New procedure at Gosford Private Heart Centre

In the wake of National Heart Health Week in May, a team of specialists from Gosford Private Hospital has introduced a new procedure at the Gosford Private Heart Centre.

Known as a ‘balloon aortic valvuloplasty’, the procedure involves inserting and inflating a small balloon within a blocked valve inside the heart, creating a space to allow blood to flow freely again.

“The procedure is intended to treat narrowed or restricted aortic valves within the heart,” Interventional Cardiologist Dr Roberto Spina said.

“It involves using an inflatable balloon to expand the restricted valve and allow the heart to pump blood more easily to the rest of the body.

“The balloon is expanded while the ventricles of the heart undergo rapid stimulation, which brings the heart to a standstill.

“Normally a patient would undergo aortic valve replacement via open heart surgery or via a keyhole (transcatheter) procedure, however one patient was too sick for open heart surgery, and his arteries too diseased to allow transcatheter treatment.”

With the patient having previously being declined for treatment at a cardiology service in Sydney, Spina assembled a team of Central Coast specialists to undertake the procedure at Gosford Private Hospital.

“Unfortunately, because of his restricted aortic valve, the patient kept presenting to hospital with fluid buildup in his lungs,” Spina said.

“We decided something had to be done.

“The challenge would be how to advance a large balloon to the heart through heavily diseased arteries.

“Thankfully with the assistance of our local vascular surgeon Dr Victor Bourke and anaesthetist Dr Craig Coghlan, we were able to access the brachial artery and perform the procedure uneventfully, with a good result for the patient.”

Spina said the procedure highlighted the expertise available for patients locally.

“By combining the surgical experience of our specialist team with the highly qualified staff at the Gosford Private Heart Centre, we were able to ensure a successful outcome for another local patient here on the Central Coast,” Healthe Care Regional Chief Executive Stephen Johnston said.

See an animated video of the balloon aortic valvuloplasty at https://shorturl.at/LXFaP

Learn more about the specialists and services available at Gosford Private Heart Centre at https://gosfordprivate.com.au/specialties/heart-centreGosford Private Heart Centre