Cardiology

Cardiology service, a multidisciplinary service.

The Europe Hospitals have an adult cardiology department comprising consultation, hospitalization, and non-invasive and invasive cardiac explorations to take care of prevention, screening, diagnosis but also the treatment of cardiovascular pathologies. The creation in January 1993 of our cardiac catheterization unit as well as the subsequent obtaining of our approvals B1-B2 (interventional cardiology), E (electrophysiology) and P (implantation and follow-up of pa¬cemakers), allow us to offer our patients daily the benefit of care pathways of the highest medical quality and access to the most advanced technologies in a secure and comfortable environment. In addition, our department works closely with the cardiac surgery department of the Europe Hospitals, which are recognized as type B3 care centres. The cardiology department is made up of 13 cardiologists and a nursing and medical-technical team of around fifteen people spread over 2 sites (Site St-Michel and Site St-Elisabeth).

St-Elisabeth location

• General cardiology (consultation – hospitalization).

• Coronary and structural interventional cardiology.

• Rhythmic Clinic: pacemakers, electrophysiology and interventional rhythmology, ablations.

• Cardiac ultrasound (transthoracic and transesophageal).

• Stress ultrasound (Dobutamine)

• Carotid Doppler ultrasound.

• Pediatric ultrasound.

• Pacemaker and defibrillator control.

• Sports cardiology consultation.

• Cardiac rehabilitation/ergospirometry.

• Myocardial scintigraphy (rest, effort, Persian).

• Cardiac CT angiography – cardiac MRI.

• Cardio-surgical route.

Phone. : 02/614.27.10

St-Michel location 

• General cardiology (consultation – hospitalization).

• Cardiac ultrasound (transthoracic, transoesophageal, effort and stress (Dobutamine)).

• Carotid Doppler ultrasound.

• Pediatric cardiology - Pediatric ultrasound.

• Heart failure clinic.

• Cardiac rehabilitation/ergospirometry.

• Rhythmology consultation.

• Pacemaker and defibrillator control.

• Myocardial scintigraphy (rest, effort, Persantine, Dobutamine).

• Cardiac angiography

Phone. : 02/614.37.10

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Within our service, several sectors have been structured to meet the specialized needs of current cardiology practice. The sectors offer different activities managed by specialized cardiologists.

Our different sectors:

• Adult cardiology

• Non-invasive explorations

• Interventional cardiology

• Rhythmology and electrophysiology (Rythmic Clinic)

• Heart failure

• Cardiac rehabilitation

• Sports cardiology

• Pediatrics

Adult cardiology:

Cardiology is dedicated to 3 activities: prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular pathologies.

Non-invasive explorations:

Our service offers the possibility of carrying out various non-invasive procedures such as:

• Trans-thoracic echocardiography

• Trans-oesophageal echocardiography

• Exercise and stress echocardiography (Dobu¬tamine)

• Stress test (cycle ergometer and treadmill)

• VO2 max – Ergospirometry.

• Holter ECG

• Blood pressure Holter (MAPA)

• Myocardial scintigraphy (exertion – pharmacological stress)

• Cardiac angiography (coroscanner)

• Cardiac MRI

Interventional cardiology:

Interventional cardiology:

Our interventional cardiology working group is made up of 6 interventional cardiologists.  Many invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures are performed daily in our cardiac catheterization unit:

• Diagnostic coronary angiography and coronary angioplasty.

• Right heart catheterization.

• Structural interventional cardiology: auricle closure, interatrial communication closure, patent foramen ovale (FOP) closure.

• Interventional cardiology

Clinical and Interventional Rhythmology (Rythmic Clinic)

The main objective of the rhythmology unit is the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac rhythm disorders. The "Rhythmic Clinic" is the multidisciplinary structure of our cardiology department dedicated to the management of patients with cardiac arrhythmia.
The “Rhythmic Clinic” is made up of three interventional rhythmologists and has an electrophysiology room equipped with 3D mapping systems, in which rhythmologists practice a wide range of diagnostic and therapeutic techniques.

• Endocavitary electrophysiological studies
• Ablation of supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias (radiofrequency - cryoablation)
• Pacemaker implantation
• Implantation of subcutaneous Holter
• Cardiac resynchronization
• Electrical cardioversion
• Telecardiology.
The "rhythmological" activity also includes a non-invasive part including the control of pacemakers and defibrillators as well as the performance of tilt tests (Tilt-Test).

Heart failure clinic

The Heart Failure Clinic offers a follow-up program for heart failure patients on an intra-hospital and outpatient basis within the Europe Hospitals (St-Michel location and St-Elisabeth location).

Our objectives are to reduce readmissions to hospitalization or emergency room visits for patients with heart failure and to make them actors in their disease by giving them the resources necessary to manage it optimally on a daily basis. The follow-up program is provided by a multidisciplinary team made up of three cardiologists, two heart failure nurses, a dietician and a physiotherapist.  A support from the social service and a support from the Psychology service is also added to the program.

Cardiac rehabilitation

"Cardiac rehabilitation is the set of medical, physical, psychological and social means that allow a cardiac patient to reintegrate by his own means and as quickly as possible a normal place in society". (Definition of the World Health Organization - 1967)

Cardiac rehabilitation is therefore a multidisciplinary care process that complements the specialized care given to patients after a cardiac event. The care program aims to improve the overall health as well as the cardiovascular factors of cardiac patients. Our cardiac rehabilitation centers (Site St-Michel and Site Ste-Elisabeth) are managed by two cardiologists, assisted by a multidisciplinary team (specialized physiotherapists, psychologists, dieticians and social workers).

Sports cardiology

The practice of a sports activity is beneficial for health and should be encouraged, both in healthy subjects and in our patients suffering from various pathologies. The consultations specializing in sports cardiology offered at the Cliniques de l'Europe are aimed at both amateurs and professionals wishing to start or resume a sporting activity, or even athletes eager for advice in order to improve their level of cardiovascular performance. . Their objective is to determine a person's ability to practice a sport, to detect and diagnose the possible presence of pre-existing cardiovascular conditions and to prevent the potential occurrence of pathologies linked to sports practice. To do this, two cardiologists have undergone specific university training in sports cardiology and our department has all the necessary infrastructure such as: exercise test on a cycle ergometer, exercise test on a treadmill, and ergospirometry (VO2max).

Pediatrics

Our cardiology department offers the possibility of first-line care by carrying out additional examinations, such as electrocardiogram, echocardiography.The cardiology consultation at the St-Michel location provides a pediatric cardiology consultation provided by our referring cardiologist, who holds a university degree in pediatric cardiology.
For so-called second-line explorations, invasive explorations or surgical treatment, the Europe Hospitals work in close collaboration with major university centres.

Virtual reality headset in interventional cardiology

The OnComfort virtual reality headset helps manage patients' anxiety and pain through clinical hypnosis.

The first patient was very positive: "It was perfect. Otherwise, they would have had to give me medicine, because I am still very stressed." A pacemaker was placed in her using a particular technique, which is quite long and requires the patient to remain still. In some cases it is even necessary to use general anesthesia. "I didn't feel anything, just like a prick. And I won't have to suffer the side effects of general anesthesia." he added before leaving the room.
 
Dr Van Acker, the rhythmologist at the initiative of the project, was delighted: the patient was much calmer than usual, moved much less and did not complain once: "It was great!"
Nadège Olela, the head nurse of the cardiology department, and Quentin Ferron, the nurse present in the room that day, are very enthusiastic about this new tool, which clearly contributes to improving the well-being of the patient.

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OUR DIFFERENT SECTORS

ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY – NON-INVASIVE EXPLORATIONS

Dr. I. Vlassak (Coordinator)

Dr A. Defaee

Dr F. De Man

Dr L. Kubangumusu

Dr E. Ngando

Dr L. Van Der Haert

INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGY

Dr M. Deldicque and Dr T. Marynissen (Coordinators)

Dr F. De Man

Dr. E. Haine

Dr. H. Van Acker

Dr. P. Vandergoten

CLINICAL AND INTERVENTIONAL RHYTHMOLOGY

Dr G. Paparella and Dr H. Van Acker (Coordinators)

Dr B. Deruyter

HEART FAILURE

Dr L. Kubangumusu (Coordinator)

Dr L. Van Der Haert

Dr. I. Vlassak

CARDIAC REVALIDATION

Dr I. Vlassak (Coordinator)

Dr T. Marynissen

SPORTS CARDIOLOGY

Dr A. Defaee (Coordinator)

Dr M. Deldique

Dr B. Deruyter

Dr H. Van Acker

Dr P. Vandergoten

PEDIATRICS

Dr E. Ngando (Coordinator)

Dr E. Haine

Dr L. Kubangumusu

Dr I. Vlassak

Head of cardiology department: Dr B Deruyter

Press

06/12/2023 - Soir mag - Télémédecine : un sacré gain de temps ! - Interview Dr Bernard Deruyter, Cardiology

1/10/2023 - L'ÉVENTAIL - Les Cliniques de l'Europe : la cardiologie de demain - Interview Dr Bernard Deruyter, Cardiology

Scientific study

NNAFFCA Study - participation of Dr Bernard Deruyter