With a highly experienced and dedicated clinical team across Australia and access to innovative technology and minimally invasive approaches, GenesisCare provides leading specialised diagnosis, treatment and management of structural heart disease.
Structural heart disease is the term used to describe conditions affecting the valves, muscles or walls of the heart.
This is different from coronary artery disease, which concerns the heart’s “plumbing,” or problems with the blood vessels that feed the heart, and an arrhythmia, which refers to problems with the electrical system of the heart. Structural heart problems may be present from birth (congenital), but they often can develop with aging or as a result of other diseases. The most common form of structural heart disease is often related to the heart valves and is usually discovered when a heart murmur is detected by listening to the heart, or when a cardiac ultrasound is performed.
Talk to your doctor to learn more about your symptoms and how you can check and manage them.
In order to understand how your heart is functioning, you may be referred for one or more of the following tests. It is important to complete these before your appointment with the GenesisCare Clinic, to give our team all the information needed to best support you.
Electrocardiogram (ECG)
An electrocardiogram (ECG) is used to assess the electrical activity in your heart. It gives your team information regarding the rate and rhythm of your heart and can help identify abnormal rhythms (arrhythmias). It is non-invasive, painless and provides information very quickly.
For more information click here
Echocardiogram (Echo)
Echocardiography is an ultrasound and serves as an easy way for your cardiologist to assess your heart muscle, valves and large blood vessels. The test may take up to 45 minutes and you shouldn’t experience any pain or discomfort during it.
For more information click here
Pathology
Your doctor may send you for blood tests to assess your heart function.
Pathology or blood tests are an important way to help your team monitor how your medications and heart function are affecting other aspects of your overall health. For instance, some tablets can affect your kidney function, and electrolytes such as sodium and potassium in the bloodstream. Initially testing may be required frequently as your medications are increased to help strengthen your heart and reduce your symptoms. Once stable, monitoring will not need to be as often.
Once you have been diagnosed, your GenesisCare doctor will provide you with a personalised management plan to support you with an holistic approach to your structural heart treatment.
At GenesisCare we specialise in the diagnosis and treatment of structural heart conditions. You can trust in our experience; our team are well respected locally and internationally as experts in their field of minimally invasive procedures to repair or replace your damaged heart valve or chamber wall.
We work in a collaborative team ensuring you get the best outcome available. Our minimally invasive procedures can mean a faster recovery time compared to traditional surgery, which can improve the control of your symptoms.
View information about the GenesisCare structural heart care in WA.
MBBS FRACP
Special clinical interest in transcatheter interventions for structural & valvular heart disease (mitraclip; TAVI etc) Transcatheter stroke...
Our WA structural heart service offers diagnosis and surveillance of your condition with cardiac imaging at a centre...