Cabrini Heart - Cardiac Services

Cardiology management during COVID-19

Please visit Cabrini's Coronavirus page for full information on changes across Cabrini.

Cardiology has been a major service at Cabrini for 50 years and today it is one of our flagship services. Our range is broad - from the latest minimally invasive procedures to open heart surgery - all are fully supported by diagnostic testing, state-of-the-art operating theatres and catheterisation laboratories an acute cardiac ward and specialised rehabilitation.

Cardiorespiratory Unit

Equipped with the latest technology, the Cardio-Respiratory Unit plays an important role in the fast, accurate detection and diagnosis of heart problems which may not have shown any obvious symptoms. From the latest in ultrasound technology to a multi-function Live 3D trans oesophageal echocardiogram in combination with four high-tech echocardiography systems, cardiologists can take action before the conditions become life-threatening.

Download our Cardio-Respiratory Referral Form

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Cabrini offers a wide range of cardiothoracic surgical procedures performed in highly equipped theatres. Cardiothoracic surgery is the field of medicine involved in surgical treatment of organs inside the thorax – in general, treatment of conditions of the heart and lungs. Surgical services provided at Cabrini include: coronary artery bypass graft surgery, cardiac valve surgery, aortic surgery, advanced aortic and mitral valve repair, minimally invasive mitral valve, tricuspid valve and ASD surgery. In addition, all aspects of acute and chronic thoracic aortic disease including both open and stent graft repairs are performed.

Following cardiothoracic surgery, patients will be stabilised within the intensive care unit (ICU), offering highly trained professionals and sophisticated equipment before transfer to the close observation unit (COU) in the cardiothoracic surgical ward for continuous monitoring during the recovery period. Early mobilisation is important to improve patients’ lung function and exercise capacity, delivered by Cabrini’s Allied Health services who offer a range of inpatient rehabilitation programs that continue beyond discharge home.

We recommend the following post-discharge follow-up appointments:

• Referring GP within one week of discharge from hospital
• Cardiothoracic surgeon within four weeks of discharge from hospital
• Cardiologist within six weeks of discharge from hospital

Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratories

In 2015, Cabrini opened two new cardiac catheterisation laboratories at Cabrini Malvern. Cath Labs are a critical part of an acute cardiac service. Versatile and purpose-built the labs have sophisticated imaging systems central to minimally invasive cardiac and cardiovascular procedures. Each new x-ray system is made up of five modules, all working together to provide data about heart function, blood flow, any problem with the heart’s valves and where a blockage is located within an artery. The systems are faster and more efficient than conventional models, so patients will spend less time on the operating table.

The cath labs are home to a nine-bed short stay and recovery area with many patients well enough to be discharged home on the same day as their procedures. Others may be transferred to the Intensive Care Unit or a specialist ward.

Hybrid theatre

Hybrid theatres are becoming more common in major hospitals around the world. Packed with state-of-the-art equipment, they are a fusion of an operating room and medical imaging suite, combining advanced imaging technology with a fully-fledged operating theatre.

Instead of looking directly at a patient’s operation site, surgeons look at high definition 2D or 3D images of a patient’s anatomy on multiple video screens which perform real time imaging, matching these against scans taken preoperatively to precisely direct the procedure.

While such technology is already well established for the treatment of heart disease in cath labs, a hybrid theatre takes this one step further. If there is any need to change from a minimally invasive, percutaneous operation to conventional open surgery, the patient does not have to be moved – all the staff and equipment are already in place. Such a facility enables the boundaries of minimally invasive cardiac procedures to be pushed further with the advent of some heart valves that can be implanted through the smallest of incisions.

Cardiac passport

Every cardiac patient at Cabrini will receive a cardiac passport. This pocket-sized booklet will provide an ongoing record of a patient’s current condition. It includes a baseline ECG, list of medications, personal demographics, the treating doctors and the latest procedures and test results. Our patients are encouraged to keep the cardiac passport in their bag or wallet in the event of an emergency, visit to the GP or readmission to hospital.

STEMI (ST elevation myocardial infarction)

Myocardial infarction, or heart attack, is a leading cause of death in both men and women. Every minute is critical when someone is having a heart attack; the faster the treatment the better the outcome. Since 2011, Cabrini has used a purpose-designed protocol to treat heart attacks, known as ST elevation myocardial infarction or STEMI. The STEMI system allows patients to be treated quickly and effectively with a balloon catheter and a stent, unblocking their coronary arteries within 90 minutes of arriving at hospital.

TAVI (Transcatheter aortic valve implantation)

TAVI is a minimally invasive surgical procedure for people with severe aortic stenosis, an abnormal narrowing of the aortic valve which restricts blood flow to the heart. The procedure is suitable for elderly people with co-morbidities such as kidney dysfunction or previous heart attacks who cannot undergo open heart surgery. Sufferers experience breathlessness, fainting, difficulty with physical activities due to breathing problems and chest pain.

To learn more, download our brochure

Mitraclip

The heart’s mitral valve has an important role to play in helping to control blood flow through the heart. Regurgitation occurs when there is a backflow of blood from the heart’s left ventricle to the left atrium. Its cause is the failure of the mitral valve to seal shut. If left untreated the heart can no longer pump enough blood around the body.

Whether patients have degenerative mitral regurgitation, caused by damage to the mitral valve leaflets, or functional caused by a heart attack or heart failure, the only treatment options have been medication to treat symptoms or open-heart surgery to repair or replace the valve depending on the severity.

The Mitraclip system is now a third option. It uses a thin flexible tube, or catheter, which is guided through the femoral vein in the leg to the heart. The Mitraclip itself is fed through the tube to attach directly to the mitral valve where it clips the valve’s leaflets together allowing the heart to pump blood more efficiently.

Other Tests and Procedures

Cardiac Rehabilitation Program

If you have heart disease or a pre-existing condition, cardiac rehabilitation, which includes an exercise program, can have important health benefits. Research has found rehabilitation can reduce the recurrence of cardiovascular disease-related issues by up to 35 per cent.

At Cabrini, we offer a group exercise, education and support programs, which are individually tailored to each patient’s ability and recovery stage and helps them return to daily activities. The program caters for patients diagnosed with a heart and blood vessel-related disease, or who have had a recent episode due to a pre-existing condition such as heart attack, angioplasty or bypass surgery.

You will be assessed by a cardiac nurse and physiotherapist before starting the program to ensure it meets your needs. When you finish, ongoing support can be arranged through our maintenance exercise support programs.

Heart Failure Program

Cabrini provides high quality and holistic care for heart failure patients and their families, including: patient reviews in hospital, home visits, telephone support and a group exercise program.

Our Chronic Heart Failure Services caters for patients with a confirmed diagnosis of chronic heart failure caused by a heart attack, or long-term health problems, such as high blood pressure, diabetes or heart disease.

We run a program to help patients improve their quality of life, consisting of two parts:

•  One-on-one contact with a nurse specialising in chronic heart failure care. They may support you at one of our hospitals, or in your home, depending on your needs.
• A 12 session group program which runs for six weeks.

Ultimately, the program aims to help boost your emotional health, increase independence, improve physical functions like walking and strength, and reduce fatigue and shortness of breath.

For greater patient convenience, if you are booked to have an angiogram, angioplasty, pacemaker or defibrillator insertion or an electrophysiology study, you will be admitted directly to the Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory.

This video offers you a step-by-step guide of a standard Angiogram /Angioplasty procedure. You will be shown this video at Cabrini after the general admission process and prior to your procedure.