Center Introduction

The St. Luke’s International Hospital Cardiovascular Center was established in 2012 to provide advanced specialized medical care for cardiovascular diseases and comprehensive cardiovascular treatment. With over 20 cardiologists and cardiac surgeons on staff, we provide optimal treatment for each patient through shared decision making with patients and their primary care physicians. We continue to contribute to local healthcare while leveraging the strengths of a general hospital with low barriers between medical departments. We hope you will continue to use the St. Luke’s International Hospital Cardiovascular Center.

At our center, under one of St. Luke’s International University’s basic principles of “People-Centered Care (PCC),” we focus on providing comprehensive medical care. This involves a “Heart Team” of cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons, anesthesiologists, radiologists, nurses, radiological technologists, clinical engineers, clinical laboratory technicians, physical therapists, pharmacists, registered dietitians, case workers, and medical office staff working closely together. They collaborate from diagnosis and treatment selection through to post-discharge care, all centered around each individual patient.

In the Department of Cardiology, we are equipped to provide optimal catheter treatments for ischemic heart disease, arrhythmias, and valvular heart disease. We hold daily Heart Team conferences with the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery to discuss and determine the best treatment options.For ischemic heart disease, we use coronary CT and coronary angiography, as well as analyses such as FFRCT and QFR to diagnose functional ischemia beyond just stenosis rates. This helps us determine the need for revascularization treatment. We also diagnose vasospastic angina and microvascular angina.For valvular heart disease, in addition to TAVI for treating aortic stenosis through catheterization, we also perform MitraClip procedures for mitral regurgitation. Forarrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation, we perform ablation as well as catheter-based left atrial appendage closure. For acute circulatory support, in addition to conventional IABP and percutaneous cardiopulmonary support (PCPS), we can also use IMPELLA. In addition to catheter treatments, we are also equipped to diagnose and treat adult congenital heart diseases. For heart failure management, we take a multidisciplinary Heart Team approach for active intervention and provide comprehensive care including post-discharge rehabilitation. We also strive to consistently provide high-quality medical care using Quality Indicators (QI).

In the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, we aim to provide a wide range of cardiac and vascular treatments with a policy of pursuing less invasive approaches (MICS) when outcomes are comparable. Robotic valve repair, MICS valve repair and replacement, and MICS-CABG are available for a wide range of conditions through small incisions. As a specialized facility for aortic valve repair, we actively perform aortic valve-sparing root replacement and aortic valve repair, even in emergency cases. As a member of the Heart Team, we strive to provide treatments that meet patients’ needs, without barriers between internal medicine and surgery, including hybrid treatments with catheter interventions.