Heart Surgery Center in Turkey

The Heart Surgery Center in Turkey offers services with world-class equipment and infrastructure to protect heart health and diagnose and treat heart diseases. In our hospital, all types of heart patients, from newborns to the elderly, are provided the opportunity for diagnosis and treatment. Heart diseases can be diagnosed in utero in the “Fetal Cardiology Unit,” where heart conditions are detected during pregnancy.

Electrocardiogram (ECG):

This is a recording of the electrical activities occurring in the heart to examine the function of the heart muscle and the nervous conduction system. The voltage amplified by the current amplifier (speaker) is typically recorded on heat-sensitive paper. The potential changes resulting from the electrical activity of the heart spread throughout the body at the same time, aided by the tissues surrounding the heart, especially the blood. The electrical changes occurring are amplified and recorded through conductive leads (electrodes) placed in different parts of the body. The ECG is useful in diagnosing heart diseases when evaluated alongside the symptoms and signs identified by the physician during examination and considering other tests and imaging.

EFOR Test (Treadmill Test):

The stress test is applied to check for cardiovascular diseases, to determine the effectiveness of treatment in known cardiovascular diseases, to determine whether arrhythmias, i.e., irregular heartbeats, occur under stress, to check the patient’s exertion capacity in various heart diseases, and to test the effect of exertion on blood pressure in hypertension. During the stress test, the patient walks on a treadmill. The physician adjusts the walking speed and incline to increase the heart rate. The treadmill test is conducted by performing sequential ECG monitoring and measuring blood pressure while walking at specified speeds on the treadmill. It allows the detection of abnormal results that cannot be identified on a resting ECG after exertion. The stress test requires the presence of a specialist physician from start to finish. The stress test provides significant comfort in the early diagnosis and identification of heart diseases at the Heart Surgery Center in Turkey.

During your appointment for the treadmill test:

• Have a light snack three hours before the test, and you may drink a small amount of water if needed, but do not eat any food.
• Bring your previous ECG.
• Male patients must shave their chest.
• It is preferable for female patients to wear two-piece clothing.
• Before the stress test, your doctor may ask you to stop taking certain medications; consult your physician overseeing this matter.

Transthoracic Echocardiography (Surface Echo), Fetal – Echocardiography for Children

Echocardiography is an examination of the heart’s structure and function using sound waves (ultrasound). Since it is not a method involving radiation and no medication is used during the procedure, it can be applied to anyone, including pregnant women and newborns, without any risk or pain. During the procedure, the patient is asked to lie on a stretcher. The device that sends a sound wave, called a probe, along with a water-based gel with insulating properties, is manipulated by the physician in various positions on the chest area, allowing visualization of the heart. Detailed measurements and analyses are conducted on these images. All structural heart diseases (such as cardiomegaly, cardiomyopathy, valvular heart diseases, hypertension-related heart diseases, heart failure, pericardial diseases, cardiac masses, thrombi, heart tumors, congenital heart defects, even the largest blood vessel diseases in the body known as the aorta) are diagnosed through echocardiography. No preliminary preparation is needed for echocardiography. However, it is advisable to wear comfortable clothing during your echocardiography appointment. Additionally, you should bring a request form containing the purpose of the procedure and the patient’s medical information from the physician who recommended the echocardiography.

Stress Echocardiography

Stress echocardiography is used to check for blockages or constrictions in the blood vessels supplying the heart (coronary arteries), to determine whether treatment other than medication is needed in patients experiencing a heart attack (myocardial infarction), and to stage the severity of the disease in valvular heart diseases. It is a safe and easy-to-apply technique that provides crucial information.

Stress echocardiography is performed simply by examining the heart with sound waves before and after “induced stress.” There is no pain felt during this procedure. The method of stress to be used involves exerting effort on a treadmill, i.e., increasing the workload of the heart by fast walking. Stress echocardiography can also be conducted using a medication administered intravenously.

Before undergoing stress echocardiography:

• Arrive for your appointment fasting for 4 hours.
• Consult your doctor about whether you should stop taking your medications before the procedure.
• Wear comfortable shoes and clothing for the procedure.
• Bring any previous heart-related examinations.

Transesophageal Echocardiography (TEE)

TEE is a method used when the patient’s chest structure (due to lung diseases, deformities, etc.) does not provide high-quality echocardiography images, or when it is necessary to closely evaluate structures inside the heart. TEE is an endoscopic examination. Access to the back of the heart is gained by inserting a thin tube (probe) down the esophagus through the mouth to obtain a clear and highly detailed image. It takes about 30 minutes with preparation before the procedure.

Before attending the examination:

• Come fasting for 4-6 hours with no food or water.
• If you have diabetes, consult your physician.
• If you have a dental appliance, remove it before the examination.
• If you have difficulty swallowing or have esophageal-related disease, inform your physician in advance.
• Bring previous examinations and the medications you have taken to the hospital.

After the examination:

• Do not eat for two hours.
• Do not drive for a few hours, as sedation and dizziness may persist.

Holter Monitor

A Holter monitor is a device attached to a belt, similar to a mobile phone. Three to four wires are connected to the chest via electrodes (soft plastic adhesive materials with a diameter of 3-4 cm). As the person continues their daily activities, the device records the heart’s electrical activities over a planned period. At the end of this period, the device is removed, and the records taken are analyzed on a computer. Thanks to this device, all arrhythmias arising from the heart, such as palpitations, chest pain, and fainting, which do not appear during examination but occur briefly throughout the day, can be detected. Before undergoing Holter testing, consult your physician about whether you should discontinue any medications. After inserting the Holter device, be sure to repeat any events that may cause your complaint, such as consuming coffee or climbing stairs.

Event Recorder

These devices resemble a Holter ECG and are specifically used to detect arrhythmias that do not occur frequently. The device can remain with the patient for up to 14 days. It has the advantage of recording only when the patient has a complaint (the recording time can be adjusted as desired).

Blood Pressure Holter

This measures blood pressure for patients at repeated intervals throughout the day, recording blood pressure and pulse. Early diagnosis can be made for patients who have never had high blood pressure before, with measurements taken over 24-72 hours. Using the blood pressure Holter, blood pressure is measured at repeated intervals throughout the day, recording blood pressure and pulse during daily activities, during sleep, and at rest. This way, the times of day when blood pressure values increase in long-term hypertensive patients are identified, and treatment is arranged. Early diagnosis is made for patients who have never had high blood pressure and helps direct treatment.

Tilt Table Test (Tilt Test):

This test is used to diagnose syncope (fainting) caused by a sudden drop in blood pressure and/or heart rate after standing or sitting for prolonged periods. It is used in the differential diagnosis of syncope. The tilt table test is performed in an outpatient clinic on a table that can be tilted. The patient is placed on the table, which is then tilted to a vertical position. Excessive drops in blood pressure and/or heart rate indicate an abnormal response.

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This translation covers various aspects of the Heart Surgery Center in Turkey, detailing diagnostic tests, procedures, and interventions available for heart-related conditions. If you have any specific sections or phrases you’d like to adjust or focus on, let me know!