Structural heart disease refers to problems with the heart’s valves, walls, or chambers that affect how blood flows through the heart. Traditionally, treating structural heart disease required open-heart surgery. Today, many of these conditions can be treated using catheter-based (transcatheter) techniques – offering effective treatment with shorter recovery times.
The Heart Team Approach
Deciding the best treatment for structural heart disease requires careful evaluation. At Central Sydney Cardiology, we work within a multidisciplinary Heart Team that includes interventional cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, imaging specialists, and anaesthetists. Together, we review each patient’s condition and recommend the most appropriate treatment.
Available Procedures
TAVI (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation)
Replacement of a diseased aortic valve using a catheter-delivered valve, without open-heart surgery. TAVI is the treatment of choice for many patients with severe aortic stenosis. [Read more about TAVI →]
Valve-in-Valve Procedures
When a previously implanted surgical bioprosthetic valve deteriorates, a new transcatheter valve can often be implanted inside the failing valve.
Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair (TEER)
This procedure treats mitral and tricuspid regurgitation by clipping the valve leaflets together to reduce backward blood flow.
Left Atrial Appendage (LAA) Closure
LAA closure (using devices such as Amulet) seals off the area where clots commonly form in atrial fibrillation, reducing stroke risk without requiring long-term blood thinners.
PFO and ASD Closure
Catheter-based closure of holes between the upper chambers of the heart using an occluder device.
Related: Heart Valve Disease | Aortic Disease