Cardiothoracic Surgery

Cardiothoracic Surgery provides a comprehensive service for all adult Cardiac, Aortic and lung conditions excluding Transplantation. The service aims to utilise minimally invasive approaches to surgery where ever possible. Mortality, morbidity and Length of stay data demonstrate high achievement and standard when benchmarked to other units in Australia.

The Aortic Clinic provides surveillance for patients with aortopathies and continuing follow-up for patients who have been operated. There is a close working relationship with vascular surgery, ensuring provision of treatment to the entire aorta in cases of aortic dissection. In addition, the team offer valve sparing aortic root replacement which changes the paradigm of when to offer surgical treatment in patients with dilated aortic roots.

Cardiac and thoracic surgery has also been extended and offered to patients from the northern parts of the East Metropolitan Region who are referred from Royal Perth Hospital and Midland Hospital.

Transcutaneous Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) is also conducted, in association with the Cardiology Department.

Thoracic Surgery is almost exclusively performed with minimal access VAT techniques. This allows surgery to be performed on more marginal operative candidates and speeds recovery.

The Department has one full-time and three sessional Surgeons.