Skip to content
left end
left end
right end

Structural Heart Valve Team aims to provide a novel, comprehensive, easily-accessible online resource for patients, carers and healthcare professionals to improve knowledge of structural heart disorders, treatment options, referral processes and support networks.

 

The Team

Dr Mandie Townsend  -  Clinical Director & Consultant Cardiologist

Dr Mark Turner  -  Consultant Cardiologist

Dr Stephen Dorman  -  Consultant Cardiologist

Mr Franco Ciulli  -  Consultant Cardiac Surgeon

Mr Cha Rajakaruna   -  Consultant Cardiac Surgeon

Mr Mark Yeatman   -  Consultant Cardiac Surgeon

Toni Dorrington  -  Structural Heart Valve Disease Clinical Nurse Specialist

Caron Finn  -  Structural Heart Valve Disease Coordinator

 

Procedures, diagnostics and tests carried out at Bristol Heart Institute

ECG

An electrocardiogram (ECG) is used to record the electrical activity that accompanies each stage of a heartbeat. This tracing is useful in diagnosing many heart conditions. It requires placement of electrodes connected by stickers to the skin of the chest. During an ECG, the patient should not feel any pain or discomfort.

CT

Computerised tomography (CT). This is a key screening test using X ray to assess your suitability for TAVI procedure. A CT scan produces multiple images of the heart from different angles, which the doctor can then see on a computer screen.

MAYBE an image of a CT Aorta  would be good

Coronary angiogram

This is when a small tube is inserted into your radial or femoral artery and images are taken of your heart arteries. The main purpose is to assess the state of your coronary arteries.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI)

You have been diagnosed with a condition called aortic stenosis - narrowing of the aortic valve. Your cardiologist has decided that you may benefit from having your valve replaced.

Conventionally, aortic valve replacement was performed using open heart surgery. However, increasingly, a more minimally invasive approach is recommended in patients who have an increased operative risk. This new method of treatment is called transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).

The heart team at the Bristol Heart Institute (a cardiologist and cardiothoracic surgeon) have discussed your case and recommended TAVI rather than conventional open heart surgery.

 

Mitraclip

The MitraClip is indicated for the percutaneous reduction of  significant symptomatic mitral regurgitation (MR) due to primary  abnormality of the mitral apparatus ( degenerative MR. The team includes a cardiac surgeon experienced in mitral valve surgery and a cardiologist experienced in mitral valve disease.

The MitraClip system is a catheter-based device which can reduce mitral regurgitation without the need for open heart surgery. It is indicated for use in patients who are at unacceptably risk from conventional mitral valve repair or replacement.

 ?? images of Mitraclip and link to video ?

 

Paravalvular leak  closure

Paravalvular regurgitation affects some patients after implanted prosthetic heart valves. Tran-Oesophageal echocardiographic imaging is key for characterising the defect location, size, and shape of regurgitant valve.