Cardiology Second Opinion

Our second opinion rests on two pillars: the records you bring with you and, where necessary, our own diagnostics on site. We have no financial interest in recommending or advising against a procedure. Our only goal is for you to make a well-informed decision, for or against the recommended therapy, based on complete data.

Every case is assessed personally by a senior cardiologist, not delegated to residents. If findings are missing or out of date, we add them on site with an ECG, echocardiography, exercise test or laboratory analysis.

You have received a diagnosis and want it confirmed before you begin a treatment that will change your life. Your symptoms do not match the explanation you received from your treating doctor, and this discrepancy gives you no peace. Several treatment options have been presented to you, a cardiac catheter with stent implantation, a coronary bypass operation, a surgical or catheter-based valve replacement, a pacemaker or an implantable defibrillator, and you do not know which is the right one.

Your test results, echocardiography findings, cardiac catheter report, CT coronary angiography, cardiac MRI, were not explained to you in understandable terms, and you need someone to put them in context for you and place them in the clinical picture. You have already had a treatment, but the expected improvement has not come, and you wonder whether the original treatment plan still holds or whether an adjustment is needed. You face the decision of whether a pacemaker or an implantable defibrillator is really necessary, or whether there are conservative alternatives that have not yet been exhausted.

A second opinion has nothing to do with mistrust of your doctor. The second opinion is a medically recognised tool and, in Switzerland, a patient right that helps you make the right decision. In many cases it confirms the recommended path and gives you the confidence you need to approach the procedure with peace of mind.

And sometimes it reveals alternatives that were not discussed before.

The more complete your records, the more precise our assessment. Bring what you have, even if it seems like a lot; we go through everything. Doctors' reports and consultation notes from your treating cardiologist or cardiac surgeon, with the diagnosis and the specific treatment recommendation you want reviewed.

Findings from imaging procedures: the echocardiography report with measurements (ejection fraction, valve gradients, chamber sizes), the cardiac catheter report (coronary angiography with stenosis grades), CT coronary angiography or cardiac MRI with functional and perfusion data. Laboratory results with cardiac biomarkers (troponin, BNP or NT-proBNP), cholesterol values (LDL, HDL, total cholesterol, triglycerides), kidney values and inflammatory markers (CRP, sedimentation rate). ECG recordings, both the resting ECG and the Holter ECG (recording over 24 to 72 hours) if available.

Your current medication list with exact doses and the timing of intake. If you cannot find findings, if examinations are out of date or if individual diagnostic pieces are missing, that is no problem. We can carry out all relevant tests in our practice: resting ECG, 3D echocardiography, exercise test (ergometry) and laboratory analysis.

All on site in Enge or at the Utoquai, all on the same day. You do not have to run around other practices or hospitals first to gather records.

An experienced cardiologist takes the time to study your records in detail, not at a glance but page by page. In a personal conversation he discusses the existing findings with you, listens to your concerns and questions and asks targeted follow-up questions about symptoms, course, medication and your personal situation. How have you felt over the past months?

Has anything worsened or improved? What exactly worries you? Then the professional assessment: does the diagnosis agree with the available data, or are there contradictions in the findings?

Have all relevant examinations been done, or are diagnostic pieces missing that would be needed for a sound decision? Is the recommended procedure, whether a cardiac catheter with stent, bypass surgery, valve replacement or pacemaker implantation, the best option for your individual situation? Are there conservative alternatives, such as optimised medication, targeted lifestyle changes or a monitoring strategy ("watchful waiting"), that have not yet been exhausted?

If there are diagnostic gaps, we carry out our own tests on site: resting ECG, 3D echocardiography, exercise ECG or blood analysis. The results are usually available within an hour and feed directly into the assessment. At the end of the consultation you no longer have open questions but a clear answer.

You know whether, in our view, the recommended therapy is the right one, whether alternatives exist or whether further investigations are needed before a decision can be made.

After your consultation you receive a detailed written statement. The report contains: our assessment of your diagnosis based on the available findings and our own, a clear evaluation of the recommended procedure with reasoning on whether we share the recommendation or not, possible alternatives (medication, interventional, surgical or watchful waiting) and concrete recommendations for the way forward, including a timeframe and priorities. All written in understandable language, so that you can read and follow the report without needing a medical degree.

No jargon without explanation, but sentences that create clarity. You can forward this report to your treating doctor, surgeon or GP. It serves as a basis for the further conversation with your treatment team.

If it is helpful for you, our cardiologists are also available for a direct conversation with your treating doctor, doctor to doctor, by phone or video call. Sometimes open questions are best resolved when two specialists speak with one another rather than past one another. The goal: you make your decision on a solid professional basis, not out of uncertainty, not under time pressure and not because someone told you there was no other option.

Do I need a referral?

No. You can arrange a second-opinion appointment directly with us, without a referral from your GP. With a referral we bill through basic insurance (OKP); without a referral through your supplementary insurance.

How long does the consultation take?

Allow 60 to 90 minutes, depending on the complexity of your case. With extensive records or when additional diagnostics are needed, the appointment can take longer.

Are the results discussed on the same day?

Yes. Your cardiologist discusses all findings and his assessment with you directly. You receive the detailed written report within a few days by post or securely in digital form.

Can I bring earlier test results and reports?

By all means. The more records you bring, echocardiography findings, cardiac catheter reports, CT images, laboratory values, ECGs, the more precise our assessment.

Are the results shared with my GP or other doctors?

Only if you expressly wish it. We uphold strict medical confidentiality. You decide who receives your report.

Does my health insurance cover the cost?

Second opinions are medically recognised and, in Switzerland, a patient right. Many supplementary insurances cover the cost in full. We are glad to advise you on the billing options before the appointment.