The department provides innovative and comprehensive care for patients with complex diseases of the heart, blood vessels, and circulatory system. 

Treatment and care are based on national and international guidelines and individualised to meet every patient’s specific needs. 

In order to advance clinical and basic science and patient care, research and teaching are integrated parts of clinical practice in the department.

Our areas of expertise make the department a national cardiac referral centre for other hospitals in the eastern part of Denmark on a 24/7 basis. 

The department has 75 medical doctors, 280 nurses and 50 other staff members. Our patients come from all parts of Denmark, the Faroe Islands and Greenland.

We have a dedicated area for echocardiographic examinations, eight cardiac catheterisation suites, several scanners for CT and MR investigations, 100 patient beds and grand outpatient and research facilities. 


Søren Boesgaard
Head of Department, MD, DMSc.
Section 2142
Phone: +45 35 45 23 46


Pernille Preisler
Head Nurse
Section 2141
Phone: +45 35 45 17 12


Julie Nielsen
Secretary
Section 2142​


The Department of Cardiology has a long tradition of evidence-based, state-of-the-art cardiology treatment and care, providing patients with expert medical management and a full range of therapies.

Within each area, a multidisciplinary team of medical experts and nurses integrate their divergent skills and experience to optimize the care and treatment of all patients. 

Coronary artery disease
On a yearly basis, the department performs approximately 3,000 invasive diagnostic procedures (coronary angiography) and 2,500 percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI, balloon angioplasty). We provide treatment of acute myocardial infarction with primary PCI 24/7. 

Heart failure and pulmonary hypertension 
The department is a part of the Heart Centre mechanical assist and heart and lung transplantation programme. Each year we perform approximately 40 transplantations and 30 long/short-term assist device implantations. The department is one of two departments in Denmark that manages the treatment of pulmonary hypertension.

Heart valve problems
Endocarditis (inflammation of the heart valves) and other types of heart-valve problems are diagnosed and triaged. Transcatheter aortic or mitral valve implantation is a growing and prioritized part of this program.

Abnormal heart rhythm
Every year, the department offers 400 radiofrequency ablations and 400 ICD implantations (including biventricular devices) for all types of heart rhythm problems. Home monitoring of implantable devices is standard. 

Medical Intensive care
In collaboration with the Department of Anaesthesiology, we provide intensive care facilities for patients with acute or threatening heart-related circulatory failure. 

Congenital heart disease
The department plays an essential role in Rigshospitalet's Centre for congenital heart diseases, which cares for all children and adults with congenital heart diseases from the eastern part of Denmark.

Inherited heart diseases
Clinical examination, genetic screening, counselling and – if needed – treatment of relatives to patients with known inherited heart problems and/or sudden death.

Respiratory diseases
The hospital’s department for rare and severe lung diseases is located within the Heart Centre. Patients with rare or severe, life-threatening pulmonary diseases are evaluated and followed before and after lung transplantation.​

The Cardiology Research Unit

The Cardiology Research Unit runs clinical trials across all our clinical specialities. Research is core to the purpose of Rigshospitalet and is key to improving diagnosis and treatment to produce the best possible outcomes for the patients.

Get more information about the ​Cardiology Research Unit.​​

Nursing-research initiatives​

The department also hosts a growing number of nursing-research initiatives. For more details, contact the head of clinical nursing research, Selina Kikkenborg Berg, RN, PhD (selina.kikkenborg.berg.01@regionh.dk).​

Publications at the Department of Cardiology

​​​Each year researchers from the department publish between 100 and 200 peer-reviewed papers and book chapters. ​​The research is regularly published in leading medical journals, e.g. Lancet, New England Journal of Medicine or other journals with impact factor scores > 20. ​​​

Department of Cardiology 
Rigshospitalet
Blegdamsvej 9 
2100 København Ø 

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