gramley, MD, PhD. Find out more about his CV and expertise here.
FELIX GRAMLEY
Dr. Felix Gramley, MD, PhD is a specialist in internal medicine with a focus on cardiology. As an internist and cardiologist, his main focus is on the heart. The arrhythmia specialist and hypertension expert places particular importance to sensitivity when dealing with his clients.
CARDIOLOGY
CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIAS – DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT
Cardiac arrhythmias can manifest in different forms. Sometimes the heart beats too fast, sometimes too slowly, or irregularly. There are therefore two options for treating cardiac arrhythmias. One is to eliminate the arrhythmia and restore the normal rhythm. The second option is to keep the pulse within a normal range but accept the arrhythmia. Medication and catheter ablation are used for this. In some cases, it may also be necessary to implant a pacemaker or defibrillator.
You can discuss which rhythm therapy is right for you with the head of our preventive medicine department, Dr Gramley. We use state-of-the-art diagnostic procedures to clarify your symptoms. Our aim is always to offer you the best possible medical advice and treatment. Our diagnostic portfolio includes telemetry for remote monitoring of patientes in addition to outpatient on-site examinations in certain areas.
Contac
You can make an appointment at the cardiac outpatient clinic with just a few clicks using our direct contact form or by calling us.
FURTHER INFORMATION
OUR SERVICES FOR THE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF ATRIAL FIBRILLATION
In the following info boxes, we have summarised our services for the diagnosis and treatment of atrial fibrillation.
Atrial fibrillation – diagnosis with the smallest ECG device in the world
Cardiac arrhythmias often occur only briefly, irregularly or at long intervals. Diagnosis using a resting or 24-hour holter ECG may prove difficult. At the ETHIANUM, we offer you the implantation of a mini heart monitor for long-term monitoring. The procedure is minimally invasive and makes monitoring the heart rhythm quicker, easier, and safer for both doctor and client.
Only the size of two matches and more than 80 % smaller than conventional heart monitors: the mini ECG system monitors clients at the ETHIANUM continuously and wirelessly for three or more years. If an arrhythmia occurs, we can diagnose and treat it more quickly. The client can lead a completely normal life with the device. Once the cause of the arrhythmia has been found, the device can be removed again in a short, minor procedure.
The use of this mini ECG is particularly useful in the diagnosis of atrial fibrillation with all its possible consequences, such as strokes or the observation of patients after catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation. Further information can be found here.
Catheter ablation – an important component of atrial fibrillation therapy
If symptomatic atrial fibrillation recurs, catheter ablation of the cardiac arrhythmia (pulmonary vein isolation) may be advisable. It should be noted that changes to the heart occur with increasing duration of atrial fibrillation, which can counteract the long-term success of the therapy.
The ablate-and-pace strategy is the last resort for symptomatic atrial fibrillation recurrences. The client is first implanted with a pacemaker. After some time, the AV node is severed by means of catheter sclerotherapy. This is irreversible. The client is then permanently dependent on their pacemaker. With this radical therapy, however, even the persistently highly symptomatic client can be helped.
Die Katheterablation von Vorhofflimmern
If there are new symptomatic recurrences of atrial fibrillation, catheter ablation of the cardiac arrhythmia (pulmonary vein isolation) may be useful. It should be noted that changes to the heart occur with increasing duration of atrial fibrillation, which can counteract the long-term success of the therapy. The ablate-and-pace strategy is the last resort for symptomatic atrial fibrillation recurrences. The client is first implanted with a pacemaker. After some time, the AV node is severed using catheter ablation. This is irreversible. The client is then permanently dependent on their pacemaker. With this radical therapy, however, even the persistently highly symptomatic client can be helped.
Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation
Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation is based on the observation that the arrhythmia can often be triggered by premature atrial beats. An intervention usually requires several venous accesses plus one arterial access in one or both groins. Common to all strategies is the electrical isolation of all four pulmonary veins (also known as pulmonary vein isolation).
Ablation with the help of 3D software
Modern computer systems are used for HFS ablation of atrial fibrillation in particular. They enable 3-dimensional computer-animated reconstructions of the left atrium including the pulmonary veins. The optimal ablation strategy can then be planned in advance using these 3D models. The cardiac catheters are projected onto the 3D model in real time. This minimises the client’s exposure to X-rays. Catheter ablation takes around 3 to 4 hours. It is carried out with the administration of painkillers and sedatives. The client is in a light sleep. General anaesthesia is not required for catheter ablation.
Aftercare for catheter ablation
Aftercare for catheter ablation includes close monitoring by the attending physician in the cardiac rhythm outpatient clinic. All clients require blood thinning for several weeks after the procedure. Supplementary administration of antiarrhythmic medication can be considered. The recording of holter ECGs to monitor the success of the procedure is of central importance.
Electrocardioversion – keeping the heart in rhythm
During electrocardioversion, two palm-sized electrodes are placed on the chest to deliver a short, targeted electric shock. These electrical impulses can restore the normal heart rhythm (sinus rhythm). Electrocardioversion is a non-invasive therapy. It can be performed easily and without complications.
Procedure
Before a planned electrocardioversion at the ETHIANUM, a transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is performed to rule out blood clots in the heart. Electrodes are placed on the chest under brief anaesthesia. They emit a short, targeted electric shock synchronised with the client’s heartbeat. This process can be repeated if necessary and only takes a few minutes. After the treatment, the client remains hospitalised for monitoring. Vital functions such as blood pressure, heart rate and oxygen saturation are measured regularly. Cardiac rhythm is monitored by ECG.
