About the Structural Heart Program
The Knox Private Structural Heart Program was launched in 2020 to include the addition of minimally invasive heart procedures such as Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI).
The Knox Structural Heart Program is led by Dr Ronen Gurvitch, Cardiologist specialising in Coronary & Structural Heart Intervention.
Structural heart procedures offered at Knox Private Hospital include:
- Patent foramen ovale closure (PFO),
- Atrial septal defect (ASD),
- Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion or Closure, aswell as
- TAVI (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation).
Dr Gurvitch is supported by the skills of the most experienced interventional cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, general cardiologists, intensivists, anaesthetists and medical physicians in Victoria.
The Structural Heart Program is an extension of an already comprehensive list of cardiac services Knox provides to the community.
With two cardiac catheterisation laboratories, state of the art theatres including hybrid theatre to support major cardiac surgery as well as a 24-hour emergency department that has access to specialist doctors and facilities around the clock.
The Aortic valve and Aortic stenosis
The aortic valve is one of the four valves in your heart. The primary function of the heart valves is to maintain blood flow in one direction. The aortic valve opens and closes allowing blood to flow from the main pumping chamber of the heart (Left Ventricle) to the rest of your body.
Aortic stenosis is the condition whereby the aortic valve narrows restricting the blood flow. As we age, calcium can build up on the valve leaflets, making the valve thicker and more rigid. The narrowing of the aortic valve reduces blood supply to the rest of the body as well as puts a strain on the heart.
Symptoms of aortic stenosis include:
- Shortness of breath,
- Fatigue,
- Difficulty walking short distances,
- Light headedness, dizziness, fainting,
- Swollen ankles and feet,
- Rapid heartbeat and
- Chest pain.
If you experience any of the above, please visit a General Practitioner, Cardiologist or call 000.
About TAVI
What is TAVI?
During a TAVI procedure, a new artificial valve is implanted within the diseased aortic valve using a catheter-based approach, typically through the femoral artery in the groin or, less commonly, through other access sites such as the chest or the apex of the heart. The procedure is usually performed under local anaesthesia with sedation or general anaesthesia.
TAVI is only available at a select few hospitals across Australia with Knox Private Hospital being the only private hospital in Melbourne’s east to offer this treatment option.
Who is eligible for TAVI?
Patients who have severe aortic stenosis or experiencing symptoms caused by impaired functioning of the aortic valve may be recommended to have a TAVI procedure.
Patients should speak with their GP first and if deemed appropriate, can be referred to see a Knox Cardiologist.
The Knox cardiac team work together to assess patients and determine whether a TAVI procedure is suitable. This is done on a case-by-case basis with the Structural Heart Program coordinator.
Referrer information
A GP referral is required.
When to refer
The first instance is often the identification of a murmur during clinical examination. A referral is then made to a cardiologist or a cardiac diagnostic service.
Commonly used diagnostic tests include:
- Echocardiogram | Electrocardiogram | Coronary Angiography | CT scan
Cardiac consultations and diagnostic tests are conducted by:
- Cardiologist at Knox Private Hospital
- The Knox Heart Centre - Download referral Cardiac Diagnostic tests. Located on level 1 of Knox Private Hospital.
- Lumus radiology - CT scan. Located on level G at Knox Private Hospital
Questions?
Call the Knox Private Hospital Structural Heart Program Coordinator Ph: 0484 636 995.
