Best Pericardectomy Clinics in Germany

WHY IT IS WORTH CARRYING OUT A PERICARDECTOMY IN GERMANY?

Cardiology treatment in Germany is a popular destination among foreign tourists. Residents of the developing countries choose German clinics due to innovative equipment that is absent in domestic clinics and the experience of doctors who perform several hundred operations to remove the heart membrane per year.

The prognosis for pericardiectomy in Germany is favorable. According to statistics from the German Society of Cardiology, more than 90% of patients returned to full life 8 months after surgery. At the same time, their working capacity remained at the same level.

The risk of complications after removal of the cardiac membrane is also minimal and amounts to only 3%, which is three times lower than in clinics in the developing countries.

INDICATIONS AND CONTRAINDICATIONS FOR PERICARDECTOMY

Removal of the outer cardiac membrane is considered one of the dangerous operations in cardiac surgery. German doctors resort to this treatment in case of inflammation of the outer shell of the heart - pericarditis. The safety of the operation is primarily related to the precise determination of the possibility of carrying out the operation for the patient.

For some people, it is impossible to do it. An obstacle to pericardiectomy is a history of radiological exposure, renal failure, and myocardial fibrosis. A thorough diagnosis is the first step towards operating in the safest possible way.

DIAGNOSTICS BEFORE PERICARDECTOMY IN GERMANY

Diagnosis of cardiac diseases in Germany consists of two stages. First, the patient meets with the cardiologist to collect a medical history - medical history and treatment of patients. It is important to be extremely honest in consultation, as any hidden detail can affect the success of a pericardiectomy.

Another important step in the diagnosis of pericarditis is pericardiotomy. With the help of an endoscope, German doctors examine the inside of the heart for the thickening of its shell and the presence of purulent discharge. At the same time, the patient also goes through:

• Delivery of laboratory tests;
• Chest x-ray;
• MRI of the heart;
• Echocardiography;
• Heart biopsy;
• Stress echocardiogram;

TYPES OF PERICARDECTOMY

1. A subtotal pericardiectomy is the complete removal of the cardiac pericardium. It is carried out for patients with an advanced case of the disease and requires long-term rehabilitation - up to 5 months.
2. A partial pericardiectomy is the removal of a portion of the heart membrane, usually at the site of inflammation, where it constricts the vessels. The operation is tolerated by patients more easily in comparison with complete removal.

HOW PERICARDECTOMY IS CARRIED OUT IN GERMANY?

The operation takes place under anesthesia, the patient himself is connected to an artificial respiration apparatus. During surgery, doctors monitor many indicators of the patient's condition. The procedure lasts from 2 to 4 hours. During this time, a team of German doctors led by an experienced cardiac surgeon deeply cuts the patient's chest, removes the lining of the heart, and sutures its edges.

With a slight inflammation of the pericardium, thoracoscopy is possible. Unlike classical surgery, the patient is made a small incision through which the camera and instruments are brought to the heart. The doctor gently removes part of the pericardium and sutures its edges with these instruments.

In Germany, it is possible to perform thoracoscopy with the Da Vinci robot. It is considered the most accurate method of surgery in the world.

REHABILITATION AFTER PERICARDECTOMY IN GERMANY

After removal of the cardiac membrane, the patient is in intensive care for 2 days under the supervision of doctors. On the third day, the patient has disconnected the drainage tube, on the 5th day he can move freely, and by the 7th day, he can be discharged from the clinic. The work of the heart is restored 4-5 months after the intervention. To avoid complications, the patient must adhere to the recommendations of a German cardiologist: do not carry weights, perform a set of physical exercises, diet.

COST OF PERICARDECTOMY IN GERMANY

The cost of removing the shell of the heart in Germany is 40% cheaper than in clinics in the USA and Great Britain. At the same time, the high quality of medical care is maintained here. The cost of pericardiectomy in German clinics is assigned individually, as it depends on:

• the degree of inflammation of the pericardium;
• general health;
• forms of the disease (acute, chronic, purulent).

IN WHICH GERMAN CLINICS PERICARDECTOMY CAN BE CARRIED OUT?

For removal of the cardiac membrane, clinics with a developed cardiac surgery department are suitable. The choice of a clinic can be made according to the criteria of international accreditation, pricing policy, and statistics of successful pericardiectomy. Based on these indicators, foreign patients can contact:

• Rechts der Isar University Hospital;
• University Hospital Freiburg;
• Network of clinics Asklepios.

To go to Germany for a pericardiectomy - write to the ClinicsonCall coordinating doctors. We will help you get a quick response from clinics and provide support 24/7.