If a diagnosis of narrowing or occlusion of the coronary arteries that supply the heart muscle is made, different treatment options may be offered.
First, the cardiologist performs a coronary angiography, allowing to visualize the vessels, with the possibility of performing an angioplasty (dilation with balloon). This procedure aims to dilate the coronary arteries and place, most of the time, one or more stents (small metal spring).
To perform the examination, the cardiologist inserts a small catheter into an artery located at the wrist or groin, which can be traced back to the heart.
This step makes it possible to accurately assess the condition of the coronary arteries. Subsequently, depending on the situation, the cardiologist dilates the arteries that are narrowed or blocked.
The examination is performed in the catheterization room, under local anesthesia. If the complexity of the case requires it, an anaesthetist may be present in the room to perform deeper sedation or general anesthesia.
The patient is then monitored in our surgical department, continuing care, or intensive care depending on the type of intervention.
It may happen that this intervention is carried out in an emergency, during an unstable angina or a heart attack thanks to a picket service available 24 hours a day. The most common symptoms of heart attack are chest pain (radiating to the left arm and/or neck) and difficulty breathing, which are the consequence of the lack of oxygenation of the heart muscle. When these symptoms appear, the first reflex is to call the 144 plant which, after evaluation, can direct you to a structure with the appropriate technical platform.
Our emergency department is part of the Geneva Emergency Network, and it can receive ambulances 24 hours a day. An experienced cardiologist and anesthesiologist are available at all times if urgent surgery is required in the cardiac catheterization room.
