This is a technique using a contrast medium to outline blood vessels. The procedure may be done in a variety of ways, depending on the indications. Examples include coronary angiography, performed in the cardiac catheterisation laboratory, by an interventional cardiologist to examine the heart for blockages; peripheral angiography, done by a vascular surgeon also performed in a cardiac catheterisation laboratory, to look for blockages in the arteries to the lower limbs and CT angiography, performed by a radiologist in the X-ray department to look at a number of different organ systems.

Stenting involves stretching a narrowed area of the artery with a small cylindrical balloon. Once the narrowing has been stretched a stent is inserted (a fine mesh cylinder usually of stainless steel) that supports that part of the artery.

From stress echo cardiograph (an ultrasound test to measure how well your heart is pumping while using a treadmill) through to sleep apnoea testing, Transthoracic Echocardiogram, Trans Oesophegeal Echocardiogram, ECG monitoring via Loop Recorders and or Holter Monitors.

A minimally invasive procedure that assesses the electrical activity and conduction pathways of the heart.

A medical procedure in which part of the electrical conduction system of the heart, tumour or other dysfunctional tissue is ablated using the heat generated from high frequency alternating current.

A treatment for atrial fibrillation - an abnormal heart rhythm that originates in the upper chambers of the heart.

A medical device that uses electrical impulses, delivered by electrodes that contract heart muscles, to regulate the heart beat.

A small, battery-powered electrical impulse generator that is implanted in patients who are at risk of sudden cardiac death due to ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia.

MitraClip is a minimally invasive procedure performed through the leg vein for patients with a leaking mitral valve (mitral valve regurgitation) – offering an alternative to open heart surgery.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) was developed in the attempt to devise a less invasive, less risky approach to replacing diseased aortic valves. In TAVI, an artificial aortic valve is implanted by means of a sophisticated catheterisation procedure.

Patent Foramen Ovale and Atrial Septal Defect (hole in the heart) – Via a small incision in the groin, a cardiac catheter (a long, thin, flexible, hollow tube) is positioned into the heart. The Closure device will be deployed under Transoesophageal Echocardiogram guidance while the patient is under a General Anaesthetic. The device will provide for the heart to grow over and close the PFO/ASD

Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device is implanted at the opening of the left atrial appendage and is intended to prevent left atrial appendage blood clots from entering the patient’s blood stream and potentially causing a stroke.

Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery restores blood flow to the heart muscle by adding a graft (vein or artery) to bypass the blocked area. The procedure may be done with the help of the heart-lung machine, or without ("off-pump") depending on the patient's circumstances and the surgeon's approach.

This is an operation to repair or replace one of the four valves inside the heart. Sometimes these valves may become narrowed, causing obstruction to blood flow, or the valve may leak causing the blood to flow backwards within the heart which affects the efficiency of the heart's function.

A minimally invasive video-assisted technique to examine the lungs and interior of the chest. Some procedures including pleurodesis, lung biopsy and lung resection may be performed using the technique.

This operation removes the diseased part of the lung.

A radical surgical procedure that involves the removal of the whole lung, usually to remove tumorous tissue.

Treatment for a collapsed lung.

A thymectomy is an operation to remove the thymus. It usually results in remission of myasthenia gravis with the help of medication including steroids. However, this remission may not be permanent.

VATS is a minimally invasive technique that uses small incisions and eliminates the need to spread the ribs. During VATS, the surgery is performed through a one-inch incision and is aided by a miniature camera inserted through one of the three 1/4 to 1/2" incisions. The VATS approach may have significantly less pain than a large thoracotomy along with a reduced hospitalisation period. Patients usually do not require a stay in the intensive care unit.