CardiOncology
Description
Reference physicians: Iacopo Fabiani (coordinator – adults), Chiara Marrone (coordinator – paediatrics), Francesco Becherini, Michele Emdin, Giuseppe Santoro, Annamaria Del Franco, Alessandra Gabutti, Chrysanthos Grigoratos, Emilio Maria Pasanisi, Christina Petersen.
The CardiOncology outpatient clinic was set up, a novelty in the Fondazione Toscana Gabriele Monasterio, to provide a complete care pathway, both in the paediatric and adult context, for oncology patients who are candidates for potentially ‘cardiotoxic’ therapies (including radiotherapy) and for patients with heart disease at increased risk of developing complications from such therapies.
It is therefore aimed at all oncological patients, who are by definition frail, and who have a real need for highly specialised cardiological consultation for their treatment, modelled on the large national and international institutes for the treatment and management of oncological pathologies.
At the same time, the outpatient clinic aims to perform a surveillance service over time of patients exposed to cardiotoxic drugs, in order to prevent complications such as ventricular dysfunction, heart failure, arrhythmias, thromboembolic issues or hypertension. The tools required are those that are conventionally already used during cardiological evaluation, combined with more advanced laboratory and diagnostic evaluations, according to the most current international standards: the clinical examination, electrocardiogram, standard, 3D and speckle-trackingechocardiogram, cardiac MRI where required, and cardiac biohumoral assessment.
The service, which promotes extensive interactivity and exchange with oncology and haematology colleagues in the interest of facilitating and smoothing the care pathway of the highly frail patient, is based on important local, national and international clinical and scientific research collaborations.
A service with a strong clinical and scientific profile, therefore, that welcomes and appreciates the frailty and medical needs of vulnerable patients.
cardioncologia@ftgm.it
