Our Services:

Emergency Management of a Heart Attack

Immediate medical treatment for patients experiencing a suspected heart attack is essential. A heart attack happens when blood flow in a coronary artery to the heart muscle is blocked. This is a life-threatening situation and medical treatment is urgently needed at this time.

In this urgent situation, the facilities on the North Shore campus enable North Shore Private Hospital direct access to emergency diagnostic and treatment services around the clock. Your treatment is our first priority and, in this unique integration of acute cardiac services, all patients benefit from the collocated cardiac unit available at North Shore Private Hospital and Royal North Shore.  

What is an Angiogram?

Your angiogram will provide valuable information for the ongoing management of your health. An angiogram is the procedure of introducing a fine plastic tube (catheter) into an artery and then injecting a dye into the bloodstream. The x-ray pictures taken during this procedure are used to provide information to your doctor regarding the arteries to your heart. Most angiograms are performed using a local anaesthetic.

Your cardiologist will then tell you if your coronary arteries are blocked or narrowed, and can then advise you of your treatment options.

Interventional Services - Angioplasty and Stenting

Blood flow to a narrowed area of your artery may be improved by stretching open the narrowing with a small cylindrical balloon. The balloon is position across the narrowed area of the artery, and when inflated the balloon stretches the artery wall and compresses the fatty plaque/ cholesterol.

Once the narrowing has been widened, a stent is usually inserted. A stent is a very fine mesh cylinder usually composed of stainless steel or cobalt. The stent then acts as a metal scaffolding to support that section or artery, Once the stent has been positioned, it cannot be moved or removed and over time the stent will become embedded in the artery wall.

Following a PTCA/stenting procedure, it is current practice for most patients to remain monitored in hospital overnight.

At all times, please do not hesitate to ask questions about your procedure or your hospitalisation. Not all coronary artery narrowings are suitable for angioplasty. Some lesions (narrowings) diagnosed during angiography may best be treated medically and others may best be treated surgically, that is, by coronary artery bypass grafting. Your doctor will discuss treatment options with you and explain the reasons for his/her recommendations.