MOUNT ELIZABETH HOSPITALS

At Mount Elizabeth Hospitals , we have one of the region ’ s highest concentrations of experienced heart specialists who have been trained at established medical institutions worldwide . Many subspecialise in their areas of expertise and interests , such as interventional , structural interventional , electrophysiology , and heart failure , among others . Such a diverse breadth of speciality affords patients greater confidence in the care they receive .

With two locations across Singapore ( Orchard and Novena ), Mount Elizabeth has a long history of innovations and treatments , with specialists supported by a team of specially-trained nursing staff . This provides a legacy of world-class patient care and positive clinical outcomes .

Our facilities are equipped with the latest technologies , so our heart patients get quality specialist treatment . For example , Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital is fitted with a purpose-built hybrid operating theatre that enables collaboration between surgeons and interventional cardiologists .

Some examples of our advanced treatment procedures include :

Cardiac electrophysiology procedures such as catheter ablation , a minimally invasive procedure to control or eliminate irregular heartbeats , are performed using a thin catheter with electrodes . These are carefully inserted into a patient ’ s blood vessels while a 3D mapping system that identifies and guides the catheter to the exact site in the heart causing the irregular heartbeats .

Dr Ravi Shrestha & Mr Yong Yih Ming

Left ventricular assist devices ( LVADs ) improve survival and quality of life in patients with advanced heart failure . Mount Elizabeth Hospitals are among the few private hospitals in the region to offer LVAD , a state-ofthe-art artificial heart pump that helps increase blood flow to the body , improving organ function and relieving the disabling symptoms of congestive heart failure .

Our structural interventional cardiologists are also among the first in Singapore to be formally trained in transcatheter aortic valve replacement implantation ( TAVI ). TAVI is a minimally-invasive procedure for treating severe aortic stenosis ( AS ), a narrowing of the aortic valve opening which restricts blood flow . If left untreated , the survival rate for severe AS is 50 percent within two years .

With TAVI , an aortic valve is implanted through a very small incision made in the groin , avoiding the need for open-heart surgery . A minimally invasive heart surgery like TAVI may involve a shorter hospital stay , quicker recovery , and significantly less pain and trauma than traditional openheart surgery .

In December 2021 , the Impella heart pump was introduced at Mount Elizabeth . A tiny heart pump – one of the smallest in the world – it sustains blood pressure and protects the body ’ s vital organs during heart procedures , making high-risk heart procedures safer by functioning as a ‘ backup heart ’. It supports the circulation of blood around the body and allows our specialists to carry out various procedures safely .

Cardiologists at Mount Elizabeth Hospitals are part of an integrated , multidisciplinary group . Its cardiovascular team collaborates with experts in many specialities to provide comprehensive care , such as with doctors trained in surgery , radiology , respiratory , neurology , and other disciplines .

Having all this expertise in a single place means that care happens under one roof and among the patient ’ s care team of specialists . Test results are also available quickly , and appointments can be scheduled in a timely manner . We recognise that speed is of the essence , and our efficiency means that patients can worry less about their condition and focus on treatment and recovery .

58 SEPTEMBER 2022 GlobalHealthAsiaPacific . com