Cardiology

We're one of the leading advanced cardiac imaging centres in the country. Our imaging department contains the very latest diagnostic equipment including:

• Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR)
• Cardiac computed tomography (CT)
• Myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS)

This technology helps our clinicians make accurate diagnoses and surgical plans.

We also provide physical measurement investigations such as ECGs (electrocardiograms), echocardiograms, exercise tolerance tests, seven day event recorders, 24 hour blood pressure monitoring and 24 hour tape monitoring.

We use all these techniques to aid diagnosis and monitor the treatment of conditions including ischaemic heart disease, arrhythmias, heart failure, hypertension, valvular heart disease and heart muscle disease.

Discover more about cardiac imaging at the Barts Heart Centre.

Our electrophysiology team specialises in diagnosing and treating electrical conduction diseases of the heart. Treatments include:

• Pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) – to protect the heart and manage abnormal heart rhythms
• Biventricular devices – to improve heart failure symptoms
• Left atrial occlusion devices – to reduce stroke risk in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) who cannot take blood-thinning medication

Heart rhythm treatments

We are the only centre in the UK offering 24/7 emergency heart rhythm treatments, including:

• Permanent pacemaker implantation
• Catheter ablation – a non-surgical procedure to treat irregular heart rhythms like atrial fibrillation (AF) and life-threatening ventricular tachycardia using advanced cardiac mapping systems

We pioneered the catheter ablation procedure for atrial fibrillation and now perform around 400 ablations every year.

Find out more about cardiac monitoring and devices.

For electrophysiology appointments, call 0208 154 9223.

Our interventional cardiology team uses imaging techniques to guide catheters and other devices into the heart and blood vessels to diagnose and treat heart conditions.

Coronary angiography

A minimally invasive procedure that uses a catheter to examine the coronary arteries via the wrist (radial artery) or groin (femoral artery).

Coronary angioplasty

A procedure to treat narrowed arteries by inflating a tiny balloon and inserting a stent to keep the artery open.

Transcatheter aortic valve peplacement (TAVI)

Aortic stenosis occurs when the aortic valve becomes thickened and stiffened, restricting blood flow and causing breathlessness and heart failure.

TAVI allows the valve to be replaced via a keyhole procedure, which is ideal for elderly or frail patients who may not tolerate open-heart surgery.

Find out more about our heart valve service.

For interventional cardiology appointments, call 0203 765 8638.

We provide seamless care for adults born with heart disease, working closely with Great Ormond Street Hospital through a well-established transition programme. As an NHS England-designated Level 1 specialist centre, we offer:

• Catheter-based diagnosis and keyhole valve procedures
• Heart failure management with transplant links
• Rhythm treatments including ablation and implants
• Heart surgery and inherited aortopathy care
• Pulmonary hypertension therapies
• Specialist imaging and pregnancy care

Learn more about GUCH services.

Our dedicated Heart Attack Centre provides emergency care 24/7 with rapid access to a specialist team and state-of-the-art equipment.

Ambulance crews are trained to bring patients directly to our centre, even if other hospitals are closer, to ensure the fastest and most effective treatment.

Diseases affecting the heart muscle can be inherited (genetic) or acquired (e.g., from an infection).

Our heart muscle team offers a range of therapies, from medication to surgery, including:

• Alcohol septal ablation – a minimally invasive treatment for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
• We are a leading centre for cardiomyopathy care, attracting patients from across the UK.

Find out more about our inherited cardiovascular conditions service.

For cardiomyopathy appointments, call 0207 480 4843.