Our specialist services

Providing integrated care with a focus on lifestyle modification.

Atrial fibrillation often causes symptoms such as palpitations, dizziness, breathlessness and fatigue, which can significantly limit an active lifestyle. The aim for management of these symptoms is to maintain a normal heart rhythm.

There are a variety of medical interventions that a cardiologist may prescribe or recommend for this. However, there is a growing body of scientific evidence that has proven that active modification of lifestyle has a similar — or perhaps greater — impact on symptom reduction. MQ Health offers this integrated care for the first time in NSW.

Why choose MQ Health Atrial Fibrillation Clinic?

Our clinic provides integrated care with a focus on lifestyle modification to decrease the impact of atrial fibrillation. This can include:

• weight loss
• a structured exercise program
• alcohol advice
• management of other risk factors.

This evidence-based clinical practice is provided in a specialist, multi-disciplinary approach by direct involvement of allied health professionals, alongside a cardiologist with expertise in arrhythmia management.

Patients will receive a two-hour consultation that includes:

• an assessment with a clinical nurse consultant
• the opportunity to talk with a dietitian
• engagement with an exercise physiologist
• development of an individualised management plan with a consultant cardiologist.

Our team

• Associate Professor Hari Raju, cardiologist and electrophysiologist
• Dr Chrishan Nalliah, cardiologist and electrophysiologist
• Mareen Maladda, clinical nurse consultant
• Joanna Jaques, exercise physiologist
• Phoebe Starling, dietitian

The team at MQ Health Cardiology has extensive experience diagnosing and treating patients with pulmonary hypertension. Our specialists are also actively involved in research, keeping up-to-date with the latest developments and treatment techniques to provide the best possible care.

Pulmonary hypertension is a form of high blood pressure affecting the arteries in the lungs and the right side of the heart. Early diagnosis and treatment reduces symptoms, so it’s important to get tested and treated as soon as possible.

Our treatment approach

If you have been diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension, your specialist team will develop an ongoing treatment plan for you. This plan can include regular testing, medication or procedures, depending on the severity of your condition.

As an MQ Health Cardiology patient, you will attend regular appointments and your treatment plan will be monitored and adjusted as necessary. Your medical team will liaise with your General Practitioner or other healthcare provider as necessary.

Your doctors will also help you learn about your pulmonary hypertension and give you instructions on what to do in an emergency.

The team will give you tools and resources to help you manage your condition, prevent complications and live a healthy, fulfilling life.

Our team

• Associate Professor Martin Brown, cardiologist
• Dr Benjamin Ng, respiratory and sleep physician
• Associate Professor Fred Joshua, rheumatologist

• Associate Professor Vivek Thakkar, rheumatologist

MQ Health's TAVI clinic brings together all TAVI specialists under the one roof. Patients are assessed at the same time by a range of specialists, saving time and reducing stress for elderly or very sick patients.

Importantly, in addition to being reviewed by a clinical nurse manager, each patient is seen by both a cardiologist and cardiothoracic surgeon, receiving a balanced view of their case and the best possible treatment options.

Geriatricians, physiotherapists, intensive care specialists, anaesthetists and other support staff also become part of a patient’s multidisciplinary team once they proceed to surgery. All services are available to our patients in a single hospital location, making the experience as convenient and seamless as possible.

MQ Health's TAVI program features:

• First comprehensive TAVI program in the Southern Hemisphere.
• Multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach allowing comprehensive review and ongoing care.
• One of the most experienced structural heart teams, having completed more than 300 TAVI procedures to date.
• Hybrid Operating Suite for both traditional and minimally invasive procedures.
• Ability to perform unique combinations of procedures tailored to an individual patient’s condition.
• Outstanding results, with 93 per cent of TAVI patients alive and independent after 12 months.
• Outstanding ICU and other post-surgery support services.

In the coming years, TAVI will become the norm for treating aortic stenosis, not just for the elderly but for people of all ages.

Our team

• Professor Martin Ng, Interventional Cardiologist
• Professor Michael Wilson, Cardiothoracic Surgeon
• Ms Mareen Maladda, clinical nurse consultant
• Ms Morgan Smith, clinical nurse consultant

Contact us:

TAVI program

T: 0491 215 002