Cardiac catheterisation laboratory of the Department of Congenital Heart Desease - Pediatric Cardiology

We examine and treat newborns, infants, children and adolescents of all ages with congenital and acquired heart disease, as well as all adults with congenital heart defects, in two specially equipped, state-of-the-art cardiac catheterisation laboratories at the Department of Congenital Heart Desease - Pediatric Cardiology. As a supra-regional centre of excellence, we specialise in invasive cardiological diagnostics and interventional therapy for patients with congenital heart defects. 

Interventional treatments in the cardiac catheterisation laboratory are increasingly supplementing or replacing surgical procedures and are crucial in determining the optimal therapy for patients. Our team has many years of experience and expertise. As the necessary radiation exposure is minimal, examinations in the cardiac catheterisation laboratory are also possible and safe for very young children. In addition, we are constantly developing new procedures that allow us to dispense with the use of X-rays altogether in some cases.

We routinely perform these procedures, among others:

• Diagnostic cardiac catheterisation, pulmonary responsiveness testing for pulmonary hypertension, coronary angiography and biopsies,
• Balloon dilatations of all heart valves and vascular stenoses including high-frequency opening of pulmonary atresia and stent implantations,
• Implantation of stents (vascular supports) in vascular constrictions, isthmus stenoses, in the right ventricular outflow tract and the ductus arteriosus in duct-dependent heart defects,
• opening of the atrial septum and dilation of atrial septal defects,
• Closure of atrial septal defects and ventricular septal defects using implants,
• Closure of a persistent ductus arteriosus, also in premature babies weighing at least 1,000 grams,
• Reference centre for interventional pulmonary valve replacement (Melody, Sapien, VenusP, Harmony-Valve),
• Closure of vascular malformations of all kinds.
• Treatment of renal artery stenosis in children.

We also specialise in complex and post-operative interventions in a hybrid operating theatre. We work closely with our colleagues in cardiac surgery and electrophysiology.