Terviseportaal
Atrial fibrillation office of Centre of Cardiology at East Tallinn Central Hospital celebrates 5th birthday
Today, 23 November, the atrial fibrillation office of the ETCH Centre of Cardiology will be five years old. It is a unique office in Estonia, to where patients who have been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation for the first time in the emergency department at the ETCH are referred. Family doctors can refer patients through an e-consultation. The cabinet is virtual in keeping up with the times.
Atrial fibrillation is the most common rhythm disorder. “In the case of this disorder, the work of the heart is irregular, which can lead to the formation of blood clots in the heart cavity and a decrease in the function of the heart. As a result, severe complications such as cerebral infarction and heart failure can occur,” says Dr Heli Kaljusaar, Head of the ETCH Centre of Cardiology.
Head of Centre Dr Henri Kaljumäe names heart palpitations, decreased exercise tolerance and shortness of breath as the more typical symptoms of this condition. There are also people who feel the arrhythmia as discomfort in the sternum or chest pain.
In the atrial fibrillation office, the patient is counselled by a nurse who reviews the risk factors, orders the necessary tests and then refers the patient to a cardiologist who decides on further treatment.
“We are pioneers, but in the last five years we have remained the only AF office in Estonia with organised activities,” says Dr Kaljusaar, who hopes that there will be similar offices in more than one hospital in Estonia in the future.