Wakefield Heart Centre is a specialist cardiac centre.
Here we investigate and manage people in our care with heart and lung diseases, with our mission being to provide a comprehensive high quality cardiac service in a private setting.
Cardiology consultations
Diagnostic investigation and treatment procedures (invasive and non-invasive)
Cardiothoracic surgery
An electrocardiogram records the electrical signals in the heart. It’s a common and painless test used to quickly detect heart problems and monitor the heart’s health.
An electrocardiogram (ECG) is often done in a health care provider’s office, a clinic or a hospital room.
An electrocardiogram is a painless, noninvasive way to help diagnose many common heart problems. A health care provider might use an electrocardiogram to determine or detect:
You may need an ECG if you have any of the following signs and symptoms:
A Treadmill ECG test is when you walk on a treadmill, while your heart is being monitored. It is also called an exercise ECG (or EKG). This test enables your cardiologist to see changes in how your heart works while you exercise. This test is also known as a “stress test” or a “treadmill test.”
Your GP may refer you for this test because some ECG abnormalities can only be seen during exercise, or while you are having symptoms.
The Treadmill Exercise test takes around 20 minutes, including the initial resting ECG.
As you will be walking on a treadmill for up to 15 minutes, it is advisable to wear comfortable shoes, and exercise clothing if this is convenient. It is helpful if you do not use body lotion/oil before your treadmill ECG.
An Echocardiogram (“echo”) is a type of ultrasound test that uses high-pitched sound waves that are sent through a device called a transducer. The device picks up echoes of the sound waves as they bounce off the different parts of your heart. These sound waves are then converted into images which your Doctor or Sonographer can see, on a console right next to you. These images are recorded, analysed, and reported.
In the Cardiology context, this means you will be having an ultrasound of your heart.
You will not be able to hear or feel the sound waves bouncing off the different parts of your heart.
Your GP may refer you for this test to provide more information about the structure and function of your heart.
An Echocardiogram takes around 60 minutes.
The Cardiologist or Cardiac Sonographer will apply ultrasound gel to your chest area, this may feel cool. The ultrasound probe will be pressed firmly to your ribs, but it should not be painful.
An echocardiogram is a non-invasive procedure.
Coronary angioplasty is a procedure wherein narrowing or blockages in the coronary arteries are repaired using very small stents and balloons.
Your Cardiologist will be inflating very small balloons inside the narrowed artery, to enable the stent to be positioned. These inflations are generally very brief (5 – 30 seconds) and it is possible that you may experience some chest pain (angina), chest tightness or heaviness, while this is happening. This discomfort is often transient.
This can take an additional hour or so.
Alternatively, an angioplasty/stenting procedure may be scheduled for a later date, or coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) may be recommended.
Stents are metal mesh tubes. They are used to open a narrowed or blocked artery and increase blood flow to the heart muscle. They act as an internal support framework to hold the artery open by continuing to press the plaque back into the inside of the artery wall.
You will need to stay in hospital for at least 6 hours after your angioplasty, possibly overnight.
This surgery is performed to relieve angina symptoms by improving the blood flow to the heart muscle. This can result in better quality of life, with angina reduced or entirely relieved.
Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery is an operation that bypasses a narrowed or block part of a coronary artery using a graft. The graft is a section of vein or artery which is either taken from the leg (saphenous vein), the chest wall (the internal mammary artery) or the forearm (radial artery). It is quite normal to need two, three or four grafts (“double,” “triple,” or “quadruple” bypass surgery).
You are usually admitted to hospital the day before your surgery. You will meet with your surgeon and anaesthetist who will explain the operation to you and answer any questions you may have.
You will have some blood tests, and an ECG. Any hair around the operation site will be clipped or shaved, including your chest, legs and possibly arms. You may also be required to shower using antibacterial solutions.
You will wake up in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) or High Dependency Unit (HDU). You will be monitored closely by our Wakefield Hospital nursing staff.
It is normal to wake up with a breathing tube in your throat. Once you are awake enough, the tube will be removed and you will wear an oxygen mask or nasal prongs instead, to improve your breathing. Most people do not remember having a breathing tube.
The ICU/HDU machines that are monitoring your heart and condition can be noisy. You may also notice tubes in your neck, arms, chest and bladder. This is usual following surgery. It is normal to feel very sleepy and to sleep a lot for the first few days. You may not even remember your stay in ICU/HDU. This is normal.
You will be returned to the ward once you are able to be transferred.
Usually for five – seven days after your surgery.