We offer a full range of non-invasive diagnostic and imaging services at our Canberra cardiology practice. Complex conditions may require invasive cardiac procedures. These are performed externally at Calvary Bruce Private Hospital or National Capital Private Hospital. All our specialists have admitting rights for uninsured patients at the Canberra Hospital.
Our doctors offer three kinds of consultations at our Canberra clinic. These include initial consultations, review consultations, and teleconsultations.
The initial consultation is a complete assessment of your clinical concerns and an opportunity to talk to our cardiologists face-to-face. This initial consultation allows us to tailor any following investigations to your needs, help diagnose your cardiac condition, or provide reassurance about your symptoms. A full report will be sent to you and your GP.
At a review appointment, you and your cardiologist will discuss your condition and the results of all tests in an easy-to-understand way. A letter including any results from our investigations will be sent to you and your GP.
If appropriate, our cardiologists will call you to briefly discuss tests, results and any necessary medical follow-up plans at a time that works for you. This option is mainly reserved for patients who live remotely and find it difficult to travel to our Canberra clinic.
An echocardiogram is an ultrasound examination of your heart to assess the condition of your heart and how it pumps and contracts. Echocardiograms are a safe and effective way to check your heart health.
Stress tests are the same as echocardiograms but with the addition of a treadmill. This allows us to see how your heart behaves while you do physical activity.
Stress tests are performed at your level of fitness, determined by our experienced staff. Stress tests are generally safe and take between 20-30 minutes.
An electrocardiogram is a baseline test that records electrical signals in the heart using stick patches placed on your chest. ECGs are one of the simplest and fastest ways to gather information about the heart. Most new patients are required to do an ECG before their appointment.
A holter monitor is a small portable device that records every heartbeat over a certain period, either 24hr, 48hr or 72hr. Holter monitors can pick up any heart rhythm issues.
A 24-hour blood pressure monitor records your blood pressure at intermittent intervals to give an average blood pressure result. This gives more accurate results than a standalone blood pressure test in the clinic. 24-hour blood pressure tests can determine whether you have consistently high blood pressure or if you just had a single elevated reading.
Medical management is required when your condition has been diagnosed but isn't severe enough to warrant invasive treatment like surgical intervention. Your cardiologist will take into account your clinical situation and discuss all the options with you.
Invasive management involves a procedure to diagnose or treat your condition. This might involve coronary angiography, a stent or a pacemaker. Our clinic only performs invasive procedures after rigorous testing to ensure that the procedure is appropriate and in your best interest.
Device checks assess how well your pacemaker or defibrillator functions. It normally involves a review with your cardiologist to discuss the results. We can also provide a home monitoring service to ensure your device is safely monitored from the convenience of your home.
Occasionally, your GP might request cardiac investigations on an ad hoc basis. This means we perform tests without an initial assessment by a cardiologist. The results go straight to you and the referring doctor.
Angiograms involve installing a small tube or catheter that is inserted into an artery so we can see how blood flows through the blood vessels in your heart. Angiograms allow us to assess whether action is needed to your coronary arteries.
Angioplasties are a cardiac surgery used to treat a blockage in a coronary artery. Our specialist cardiologist will be able to place a small device called a stent in your heart valve to open up that blockage. Angioplasties can significantly improve symptoms and save lives.
We provide a range of other procedures that might be necessary for your condition, including PFOs or ASD closures, loop recorders, bubble studies, and more. Your cardiologist will discuss all your options with you during your appointment.
A pacemaker is a heart implant that sends electrical pulses to the heart to help it beat at a steady rate and rhythm. They also help heart chambers beat in sync so blood is pumped more efficiently.
Pacemakers can save lives and significantly improve symptoms for those suffering from heart rhythm disorders or heart failures. The procedure is highly safe and has a low risk of complications.
Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICD) are a more complex form of a pacemaker. ICDs not only treat low heart rates associated with electrical disorders but also treat fast, dangerous heart rhythms.
ICDs work by monitoring the heart for irregular beats and delivering electric shocks, when needed, to return the heart to a regular heart rhythm. They can be life-saving if implanted appropriately.
Cardiac Resynchronisation Therapy (CRT) is a highly complex device implanted in those with some of the most complicated cardiac conditions. It helps hearts contract more efficiently and improves both symptoms and life expectancy.
Although similar to a pacemaker, our cardiologists have to implant additional electrodes in the heart to ensure effectiveness. Our cardiologists will discuss this procedure in more detail if you fulfil these specific criteria for implantation.
TAVI is the process of implanting a life-saving new heart valve into a valve affected by heart disease. There are very few specialists able to perform this procedure. Dr Nikhil Pal and Dr Liam Guiney are the lead TAVI specialists in Canberra. They deliver the service for patients at the Canberra Hospital and National Capital Private Hospital.
Home monitoring allows for remote monitoring of your implanted device by our specialists. It allows for a continuous recording of your heart function and means that our clinic will get any critical information from your device as soon as any event occurs.
During a device clinic, your cardiologist will test the performance of your device and may adjust the settings. Your doctor will formulate a plan as to how often you need follow-up appointments. This depends on the type of device you have, your symptoms and the data your cardiologist obtains.
Heart failure is a condition where the heart is unable to pump blood effectively. The symptoms include shortness of breath, fluid retention and fatigue. This specialised clinic aims to optimally manage your symptoms.
