Pioneering Surgery

ExtraLife's consultant cardiologists are at the forefront of pioneering cardiovascular treatments including:

Hole in the heart closure (PFO closure)

PFO (Patent Foramen Ovale) closure is a procedure where a hole in the wall between the two upper chambers of the heart is closed. 

Cardiac Resynchronisation Therapy (CRT)

CRT is a type of pacing.  In some patients with heart failure, an abnormality in the heart's electrical conducting system causes the two lower chambers to beat slightly out of sync which greatly reduces the efficiency of the ventricles.  CRT involves the implantation of a special pacing device that resynchronises the ventricles.

Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) implantation for permanent use

The LVAD is a small heart pump that assists the left ventricle to pump oxygenated blood around the body.  It is implanted directly into the left ventricle of the heart.

A small number of LVADs are currently used in the NHS for patients who are on the waiting list for a heart transplant (these are called 'bridge to transplant' devices) or for those patients whose heart needs to be rested following surgery (these are called 'bridge to recovery' devices).  In both cases, the LVAD is removed after a short period of time.

For those patients who aren't suitable for a heart transplant, the LVAD for permanent use may be an alternative.  This is not currently available on the NHS. 

Please click here to download a patient information brochure on the LVAD operation.

Please contact us if you would like further information on any of the above treatments.

Please click here to read Dr Mark Turner's article "I wouldn't have known I'd had a heart operation at all. It's quite incredible!" Heart valve replacement without open heart surgery - now a reality