Our specialist services

Macquarie University Health’s Valve and Structural Heart Clinic provides coordinated, evidence‑based care for patients with structural heart disease. Our multidisciplinary model brings together specialist clinicians in one location, ensuring streamlined assessments, efficient decision making, and a seamless experience for both patients and referring practitioners.

We offer comprehensive evaluation for the full range of transcatheter and surgical treatment options, including:

• transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI)
• mitral and tricuspid edge-to-edge repair (TEER)
• surgical valve repair and replacement
• novel therapies for mitral and tricuspid valvular heart disease
• left atrial appendage closure
• atrial septal defect (ASD) and patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure.

A multidisciplinary approach to care

Every patient attending the clinic is assessed by a team that includes:

• cardiothoracic surgeons
• structural imaging cardiologists
• structural interventional cardiologists
• structural heart clinical nurse consultants.

Depending on the proposed treatment pathway, particularly for patients proceeding to TAVI, additional specialists may become involved, such as geriatricians, physiotherapists, anaesthetists, intensive care clinicians and rehabilitation experts. This broad team ensures each patient receives a balanced, comprehensive assessment and an individualised treatment plan.

Necessary investigations are performed ahead of the clinic visit, enabling timely decisions and personalised education during the appointment. All cases are reviewed at a same day multidisciplinary team meeting, and outcomes are promptly communicated to both patients and referrers.

Macquarie University Health’s TAVI program

As part of our structural heart service, Macquarie University Health hosts one of the most experienced TAVI programs in the region. The clinic brings all TAVI specialists together so patients, particularly those who are elderly or medically complex, can be assessed efficiently and with minimal stress.

Key features of our TAVI program include:

• capability to perform complex or combined valve interventions tailored to an individual patient
• hybrid operating suite designed for both traditional and minimally invasive valve procedures
• integrated CCU and post‑procedure support services within a single hospital location
• more than 1000 TAVI procedures completed to date
• multidisciplinary team model providing balanced cardiology and surgical assessment.

As technology evolves, TAVI is rapidly becoming the standard of care for severe aortic stenosis, not only for older adults but increasingly for patients across a broader age spectrum.

How to refer

Email referral to: cardiology@mqhealth.org.au

The team at Macquarie University 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 Macquarie University 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

• Dr Katrina Adorini, cardiologist
• Associate Professor Martin Brown, cardiologist
• Associate Professor Fred Joshua, rheumatologist
• Dr Amy McLean, respiratory and sleep physician
• Dr Benjamin Ng, respiratory and sleep physician
• Associate Professor Vivek Thakkar, rheumatologist