Cardiology

About the specialty

Cardiology covers diseases of the heart and circulation: diagnosis, medical treatment, prevention and follow-up. Depending on the case, it precedes or complements an interventional procedure or surgery.

Polycrabat Sevamed reviews the file, refers the patient to the appropriate cardiologist and coordinates tests, any hospital stay and follow-up with the referring doctor.

Main conditions treated

• High blood pressure
• Chest pain and coronary artery disease
• Heart failure
• Rhythm disorders and palpitations
• Heart valve disease
• Follow-up after a heart attack or a procedure

Tests, techniques and procedures

The techniques used and their indication are decided by the doctor, case by case. As a general guide:

• Electrocardiogram
• Cardiac ultrasound (echocardiography)
• Exercise stress test
• Blood pressure or heart rhythm Holter monitoring
• Cardiac imaging depending on the indication

The patient pathway

1. 01
   Consultation and assessmentReview of the file, symptoms and tests already performed.
2. 02
   Referral to a specialistChoice of the most appropriate discipline and doctor.
3. 03
   Additional testsLaboratory tests, imaging or investigations depending on the medical indication.
4. 04
   Treatment and careTreatment plan defined by the medical team.
5. 05
   Hospital stay if necessaryStay and monitoring when the patient’s condition requires it.
6. 06
   Follow-up and referring doctorRelevant information is sent to the doctor in the home country.

A multidisciplinary approach

The cardiologist works with the cardiovascular surgeon, the interventional cardiologist, the radiologist and the intensive care team when the situation requires it.

Health Info guides

Key facts to understand tests and treatments before discussing them with your doctor.

• High blood pressure: an often silent disease→
• Rheumatic heart disease: protecting the heart valves→
• Heart rhythm disorders: when should a pacemaker be considered?→
• Coronary angiography, angioplasty and stents: when are they useful?→
• Chronic kidney disease: screening, follow-up and dialysis→
• Diabetes: understanding the diagnosis and preventing complications→

All Health Info guides

See also

• Interventional cardiology→
• Cardiovascular surgery→
• Medical imaging & radiology→
• Cardiac Check-Up→

International patients

Polycrabat Sevamed supports patients coming from abroad: file review, referral to a specialist, scheduling appointments, hospitalisation, coordination of the medical stay and continuity with the doctor in the home country.