Services and procedures

Atrial septal defect (ASD) is a congenital condition where there is hole in the wall between the two upper chambers of the heart. It’s commonly called a ‘hole in the heart’ and can often go unnoticed and undiagnosed for years. 
 
Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a similar condition, where an opening between the left and right upper chambers of the heart fails to close over properly after birth, leaving a flap. This opening is normal in utero but usually closes within a year after birth. 
 
Both ASD and PFO can be treated with a minimally invasive procedure. A closure device is implanted in the wall of the heart, where it can close up the hole. This is positioned via a catheter inserted in the femoral vein (in the groin). 

Cardiac resynchronisation therapy uses a pacemaker to help correct the rhythm of your heartbeat. The CRT pacemaker helps coordinate the timing of your upper and lower heart chambers. 

Coronary artery bypass grafts allow your blood to take a different route, avoiding blockages in your coronary arteries. These blockages are usually made up of calcium and fatty deposits known as plaque. 
 
A coronary artery bypass graft is an open-heart surgery, which means your surgeon will need to open up your chest. Grafts are usually created using a vein from the leg and an artery from behind the sternum. 
 
CABG procedures are sometimes performed with the help of a heart-lung machine, and sometimes without it (which is known as ‘off pump’). Your surgeon’s approach will depend on your case, and they will discuss this decision with you.

A pacemaker is a medical device used to regulate an irregular or slow heartbeat. It does this using electrical impulses, which are delivered by electrodes attached to the heart. 

Implanting a pacemaker is a common and minimally invasive surgery. It takes about an hour and is usually performed under sedation with a local anaesthetic. 

Lead extraction is a procedure used to remove pacemaker leads. It’s often done to resolve an infection, remove excess or faulty leads, or get rid of leads that pose a risk of arrhythmia or perforation.

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is another term for coronary angioplasty. It’s a procedure used to treat the narrowed arteries caused by coronary heart disease. This is done by inserting a small balloon into the narrowed part of your artery, then inflating it to stretch open that section. Your surgeon will usually then insert a fine mesh cylinder (known as a stent) to permanently support the artery walls. 

Radio frequency ablation is a procedure that uses heat to destroy (or “ablate”) unwanted tissues like tumours. This heat is produced by radio waves. RFA is minimally invasive and can also be used to treat chronic pain. 

Structural heart interventions are procedures used to repair the structure of your heart. Many structural heart conditions are present at birth – for example, septal defects (also known as a hole in the heart).

Transaortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a revolutionary procedure for people with severe aortic stenosis who would otherwise be considered too high-risk for surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR). The TAVI procedure is minimally invasive, which usually means a quicker recovery and a shorter hospital stay.

To perform the TAVI procedure, your surgeon will squeeze your replacement valve onto a balloon, then use a catheter to move the new valve into the correct position in your heart. This can be done without opening your chest or using the heart-lung pump. Once your replacement valve is inside your faulty valve, your surgeon will inflate the balloon, perfectly positioning the new valve. 

Your replacement valve will be made of natural animal heart tissue (usually from a cow or a pig) and a nickel-titanium frame. It will also have three thin flaps called 'leaflets’, which will control your blood flow in the same way as your natural valve leaflets do.

Most people spend three to ten days in hospital following their procedure, although this varies from patient to patient. When you leave the hospital, your doctor could recommend moving into a cardiac rehabilitation facility. They will also give you all the advice you need for managing your recovery. This could include: 

• medications, such as blood thinners
• any restricted activities
• follow-up appointments
• safety advice (such as what you need to know before getting an MRI or having dental work done) 

Your heart has four valves, which allow blood to flow in for oxygenation, then back out again to carry that fresh oxygen around your body. For your heart to work properly, all four of these valves need to be able to fully open, then tightly seal to prevent blood from flowing in the wrong direction. This process is controlled by thin flaps called ‘leaflets’. 

Over time, your valves can weaken, resulting in leaks. You can also develop calcium deposits on your leaflets. Either of these conditions can make it difficult for your valves to open and close properly. 

Valve surgery is used to repair or replace these vital parts of your heart. It can be performed on any of your four valves, although aortic and mitral valve surgeries are more common. Valve surgery is open-heart surgery, which means your surgeon will need to open up your chest. They will then either repair your damaged valve by pushing it permanently open or replace it by cutting out the old valve and sewing in a new one. 
 
Replacement valves can be synthetic or made of tissue from a human or an animal. If your new valve is synthetic, you’ll need to take blood thinners for the rest of your life. If your new valve is made of tissue, it will likely need to be replaced down the track – usually anywhere from eight years onwards.