Interventional cardiology unit

Andreas Grüntzig Cardiac Catheterization Laboratories

The University Hospital Zurich is the birthplace of modern, interventional cardiology. In 1977, Andreas Grüntzig performed the world’s first balloon dilatation (angioplasty / PTCA) of a coronary vessel in the cardiac catheterization laboratories named after him, revolutionizing the treatment of heart attacks and chronic coronary artery disease. Today, more than 3,000 patients are treated annually in the Andreas Gruentzig Cardiac Catheterization Laboratories by an experienced team of interventional cardiologists. The entire spectrum of diagnostic and therapeutic methods of modern interventional cardiology is available for individualized and patient-centered therapy. In addition to 24/7 acute care of heart attack patients from the greater Zurich area, we also support other hospitals as a supra-regional maximum care center by taking over and continuing treatment of highly complex and severely ill patients with coronary heart disease.

Structural cardiac interventions

The therapy of structural heart diseases is a highly specialized area of the Clinic for Cardiology. In close cooperation with the Clinic for Cardiac Surgery, modern minimally invasive, catheter-guided therapy procedures are offered as an alternative to open heart surgery for patients with valvular heart disease. These gentle procedures usually require only a short hospital stay. Together with our colleagues in cardiac surgery, we decide individually for each patient which is the best therapeutic procedure. The procedures are performed in a fully equipped hybrid operating room where all therapeutic options are available.