The new department of endovascular diagnostics and treatment has opened and is equipped with the latest SIEMENS biplanar angiographic system for endovascular (intravascular) operations on the arteries of the heart, brain and peripheral arteries.
The implementation of endovascular diagnostic and treatment methods will enable EMC to provide care to patients with acute heart attacks and strokes, using the entire arsenal of modern technology available in the world's leading hospitals.
"The opening of this department will allow us to fully realize the potential of EMC's Cardiovascular Clinic, in addition to those of our specialists, who have many years of experience diagnosing and treating acute coronary syndrome and acute myocardial infarction. Endovascular treatment should be carried out in the first 6-12 hours after the onset of an attack of pain, and no more than 60 minutes after the patient's admission to the hospital. These time periods are very important in order to maximally preserve the viability of the heart muscle and to avoid possible complications. Stent placement (dilation of a cardiac vessel and installation of a stent) in acute myocardial infarction and in the first six hours after developing a vascular accident, in many cases saves the patient's life, reduces disability, and shortens the rehabilitation period." says Dr. O. A. Ignatieva, cardiologist, k.m.n., and head of the clinic.
Modern angiographic systems allow specialists to treat congenital and acquired heart disease, abdominal aortic aneurysms, aortic valve stenosis, hypertension that is resistant to drug treatment, perform endovascular surgery in urology (to treat varicoceles), gynecology (for uterine artery embolization of uterine fibroids), oncology (for chemoembolization, which is injection of chemotherapeutic drugs directly into the blood vessels that feed the tumor).
The department will treat dysrhythmias and conduction disorders, life-threatening arrhythmias and blockades by implanting all types of modern pacemakers (single and dual chamber) cardiac resynchronization systems and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators.
"The biplanar system provides the entire spectrum of intervention, not only in cardiology, but also in neuroradiology. With the ability to survey simultaneously in two planes and receive three-dimensional images of blood vessels, it is ideal for complex interventions on the arteries of the brain," explains endovascular surgeon, Oleg Sukhorukov.
In neurosurgery, the angiographic system will be used to treat a variety of cerebrovascular diseases, including cerebral artery aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, arteriovenous fistula, as well as for thromboextractions, which is the removal of a blood clot from the cerebral arteries in an acute stroke.
"EMC's Neurology and Neurosurgery Clinic has created the potential to provide care to patients with acute stroke on a world-class level," says Professor Alexei Krivoshapkin, head of the Department of Neurosurgery. "The treatment of ischemic stroke is most effective within 4.5 hours from the onset of the first symptoms. With the ability to retrieve a blood clot from the occluded vessel, the "therapeutic window" (the time period for the maximum recovery of lost functions) can be extended to 6-8 hours, and in some cases up to 24 hours."