Treatment of ischemic heart disease in Israel

Treatment of ischemic heart disease in Israel especially clearly demonstrates the capabilities of modern cardiology and world-class cardiac surgery. Israel clinics have put many best practices and recent global developments in cardiology on stream for the last century. For example, Hadassah was a pioneer hospital in the placement of double coronary artery bypass surgery in 1964.

Currently, 100 research institutes and companies in Israel are developing innovative treatments for cardiovascular diseases, including coronary heart disease (CHD). Many Israeli cardiologists are involved in this activity, along with their clinical work. Thanks to this, the following is already used in the treatment of coronary artery disease in the framework of clinical trials in Israel:

• stem cells for regeneration of heart muscle after myocardial infarction;
• nanotechnology-enhanced coronary stents;
• 3D printing for creating models when planning heart surgeries;
• robotics for performing interventions on coronary vessels.

The combination of standard and innovative methods in the treatment of coronary heart disease in Israel allows cardiologists to cure many forms and complications of this disease in patients of any age. At the same time, the cost of treatment for coronary heart disease in Israel is lower than in the same advanced “cardiological” countries – the USA and Germany.

Coronary heart disease has been well studied in Israel, including its causes and the role of heredity in the development of this disease.

IHD causes acute and chronic ischemia (lack of oxygen) in the heart muscle (myocardium) and disruption of its basic function. Another name for this disease is coronary artery disease, which well reflects the essence of this disease – narrowing of the lumen and blockage of the heart’s own vessels, which supply blood and oxygen to the myocardium.

The leading cause of ischemic heart disease is atherosclerosis, which affects almost the entire population in developed countries after the age of 50. Therefore, this disease, in particular its manifestation, such as myocardial infarction, along with stroke, is the leading cause of death in most developed countries of the world. In Israel, thanks to the level of cardiology and cardiac surgery, cardiovascular diseases are far from the first place in this indicator.

The main symptom of IHD is an attack of angina (compressive pain behind the sternum) at the time of myocardial ischemia. Pain can occur with physical and emotional stress and at rest. Sometimes it is projected to the left half of the body (shoulder, arm, back, jaw) or manifests itself as discomfort (pressure, heaviness, burning) behind the sternum and is accompanied by suffocation.

If attacks of pain similar to angina pectoris occur, it is advisable, without waiting for myocardial infarction, to undergo a cardiac examination to exclude or confirm coronary artery disease. And, if necessary, undergo treatment for coronary artery disease in Israel.

Israeli cardiologists diagnose and treat the following forms of coronary artery disease in patients from other countries:

• stable angina;
• acute coronary syndrome, which includes unstable angina (pre-infarction condition), myocardial infarction without ST elevation (non-transmural), myocardial infarction with ST elevation (transmural);
• Prinzmetal’s angina;
• spasm of the coronary arteries;
• microvascular angina.

In all Israeli clinics, for example, in Assuta, Sheba, Sourasky, patients with suspected IHD undergo a complete examination, which includes:

• Stress echocardiography (treadmill test or bicycle ergometry with EEG);
• ECG Holter monitoring throughout the day;
• Multislice CT of the coronary arteries (virtual coronary angiography);
• CT scan of the chest;
• Blood tests to determine blood lipid profile (cholesterol, triglycerides);
• Scintigraphy to determine myocardial perfusion;
• Selective coronary angiography (coronary angiography, cardiac catheterization).

This examination algorithm allows cardiologists to assess as accurately as possible:

• condition of the coronary arteries (presence of narrowings, atherosclerotic plaques, degree of calcification of the walls);
• myocardial condition (presence of scars, aneurysms);
• degree of perfusion (blood supply) of the heart muscle.

Based on these data, the doctor determines the nature and stage of angina (class I–IV) and the risk of developing myocardial infarction and prescribes treatment for coronary heart disease. In Israel, it usually takes 2-3 days.

Treatment of IHD in Israel necessarily involves modification (elimination or reduction) of risk factors for this disease:

• giving up smoking and drinking alcohol, switching to a healthy diet, eliminating chronic stress;
• treatment of hypertension, prediabetes, diabetes mellitus, obesity, and metabolic syndrome;
• treatment of atherosclerosis.

The goal of atherosclerosis therapy is:

• Reduction of low-density lipoproteins (LDL), the so-called “bad” cholesterol in the blood, to a certain level (depending on the risk of heart attack);
• Maintaining high-density lipoprotein (HDL) or “good” cholesterol levels at or above a certain level.

For this, the cardiologist prescribes the latest generation of statins and a diet (for example, Mediterranean).

Drug treatment of IHD in Israel includes:

• short- and long-acting nitroglycerins of the latest generation;
• beta-blockers;
• anti-ischemic drugs (new class of drugs);
• aspirin in particular forms or clopidogrel.

In the conservative treatment of coronary artery disease in Israel, doctors draw up a personalized treatment plan for an extended period.

Most patients seek cardiac care when the condition of the coronary vessels does not allow conservative treatment of coronary disease in Israel. They require immediate or planned invasive intervention – myocardial revascularization. This is restoring blood flow in the coronary arteries and blood supply to the heart muscle.

Therefore, diagnostic coronary angiography often becomes therapeutic. Having discovered a pronounced narrowing of the coronary arteries during the procedure, the doctor performs angioplasty through the same working catheter. He performs vessel dilatation using various devices. Most often, an interventional cardiologist uses:

• balloons open in a narrowed area in the vessel and are then removed;
• intravascular stents (mesh tubes) with drug coating are installed in the vessel’s lumen.

Stenting of coronary arteries in the treatment of coronary artery disease in Israel is often performed for unstable angina, when the risk of myocardial infarction is high, for cardiac arrhythmias and heart failure due to myocardial ischemia.

In cases of severe obstruction of several coronary arteries, when it is impossible to restore blood flow in the vessels with only angioplasty, cardiac surgeons perform coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Heart surgery is performed to remove blocked arteries from circulation and create bypass blood flow using another vessel taken from the patient’s arm or leg. Many patients undergo minimally invasive, including robotic, versions of this procedure on the beating heart.

Often, when treating coronary artery disease in Israel, in an innovative hybrid operating room, cardiac surgeons simultaneously perform two interventions – angioplasty and CABG. This allows, within one anesthesia, the complete restoration of the blood supply to the heart muscle and eliminates the symptoms of myocardial ischemia.

Since CABG and angioplasty have long been routine in Israel and are constantly being improved, they are performed without age restrictions and in patients with severe concomitant pathology. Early rehabilitation is recommended. According to patients, rapid recovery is facilitated by the comfort created for them in Israeli clinics and the friendliness of the staff.

The success rate of these procedures is one of the best in the world and, according to data from cardiology clinics, is 96-98%.

Treatment of coronary heart disease in Israel may include, in addition to CABG and angioplasty, other methods of restoring blood supply to the heart muscle:

• laser transmyocardial revascularization (minimally invasive heart surgery);
• intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation;
• implantation of a subcutaneous device Coronary Sinus Reducer (Israeli invention) to increase pressure in the coronary sinus of the heart;
• open cardiac salvage surgery – complex reconstructive operations on the heart and blood vessels to preserve myocardial function.

A large arsenal of innovative methods that cardiologists use in the treatment of coronary heart disease in Israel can be done even with multiple lesions of the coronary arteries to perform the following improvements:

• restore blood supply to the heart muscle;
• preserve myocardial function;
• ensure a good quality of life in a patient with coronary artery disease for many years.

Treatment of coronary artery disease in Israel costs 10-20% less than in Germany and 20-30% more expensive than in Turkey. The exact cost of treatment for coronary heart disease in Israel depends mainly on the treatment option. Angioplasty costs from $9,000, CABG – from $22,000, laser transmyocardial revascularization – from $6,000.

The cost of all diagnostic and therapeutic procedures for treating coronary artery disease in Israel in different clinics can be clarified with the Experts Medical coordinating doctor by contacting him using the application on the website.

The Experts Medical doctor-coordinator will take into account your medical situation and preferences in order to promptly select the optimal diagnostic and treatment option as well as fully arrange the treatment with the best cardiologist.

The doctor coordinator may also arrange an online consultation with the most qualified cardiologist for the patient’s medical situation.

Fill out the application form on the Experts Medical website. The coordinating doctor will contact you promptly. He will organize a consultation with Israeli specialists and provide an indicative treatment plan. She will help you purchase tickets, book a hotel, and provide airport-clinic transfers. In addition, an Experts Medical doctor will stay in touch with you during the entire treatment period for IHD in Israel and provide full support with all organizational issues.