The cardiology division ensures the optimal care of adult patients suffering from cardiovascular disease in a setting where high skills meet cutting-edge care and technology. Clinical services provided by HUG, research by the GeCor Foundation and the University of Geneva.
Patient care in the clinic is at the center of our activity. The cardiology department takes care of a wide range of patients in both the outpatient and in-hospital settings.
Close collaboration with academic faculty of the University of Geneva allows us to offer high-level pre- and post-graduate education, particularly aimed at the medical community around Lake Geneva.
Within the cardiology department, several groups carry out clinical and / or fundamental research activities covering different areas of cardiovascular disease ranging from arteries to devices.
The cardiology department consists of several specialized units and additional areas of specialized activities. It also has its own outpatient clinic and offers a complete rehabilitation program.
Cardiovascular rehabilitation is an effective treatment for people who have heart failure or had a recent cardiac event (myocardial infarction, coronary angioplasty, cardiac surgery, etc.).
The cardio-geriatric consultation offers multidisciplinary care within the internal medicine and rehabilitation service, in connection with all the specialties of the Cardiology service.
The Structural Cardiology Unit specializes in the management of patients with heart conditions unrelated to atherosclerosis, such as valve disease or congenital pathologies in adulthood.
The Acute Heart Failure Unit takes care of patients with advanced heart failure with all therapeutic means ranging from medication to device.
Echocardiography unit
Echocardiography is a technique that uses ultrasound to explore the structures of the heart, their movements and the different blood flows in the chambers of the heart. The basic examination is a transthoracic echocardiography performed by a sensor placed on the chest.
Cardiology has set up a Therapeutic Patient Education Team (PET). Their activities relate to prevention and cardiovascular rehabilitation programs for patients attending two poles: Preventive Cardiology and Secondary Prevention.
We offer cardiovascular risk advice, principally in primary prevention but also, for optimization, in secondary prevention, typically in the context of a family history with early myocardial infarction or high cholesterol or arterial hypertension problem, with a multi-disciplinary approach.
Cardiac MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) provides a non-invasive assessment of myocardial anatomy, function and perfusion as well as the sequelae of heart attacks and structural abnormalities. These examinations are carried out in collaboration with the radiology department.
The cardio-oncology consultation ensures the optimal management of cardiovascular diseases in cancer patients; whether in the context of pre-existing cardiovascular disease or in the context of cardiac toxicity of the anti-cancer treatment. The ultimate goal is to minimize the burden and negative impact of cardiovascular disease on cancer treatment success rates and overall survival in cancer patients. This consultation is performed in close collaboration with the oncology and hematology team with the aim not only to optimize cardiovascular care during cancer treatment with cardiotoxic potential (many chemotherapeutic drugs), but also to identify adequate and personalized surveillance strategies in cancer survivors at high risk of late cardiotoxicity.
Inclisiran is a new small, synthetic interfering ribonucleic acid that lowers circulating LDL-C levels by using RNA silencing technology to reduce PCSK9 production. Administered subcutaneously at 0 and 3 months, then every 6 months, inclisiran has been shown to reduce LDL-C by approximately 50% in patients at high and very high cardiovascular risk or with a diagnosis of ‘familial hypercholesterolemia, but also in statin intolerant patients. New data is on the way, in particular on cardiovascular clinical outcomes, as well as the safety of use in adolescents.
“Off-pump CABG” is CABG performed without the use of a heart-lung machine (cardiopulmonary bypass). This means the heart continues to provide blood to the rest of the body during the surgery. In off-pump CABG, the area around the blocked coronary artery is stabilized while the surgeon grafts the blood vessel on the ”beating” heart. In “on-pump CABG”, the heart is stopped with the body’s blood supply being maintained by the cardio-pulmonary bypass (CPB) machine.
Cardiovascular rehabilitation comprises a set of activities favorably influencing the evolutionary process of the disease; it brings patients better physical, mental and social condition. The aim of such a program is to help patients maintain their health and to return as quickly as possible to their lives after an acute cardiac event. Optimal secondary prevention strategies can prevent up to 45% of deaths from myocardial infarction. In Switzerland, it is considered that 50% of eligible patients participate in a post-infarction rehabilitation program (75% at HUG)
Inclisiran is a new small, synthetic interfering ribonucleic acid that lowers circulating LDL-C levels by using RNA silencing technology to reduce PCSK9 production. Administered subcutaneously at 0 and 3 months, then every 6 months, inclisiran has been shown to reduce LDL-C by approximately 50% in patients at high and very high cardiovascular risk or with a diagnosis of ‘familial hypercholesterolemia, but also in statin intolerant patients. New data is on the way, in particular on cardiovascular clinical outcomes, as well as the safety of use in adolescents.
“Off-pump CABG” is CABG performed without the use of a heart-lung machine (cardiopulmonary bypass). This means the heart continues to provide blood to the rest of the body during the surgery. In off-pump CABG, the area around the blocked coronary artery is stabilized while the surgeon grafts the blood vessel on the ”beating” heart. In “on-pump CABG”, the heart is stopped with the body’s blood supply being maintained by the cardio-pulmonary bypass (CPB) machine.
Cardiovascular rehabilitation comprises a set of activities favorably influencing the evolutionary process of the disease; it brings patients better physical, mental and social condition. The aim of such a program is to help patients maintain their health and to return as quickly as possible to their lives after an acute cardiac event. Optimal secondary prevention strategies can prevent up to 45% of deaths from myocardial infarction. In Switzerland, it is considered that 50% of eligible patients participate in a post-infarction rehabilitation program (75% at HUG)
We believe in a better way of taking care of your heart. Our multidisciplinary center of excellence is made up of hundreds of specialists providing you with personalized support, 24/7, with the advantages of a service of public interest.
We believe in a better way of taking care of your heart. Our multidisciplinary center of excellence is made up of thousands of specialists providing you with personalized support, 24/7, with the advantages of a service of public interest.