Rhythmology Leipzig (Saxony): PD Dr Kerstin Bode

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PD med. Kerstin Bode is a specialist in cardiology and the head physician of the Department of Rhythmology at the Leipzig Heart Center.

Together with her experienced team, Dr Bode focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. The Rhythmology Department offers comprehensive diagnostic capabilities and employs the full range of modern treatment options for heart rhythm disorders. Patients benefit from the team's concentrated expertise and the advanced technology available at one of Europe's leading centers for rhythmology.

Detecting Heart Problems: Innovative Diagnostics without Intervention

PD Dr Kerstin Bode initially prefers non-invasive methods at the Leipzig Heart Center to accurately diagnose cardiac arrhythmias. Depending on the patient's symptoms and medical history, various examinations are carried out to create a precise picture of the heart's activity without the need for catheter-based intervention.

These diagnostic tools include, for example, a long-term ECG that records heart rhythms over 24 hours or longer and the Ajmaline test, which is used to detect certain congenital arrhythmias. A tilt table examination can help determine whether episodes of dizziness or fainting are related to circulatory dysregulation.

Physical exertion on a stationary bike, monitored via ECG, may be used to provoke rhythm disturbances or circulatory issues in the heart muscle. Additionally, cardiac ultrasound (echocardiography) is used to assess the heart's structure, wall motion, and valve function.

Based on the diagnostic findings, the medical team discusses the most suitable treatment options with the patient. These may range from lifestyle changes—such as healthier nutrition and increased physical activity—to rhythm-stabilizing medications or electrical cardioversion, a procedure that uses a controlled electric shock to restore normal heart rhythm.

Precisely Locating Cardiac Arrhythmias: Electrophysiology in Rhythmology Leipzig

Electrophysiological examination (EPU) is a specialized cardiac catheterization procedure for the diagnosis and treatment of complex cardiac arrhythmias. It is carried out if an ECG cannot clarify the cause of the symptoms or as preparation for an ablation procedure, in which faulty tissue is selectively sclerosed.

Thin catheters are forwarded into the heart through the femoral vein in the groin area to record electrical signals directly from the heart muscle. If the disturbing arrhythmia does not occur during the examination, the doctor can trigger it with electrical impulses to determine the exact cause and localization. If the heartbeat is too fast, this can often be treated directly during the EPU.

The examination takes between 30 minutes and two hours. A pressure bandage is applied after the EPU to prevent bleeding. Complications such as minor bleeding or blood clots are rare. In most cases, triggered cardiac arrhythmias disappear on their own or can be treated directly.

Catheter Ablation in Leipzig – State-of-the-Art Therapy for Cardiac Arrhythmia

Catheter ablation is an innovative procedure for treating cardiac arrhythmias from the various heart chambers. Thin catheters are guided through the groin to the heart to selectively ablate the tissue that is causing the arrhythmia. This method is less stressful than open heart surgery.

During the procedure, patients are asleep, usually unaware of the procedure, and locally anesthetized at the access site in the groin. The affected areas of the heart are identified using high-precision 3D imaging. Various methods are used to remove the offending fibers specifically.

Radiofrequency ablation uses heat to ablate the tissue, while cryoablation uses extreme cold. A new method, pulsed-field ablation, uses electrical fields to treat only those heart muscle cells that are the cause of a conduction disorder. In this way, the surrounding heart muscle tissue can be spared as much as possible.

Ablation is highly effective and especially helpful for patients whose heart rhythm cannot be stabilized with medication alone. Risks are rare and include slight bleeding or, in very rare cases, injury to the esophagus or nerves. Thanks to the extensive experience of rhythmology specialist PD Dr Kerstin Bode and her team at Leipzig Heart Center, the treatment is particularly safe and effective.

Highest Level of Expertise in the Treatment of Pulmonary Vein Stenosis

Pulmonary vein stenosis is a rare complication following catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation. This causes one or more pulmonary veins to narrow, which hinders the flow of blood from the lungs to the heart. This can lead to shortness of breath, coughing up blood, pneumonia, or fluid accumulation in the lungs.

To detect pulmonary vein stenosis at an early stage, the Leipzig Heart Center, a supra-regional specialist center, utilizes a unique cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging technique. This imaging precisely analyzes heart function, pulmonary vascular resistance, and blood flow to the lungs.

For this treatment, the constricted vein is dilated in the cardiac catheterization laboratory using a balloon catheter. This procedure is minimally invasive and is carried out via the inguinal vessels without the need for open surgery. In most cases, a stent is also implanted to keep the vessel open in the long term. Treatment success is reassessed the next day via radiological imaging, typically allowing for same-day discharge.

Specialist in Heart Implants – Event Recorders, Pacemakers & Defibrillators

PD Dr Kerstin Bode and her team have extensive experience in the implantation and use of event recorders, pacemakers, and defibrillators, including those with CRT and conduction system pacing capabilities. These devices are crucial for diagnosing and treating cardiac arrhythmias.

Pacemakers are used when the heart beats too slowly or when there are dangerous pauses in the heartbeat. The devices send electrical impulses to stabilize the heart rhythm and maintain a healthy pulse. The implantation is minimally invasive and can significantly improve the patient's quality of life.

Defibrillators (ICDs) are implanted to detect and automatically treat life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias. They can stop dangerous arrhythmias through targeted electric shocks and thus protect against sudden cardiac death.

Event recorders are small devices placed under the skin that continuously monitor the heart rhythm. They enable the long-term recording of irregularities that occur with sporadic symptoms, allowing for a precise diagnosis. This means that even sporadic arrhythmias can be detected and treated effectively. However, approval must be obtained from the health insurance company.

Dr. Bode's team, as a supra-regional center, has particular expertise in performing complex revision surgeries, including the extraction and explantation of pacemaker and defibrillator systems. This is necessary if electrodes are defective and need to be replaced or if the implanted system is infected and needs to be removed and then reinserted.

Please visit the website of the Rhythmology Department at the Leipzig Heart Center for more information.