Special Units
Pacemaker implantation and replacement unit
Athens Doctors’ General Clinic has a modern Pacemaker Centre for the Implantation and Replacement of Pacemakers. With state-of-the-art equipment, fully and constantly trained scientific personnel, it offers high-level services to thousands of our fellow citizens requiring pacemaker implantation, the check of its proper functioning, and its replacement when necessary. Pacemaker implantation is deemed necessary when a person has great bradycardia, above 50 beats per minute or long cardiac pauses, greater than 3 seconds, which do not occur during sleeping. A patient may also need pacemaker when a required treatment administered causes abnormal bradycardia.
After the pacemaker implantation, many persons think that they will have to reconsider it when it fails or when it is close to failing. THIS IS ACTUALLY WRONG! The pacemaker’s operation should be regularly checked for many reasons.
- The pacemaker should be checked in the special Pacemaker Check Centres by specialised cardiologists once or twice per year.
- The check is non-interventional and it is conducted without causing pain, using telemetry from a computer-programmer, which communicates with the pacemaker.
Therefore, we can check both the proper functioning of the pacemaker and its electrodes, as well as:
- We can change its settings, if required, for more appropriate functioning, and sometimes to save its battery and extend its life.
- We discover the presence of other arrhythmias, since the pacemaker functions as a rate Holter, and we implement the appropriate treatment.
- We ascertain the battery’s life duration, which promptly warns us for the safe replacement of the pacemaker, well before its complete failure.
Special Units
Vascular Stroke Rehabilitation Unit
Vascular stroke is an acute neurological disorder with vascular aetiology following blood supply interruption in a CNS region (ischaemic stroke) or due to vessel rupture with consequent haemorrhagic stroke.
In Europe, they are the leading cause of serious disability and the second cause of death and dementia, while in our country they are the third cause of death after coronary artery disease and neoplastic diseases.
In Doctors’ General Clinic Stroke Rehabilitation Unit, the rehabilitation process is interdisciplinary, including the provision of care from a specialised team with Neurologist, Internist, Physiatrist, and the immediate support from other specialists of our clinic, such as Physiotherapist, Urologist, Psychologist, Speech Therapist, and Occupational Therapist.
Our primary concern is the timely commencement of rehabilitation so that to optimally minimise the risk of complications and the degree of disability.
Patient rehabilitation stages and time vary depending on the severity of complications.
Initially the patient undergoes respiratory physiotherapy so that to remove bronchial secretions.
The patients is placed in the right position and with the right posture on the bed to prevent aspiration, pressure ulcers and shrinkage.
In addition special technical exercises are also used to improve the range of movement of the upper and lower limbs, aiming at the preservation of the joints’ range, the development,
maintenance and rehabilitation of movement, and its functionality, so that to improve the patient’s quality of life.
Patients with stroke may have aphasia, dysarthria, apraxia, as well as swallowing disorders and dysphagia.
The speech therapist evaluates the swallowing and communication disorders to plan a personalised rehabilitation programme in order to minimise communication difficulties, to enhance skills and to prevent complications such as aspiration pneumonia.
The occupational therapist uses special techniques to assist retraining in everyday activities, such as eating, getting dressed, personal hygiene, transport, and communication.
He assists in the preservation and improvement of motor skills through special exercises.
The occupational therapist trains the caregivers and the family in relation to patient care. He may also help in arranging ergonomically the patient’s living space after visiting the patient’s home so as to prevent injuries.
Psychological support is also essential for the patient after a stroke, in order to help him understand the new situation he faces, to be able to cooperate with the therapists, and to manage his emotions, because he may feel disappointed and be unwilling to participate in the treatment process.
Another important aspect is the provision of psychological support for the patient’s relatives.
Special Units
Asthma Center
Asthma is a chronic condition characterised by inflammation of the airways, which transfer the air from the lungs, and it affects a large number of our fellow citizens. In Doctors’ General Clinic, located at the centre of Athens, which is on duty 24 hours a day everyday, we have developed a modern unit for allergies and asthma management, to support better diagnosis and treatment of these conditions. Asthma symptoms remission may be achieved if the appropriate treatment is administered, while sometimes spontaneous remission may occur through the avoidance of the irritant that caused them. For the diagnosis of each condition, in Doctors’ Hospital we carry out a series of specialised diagnostic tests, such as:
- Detailed pulmonary/allergic/immunological history & physical examination
- Spirometry – Full breath function test
- Allergic tests (skin- prick tests, or haematological RAST tests) for:
Airborne allergens (environmental), such as mites, fungi, pollens, animal hair, etc.
In addition for nutritional, pharmaceutical allergens, contrast media, etc. - Allergy test for wasp, bee venom
- PATCH tests for creams, ointments, dyes, metals and other contact allergens
- Rhinoscopy together with the ENT specialist
- Tests (through the safe administration of the allergen) for foods and medicines
- All types (from the simplest to the most specialised ones) of immunological tests
The conditions that we treat are:
- Allergic asthma and allergic rhinitis / sinusitis
- Atopic dermatitis (eczema) and contact dermatitis
- Acute and chronic urticaria
- Allergic anaphylactic shock in food and pharmaceutical allergies
- Allergic shock after insects bites
- Immune system disorders- deficiencies, either genetic primary or secondary to severe chronic diseases
Special Units
Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
The aim of the Intensive Care Unit is to provide health care services to an especially formed area within the Doctors’ General Clinic whose structure and organization enable us to care for and support the vital signs of seriously affected patients showing a real or potential risk of death. Ever since 2007 the unit has been fully operating and carrying out almost the entire range of invasive and therapeutic acts.
Ever since 2007 the ICU of Doctors’ General Clinic has 4 intensive care beds. It accepts cases that come from within the clinic, but also cases of the other hospitals through the EKAV (National Center for Emergency Care). The unit covers various cases, mainly those that if not taken to an intensive care unit might be fatal for patients. These patients are supported by the application of most non invasive and invasive diagnostic techniques (ultrasounds, haemodynamic monitoring, endoscopies, etc.), and most of the invasive therapy acts (tracheostomies, haemodiafiltration, etc.)
Apart from the care it offers to ICU patients, an important part of the activity of the medical and nursing staff is to daily and systematically support and provide consultation to the remaining clinic on cases of patients who are in critical condition.
Special Units
Online Appointment
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