This October, The Wesley Hospital is proud to celebrate 10 years since its first Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) - a revolutionary procedure which has benefited more than 900 patients in the decade since.

Wesley interventional cardiologists Associate Professor Anthony Camuglia, Dr Tony Rafter and Dr Stephen Cox were the first to perform the ground-breaking procedure in October 2015, with the support of The Wesley’s Cardiac Catheter Theatre team and many other specialists on hand to back the successful launch.

For patients diagnosed with aortic stenosis, a condition which causes narrowing of the aortic heart valve, the minimally invasive technique provides an alternative to open-heart surgery.

For these patients, the procedure can help to improve their quality of life and often debilitating symptoms of the condition including shortness of breath and reduced mobility.

Launching the program at the time was no small feat and took hundreds of hours of planning and teamwork to deliver the complex new procedure.

Fast forward to today and the TAVI procedure is now an everyday part of The Wesley’s Structural Heart Program.

Wesley General Manager, Jason Burton, said the TAVI procedure has become a cornerstone of interventional cardiac care, helping to improve outcomes for patients with severe aortic stenosis. 

“It’s amazing to reflect on the many patients who have benefited from having access to this procedure, especially those whose treatment options would have been limited only a decade ago,” Jason said.

“I’d like to congratulate and thank our Wesley cardiac specialists, team, and all those who have, and continue to contribute to ensuring we are able to provide the latest and most advanced cardiac care for our patients.

“This milestone is a testament to the dedication of our team who continue to be driven by that same spirit of collaboration and innovation that made this advancement possible for our patients,” he said.

About The Wesley’s Structural Heart Program

The Wesley Hospital’s advanced Structural Heart Program is led by expert cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, imaging specialists and cardiac nurses, working collaboratively to provide comprehensive care.

The Wesley Hospital is a nationally accredited centre for MitraClip, TriClip and Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement/Implant (TAVR/I) procedures. It also serves as a training, clinical trial and research centre, offering cutting-edge technology and personalised care through its multidisciplinary heart team.

Interventional cardiologists Dr Peter Moore, Dr Sam Hayman, Associate Professor Anthony Camuglia, Professor Kuljit Singh, and cardiothoracic surgeon Dr Chris Cole, all currently provide the TAVI procedure at The Wesley.