Therapy options
This section provides an overview of some of the treatment options available at the Brandenburg Heart Center's Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery Departments.

Bypass surgery
During bypass surgery, vessel grafts are used to bypass narrowed sections in the coronary arteries. This ensures that sufficient amounts of oxygen and blood can reach the heart. mehr

Electrophysiology procedures for heart failure
Over the past 10 years, electrophysiology procedures have gained recognition as a specialist treatment approach for patients with heart failure. mehr

Vascular surgery
Vascular surgery can treat conditions such as atherosclerosis and general weakening of the artery walls, thus preventing a reduction in the flow of blood through the arteries. mehr

Heart valve treatment
Heart valve surgery may involve a whole variety of catheter-based and open heart surgery procedures, all of which are aimed at re-establishing normal heart valve function. mehr

Catheter ablation
Difficult-to-treat cardiac arrhythmias may respond to special catheter-based procedures. These procedures target areas of the heart affected by pathological changes, which cause additional electrical impulses to be produced. mehr

Combined cardiac procedures
In patients presenting with a number of different conditions affecting the heart and/or blood vessels, it may be possible to combine surgical treatments in such a way as to perform them as part of one single procedure. mehr

Surgery for coronary heart disease
Surgical procedures involving the coronary arteries become necessary when deposits on the artery walls lead to a narrowing of the arteries, resulting in a reduced flow of blood. mehr

Atrial septal defect repair
An atrial septal defect, effectively a hole in the wall between the two atria, may need to be repaired. mehr

Minimally-invasive procedures
The term "minimally-invasive" refers to a whole range of different surgical techniques. These are characterized by a reduced level of invasiveness, which results in less trauma for the patient. mehr

Pericardiocentesis
During this procedure, fluid is removed from the pericardium via a needle inserted through the skin, thus preventing it from interfering with the normal function of the heart. mehr

Peripheral vascular surgery
Some patients with narrowing of the arteries in the neck, pelvis or legs, as well as some patients with aneurysms, may be able to be treated using catheter-based procedures. mehr

Renal denervation
Renal denervation is an additional treatment option in patients with resistant hypertension. The procedure is usually performed in a catheterization laboratory. mehr

Arrhythmia surgery
Atrial fibrillation is a type of cardiac arrhythmia that increases a patient's risk of stroke. Specific measures will therefore need to be taken prior to and during surgery. mehr

Pacemaker systems
Not only can modern pacemaker systems be used to stimulate the heart to beat faster but they can also be used to prevent a life-threateningly fast heart rate, as well as alleviating the symptoms of heart failure. mehr

Cardiac device lead extraction
Cardiac device lead extraction may become necessary in the event of infection, or due to other complications arising in relation to an implantable cardiac device. mehr

Home monitoring
Home monitoring - or remote monitoring - is used primarily in relation to patients with heart disease, and involves the remote transfer of patient-related data. mehr

Left atrial appendage closure for stroke prevention
Effective stroke prevention via the closure of the left atrial appendage is of great significance in the treatment of atrial fibrillation. mehr