Valve repair or replacement
Expertise: Expertise in valvular surgery includes aortic valve repair and replacement with a full range of prostheses (mechanical, biological, homografts and autografts). Expertise in aortic valve includes valve pressurisation and ross procedures. Particular expertise in both simple and complex repair of the mitral valve.
Additional information: Valve replacements undertaken for over 40 years, pioneering techniques are now standard. Ten cardiac surgeons specialising in adult cardiac surgery perform hundreds of valve replacements and repairs annually, and have excellent success rates.
Surgical intervention to treat heart failure
Expertise: Specialists in heart transplantation and implantable mechanical assist devices (Left Ventricular Assist Devices – LVADS, or “artificial hearts”).
Additional information: Over 1,200 transplant patients attend regular check-ups. Around 35 LVADs fitted each year. Cutting edge research supports the programme.
Revascularisation
(heart bypass surgery)
Expertise: Full range of procedures including on and off-pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafts (CABG) and robotically assisted keyhole surgery. Hybrid procedures carried out for multivessel disease: keyhole surgery followed by stenting undertaken by cardiologists.
Additional information: Over 1,000 heart bypass operations performed annually. High success rates for bypass surgery.
Surgery for arrythmia
Expertise: Different modes of ablation for atrial fibrilation.
Additional information: Usually performed with other cardiac procedures: has promising long-term success rates.
Coronary angioplasty and/or coronoary stenting
(For the treatment of blocked arteries.)
Expertise: Expertise in single and multivessel angioplasty and stenting. Undertaken in seven purpose-built catheter laboratories.
Additional information: Over 2,400 coronary angioplasty procedures performed in 2005/2006. Primary angioplasty service at Harefield Hospital has fastest “door to procedure” rate in the country. UK’s first coronary angioplasty took place at Royal Brompton in 1980 and the first coronary stent was implanted in 1988.
Electrophysiology and cardiac pacing
Expertise: Electrophysiology studies performed to detect abnormalities of heart rhythm. Radio frequency ablation to treat electrical malfunctions of the heart through high powered radio waves. Fitting of pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs).
Additional information: Around 500 electrophysiology procedures performed annually, more than any other London hospital trust. Over 1,200 admissions for cardiac pacing procedures.
Coronary angiogram (cardiac catheterisation)
(To detect narrow or blocked arteries.)
Expertise: Advanced X-ray imaging, including three-dimensional investigation of arteries with biplane angiographic equipment at both hospitals.
Additional information: Catheter laboratories among the most advanced in Europe for investigative and invasive procedures. Over 3,000 angiograms
performed annually by teams of cardiologists, nurses, radiographers and cardiovascular technicians.
