Heart and Lung Centre
Heart and Lung Centre
The multi-disciplinary team at the UCTPAH Heart and Lung Centre collaborates to offer solutions to even the most challenging of cases, including complex interventional pulmonology procedures and cardiorespiratory surgery.
A wide range of cardiac electrophysiological procedures is performed at the centre, including complex ablations for arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia, as well as implantation of medical devices including pacemakers, implantable cardioverter defibrillators and biventricular pacemakers.
The centre is also equipped to offer advanced treatment for heart failure and benefits from the expertise of one of only two specialists in the country who have done a fellowship in the management of adult congenital heart disease. In addition, the heart centre is one of few units in South Africa that, through the close collaboration of cardiologists and cardiac surgeons, is able to perform specific interventional cardiac procedures such as complex percutaneous coronary intervention, transaortic valve implantation [TAVI], other structural cardiac device-based therapies and minimally invasive mitral valve repair.
Another important service available at the centre is endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA). This represents a less invasive technique for initial investigation of mediastinal lymphadenopathy, or enlarged lymph nodes deep within the thoracic cavity, thus obviating the need for surgery. Patients are discharged the same day. A specialised service for the management of cystic fibrosis in adult patients is also offered at the centre.
The UCTPAH Lung and Heart Centre is the only facility in Africa to offer a minimally invasive bronchoscopic procedure known as bronchial thermoplasty, which can significantly improve quality of life for adults with severe asthma that cannot be effectively controlled with medication.
Doctors at the Heart and Lung Centre
- Professor Keertan Dheda
- Professor Ashley Chin
- Dr Blanche Cupido
- Prof Sipho Dlamini
- Dr Greg Calligaro
- Dr Greg Symons
- Dr Phendile Jina