Cardiology and Cardiac Procedures
Cardiology and Cardiac Procedures
At Well Dems Travel Agency, our Heart Care Center competes at world-class standards to provide the most modern heart care in Turkey. We use the latest technology and provide the most modern and comprehensive methods for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
Heart Team Approach
At our Heart Care Center, a team of cardiologists and heart surgeons work together in the "heart team approach," which is the most effective way to provide truly patient-centered care.
Modern Diagnostic and Treatment Methods
Our center provides non-invasive tests and minimally invasive interventional cardiology diagnostics and treatment, including electrophysiological study, nuclear cardiology, flash computed tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET)-CT, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), electrocardiogram (ECG), stress ECG, echocardiography (ECHO), coronary and radial angiography.
Minimally Invasive Surgeries
We perform minimally invasive surgeries and complex surgeries, such as coronary angioplasty, stent placement, bypass surgery, transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), and catheter ablation.
Common Heart Conditions
Coronary Artery Disease: High cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, or smoking can damage the inner lining of arteries, leading to plaque buildup inside the artery walls and blocking blood flow. This indicates the onset of coronary heart disease. The more plaque builds up in an artery, the narrower it becomes, reducing the amount of blood flowing to the heart. This deprives the heart of oxygen, causing chest pain. A completely blocked narrowed artery by blood clots leads to a heart attack.
Heart Attack: A heart attack occurs when any of the coronary arteries or their branches that supply the heart become blocked. This causes irreversible damage to the heart muscle or a fatal heart attack. Two categories of factors increase the risk of a heart attack: non-modifiable risk factors (genetic factors, age, and being male) and modifiable risk factors (smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, high blood lipid levels, and obesity).
Heart Valve Diseases: There are four valves in the heart that open and close continuously. If these valves do not open or close properly, it can lead to heart valve diseases. Valve diseases can be congenital, or they may develop as a result of rheumatism in childhood or calcification in old age.
Arrhythmia: In arrhythmia, problems arise from the heart's rhythm. Although arrhythmias often occur in patients with existing heart conditions, they can also develop in individuals with no health issues. Some patients may not be aware of these problems and are only diagnosed during a routine check-up or after an ECG conducted for another reason.
Endocarditis: Endocarditis is a microbial inflammation of the endocardium, the inner lining of the heart, which includes the heart valves. Symptoms vary depending on the part of the heart infected and the type of bacteria causing the infection. Patients are given intravenous antibiotics for at least 4-6 weeks. Surgery is an option for heart failure caused by endocarditis or the removal of blood clots.
Cardiomyopathies: These are diseases of the heart muscle that lead to heart dysfunction. The four types of cardiomyopathy are: dilated cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, restrictive cardiomyopathy, and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy.
Major Vascular Diseases: This category includes conditions such as abdominal aortic aneurysms, thoracic aortic aneurysms, dissection, and peripheral embolisms. Aortic dissection is a tear in the wall of the aorta and typically begins with sudden, severe chest and back pain.
Varicose Veins: Varicose veins are defined as the dilation, elongation, and twisting of veins in the legs. They occur in 10-20% of the Western population. The likelihood of developing varicose veins is proportional to age. About 50% of people over the age of 50 suffer from varicose veins.
Heart Care Services at Well Dems Travel Agency
At Well Dems Travel Agency, we offer a wide range of services including treatment for heart embolism, stress testing, coronary CT angiography, myocardial perfusion scintigraphy, coronary angiography, coronary stent and balloon angioplasty, coronary bypass, and robotic coronary bypass. In addition, we provide specialized services for the diagnosis and treatment of various conditions such as heart valve disease, arrhythmia, aortic disease, peripheral embolisms, varicose veins, and cardiomyopathy.
Robotic and Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery
Robotic heart surgery, which requires advanced techniques and infrastructures, is available in only a limited number of centers worldwide. Acıbadem Maslak Hospital has been a pioneer in robotic heart surgery. World firsts have been achieved in Turkey with robotic surgery. The technical success rate in robotic heart surgery is 90%. The advantages of this method include less bleeding, less pain, lower risk of infection, shorter hospital stays, faster recovery, and better aesthetic results.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Heart Diseases
Coronary Angiography: It is the most reliable method to test the anatomical structure of arterial narrowing and provide functional assessment using additional techniques. It is used in patients whose other test results suggest coronary narrowing, in those planned for stent or balloon angioplasty, or in emergency cases to diagnose and treat heart attacks. The procedure is performed in a catheter laboratory, requiring hospital admission.
Wrist Angiography: Angiography plays a significant role in diagnosing heart diseases. Recently developed technologies allow it to be performed through the wrist instead of the groin area. Wrist angiography is preferred if there is narrowing in the groin area or if the groin area is unsuitable due to excessive weight.
Coronary Angioplasty and Stent Placement: Coronary angioplasty is the non-surgical method of widening local narrowings in the coronary arteries. However, this method is not suitable for every coronary narrowing. Some patients may require bypass surgery, while others may find heart medications an effective and safe form of treatment.
Bypass Surgery: Depending on the degree of arterial narrowing, the doctor may recommend coronary artery bypass surgery. This procedure corrects the blood flow that nourishes the heart, thereby restoring health. Coronary bypass surgery can give the patient's heart a second chance, offering a longer life expectancy.
Small Vessel Disease: Some patients discover that they do not have blockages in their arteries after being tested with coronary angiography. Nevertheless, they continue to experience severe chest pains, heart failure, and similar symptoms. This condition may be caused by small vessel disease, where the narrowing and insufficient nourishment of small vessels occur. Men and women with small vessel disease are at higher risk of heart attacks than those without it. However, it can be managed with regular exercise and a healthy lifestyle.
At Well Dems Travel Agency, you can take advantage of modern diagnostic and treatment methods to protect your heart health. Don't forget to schedule regular check-ups and adopt healthy lifestyle habits for a healthy heart.