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Westmead Private Hospital unveils next stage in multi-million dollar upgrade

Feb 01, 2022

Sydney residents now have access to the latest technology in treating a range of heart conditions following a $2.4 million upgrade of Westmead Private Hospital’s two cardiac catheter laboratories.

The existing labs have been replaced with two Philips Bi-Plane Azurion 7 image guided therapy systems that are designed to allow for the simplification of complex coronary interventions, speed up routine procedures, and provide an improved level of patient care. Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death, responsible for more than a quarter of all deaths in Australia.

Cardiologist, Dr Lloyd Davis, said the new labs will allow for more streamlined patient care and a better patient experience.

“With the new cardiac catheter lab and angiography suites our team will be able to diagnose and treat a range of cardiac, interventional neuroradiology and endovascular conditions,” Dr Davis said.

“During cardiac catheterisation, a long thin tube is inserted in an artery or vein in the patient’s groin, neck or arm and threaded through blood vessels to the heart. Our doctors can then determine if there are any blockages in the arteries or heart under direct x-ray vision.

“The new labs will also be used for stenting and balloon angioplasty and can also be used for procedures to treat arrhythmias and some types of congenital structural heart disease.”

Westmead Private Hospital CEO, Mike Flatley, said hundreds of patients will be able to access the new cardiac catheter laboratory each year.

“Last year we treated more than 1,600 patients with cardiovascular and neurological conditions, a 30 per cent increase on the previous year. The new lab is part of our commitment to investing in the latest technology to help our surgeons and medical teams provide high-quality cardiac services to patients,” Mr Flatley said.