Services | Hong Kong Asia Heart Centre

The ECG is used to assess heart function. Patient whose complains of chest pain or shortness of breath will often have an ECG as one of the first tests to help determine if there is an acute myocardial infarction or heart attack present. Even if there is no heart attack, the ECG can help decide whether the pain is due to angina or narrowing of blood vessels to the heart muscle (atherosclerosis). It is important to realize that an initial ECG may be normal even if there is heart disease present. Serial ECGs may be needed over time to find abnormality.Suitability:This investigation is suitable for all of you.Proccess:We will first ask you to lie flat on the examination bed and roll up your top above your chest.Before the examination, the nurse will stick some electrodes over your chest area, your hands and feet.You need to lie still and not to talk, breath normally and relax during ECG recording. This may help us to obtain an accurate record.Benefits:An electrocardiogram is a safe, painless test. There are no known risks associated with the ECG. The benefit of an ECG is that it helps your doctor better understand how your heart is working or how medications or a pacemaker affect your heart.Limitations:The ECG is a static picture, it may not reflect severe underlying heart problems at a time when the patient is not having any symptoms. The most common example of this is in a patient with a history of intermittent chest pain due to severe underlying coronary artery disease. This patient may have an entirely normal ECG at a time when he or she is not experiencing any symptoms. In such instances, the ECG recorded during an exercise stress test may reflect the underlying abnormalities while the ECG taken at rest may be normal.

This test helps doctors:Assess for heart disease, especially for diagnosing coronary heart diseasePhysical evaluation for patients with heart diseaseSuitability:It is suitable for everyone, unless the patient is having mobility impairment.Patients with chest pain during exercise, syncope or loss of consciousness.Proccess:When the test starts, you will be walking on the treadmill at a slow speed. Every 2 to 3 minutes you will have to walk faster and more uphill. The treadmill will stop if your heartbeat reaches a certain rate, if you become very short of breath, having chest pain or if the doctor sees a problem with the rhythm of your heart.Your doctor and nurse will closely monitor your ECG and blood pressure during the investigation.After you have walked on the treadmill, you will be monitored for 15 to 20 minutes. You need to stay in the test area before your blood pressure and the heart rate return to normal level.Charge:$2,700Benefits:Treadmill is generally considered safe, especially since it is done in a controlled environment under the supervision of a trained medical professional.\Risks:There are some rare risks, such as chest pain, collapsing, fainting, heart attack, irregular heartbeat. However, your risk of experiencing these reactions during the test is low, since your doctor will assess you before the test. People risked of these complications such as those with advanced coronary heart disease are rarely asked to do the test.Reference:Stuart RJ Jr, Ellestad MH. National survey of exercise stress testing facilities. Chest. 1980;77(1):94 97..

Echocardiography is an investigation that uses sound waves to produce live images of your heart. The image is an echocardiogram. For the 2D ultrasound, they provide flatter, two-dimensional, black and white image. Our Centre provide 4D ultrasound which is an actual moving three-dimensional image of your heart. This investigation allows your doctor to monitor how your heart and its valves are functioning.Your doctor may order an echocardiography for several reasons. For example, they may have discovered an abnormality from other testing or while listening to your heartbeat through astethoscope. If you have an irregular heartbeat, your doctor may want to inspect the heart valves or chambers or check your heart’s ability to pump. They may also order one if you’re showing signs of heart problems, such as chest pain or shortness of breath.This test helps doctors:Assess your heart structure.(such as chamber size and the heart valves)Evaluate your heart function.(such as valves stenosis, congenital heart defects or atrial tumors)Assess the pericardial status(to detect any abnormal fluid near your heart)Suitability:This investigation is suitable for all of you.Proccess:We will roll up your top above the chest and spread some gel over your chest.The doctor will press an USG probe(a plastic device)firmly against your skin over the chest. You may feel a little bit discomfort, but not painful at all.The nurse will dim the lights for the doctor to see a better image from the monitor.After the procedure, nurse will help you clear the gel from your chest.Under most circumstances, the procedure takes 10-20 minutes.You are not required to fast or stay in hospital overnight.Charge:2D Echocardiography $3,5004D Echocardiography $4,000Benefits:Ultrasound is painless, noninvasive, and involves no exposure to radiation. There are no associated risks.Risks:Echocardiogram is a safe, time saving and non-invasive procedure. With our advanced machine, most of the image of heart chambers can be clearly see and obtained.

A coronary CT angiogram (CCTA) is a comprehensive and non-invasive imaging test to check if the arteries in your heart are narrowed or blocked and evaluate their calcification’s level. Cardiologists refer to the test result to assess whether a PCI procedure is needed for a patient.

This test helps doctors:Assess your heart activityAssess any significant arrhythmiaAssess the effectiveness of prescribed medicationMonitor the function of pacemaker if patient has anySuitability:Patient who has history of arrhythmiaPatient who has symptoms such as dizziness, syncope, chest pain or shortness of breath followed by arrhythmiaPatient has history of loss of consciousness with unknown causeProccess:This battery-operated machine is used to record your heart rate and heart activity, with 7 electrode dots stick on your body.Under most circumstances, the procedure takes 10-20 minutes and you are not required to stay in hospital overnight.You are required to wear the holter machine and ask to keep a diary of any symptoms or discomfort experienced during the time the monitor is worn, so that the doctor can pay special attention to the recordings made at those times and determine whether the symptoms in question are related to the heart.You are required to come according to your appointment date for the wearing of the machine and come back on the next day to remove machine.Charge:$3,000Benefits:Holter is an easy carry machine, with a dimension in 70 mm x 63 mm x 18 mm, you can carry it on your shoulder. With this small box, you can have your daily activity as usual, without any influences to your daily life.Risks:Holter is an absolutely safe procedure, but beware not to take shower or splash an water over the machine, to avoid damage the machine or loosen of electrode dots, avoid other investigation such as X-rays, CT or MRI, and get away from magnetic devices or furniture. Also, redness, itchiness, allergic reaction may encountered with the electrode dots.

Kardia can capture a medical-grade ECG in a very short period, know instantly if your heart rhythm is normal or if atrial fibrillation is detected in your ECG. And you can relay it to your doctor to inform your diagnosis and treatment plan. It fits for personal heart insights.

This test helps doctors:Assess your blood pressure condition.Assess any abnormal blood pressure.Assess the effectiveness of prescribed medication.Proccess:You are required to wear a battery-operated machine for 24 hours.This machine is used to record your blood pressure periodically.Under most circumstances, the procedure takes 10-20 minutes and you are not required to stay in hospital overnight.You are required to come according to your appointment date for the wearing of the machine and come back on the next day for the dislodgement of the machine.Benefits:ABPM is an absolutely safe procedure but beware not to take shower or splash any water over the machine, to avoid damage the machine or loosen of electrode dots, avoid other investigation such as X-rays, CT or MRI.Risks:ABPM is an easy carry machine, you can have your daily activity as usual, without any influences to your daily life.

This test helps doctors:Determine the tolerance of the exercise in cardiac rehabilitationDetermine the effectiveness of different treatments such as angioplasty, and anti-anginal or antiarrhythmic medicationsSuitability:Basically this test is suitable for everyone, but if the patient has mobility difficulties, this test will not be applicablePeople who have experienced chest pain, sudden dizziness or even temporary loss of consciousness during exerciseProccess:Your doctor will perform a pre-exercise imaging with the echocardiography machine.You will be asked to walk on a motor driven treadmill with progressively increased speed and incline until you achieve a target heart rate (according to your age and medical condition), or develop significant electrocardiogram changes, symptoms or signs.Right after exercise, you will be asked to quickly lie on a stretcher, so that your doctor can acquire the necessary post-exercise images.Your doctor and nurse will closely monitor your ECG and blood pressure during the investigation.After the test, you will be monitored for 15 to 20 minutes. You need to stay in the test area before your blood pressure and the heart rate return to normal level.Benefits:This non-invasive procedure can discover the deadly disease, under medical staff monitoring with sufficient medical equipment.Risks:Although the procedure carries certain risks, but it helps the patient to prevent coronary heart disease, since patient may not have symptoms at rest.

Suitability:Patient who cannot exercise wellPatient who had history of chest pain, syncope or even loss of conscious during exerciseProccess:You will be asked to lie on a stretcher.Drugs (such as dobutamine) will be given intravenously as prescribed by the doctor.Echocardiographic images will be obtained.You will be under close observation continuously, especially your electrocardiogram and blood pressure to ensure safety.Drug infusion will be stopped after desired images are obtained, or when you develop signs and symptoms.Benefits:There are some rare risks, such as chest pain, collapsing, fainting, heart attack, irregular heartbeat. However, your risk of experiencing these reactions during the test is low, since your doctor will assess you before the test. People risked of these complications such as those with advanced coronary heart disease are rarely asked to do the test.Risks:Although the procedure carries certain risks, but it helps patient to prevent coronary heart disease, since patient may not have symptoms at rest.Reference:ACC/AHA Guideline Update for the Clinical Application of Echocardiography 2003.

Trans-esophageal echocardiography (TEE) aims at studying the structure and function of the heart. It is performed through introducing a probe of 1 cm in diameter through the mouth into the esophagus.The close position of the esophagus to the heart allows the TEE to obtain a better visualization of heart structures. It can study the structure and function of the heart accurately, and diagnose congenital heart disease, cardiac masses, infection of heart valves and aortic dissection.Suitability:This procedure is suitable for anyone, except those who have swallowing problem, and history of operation in pharynx or esophagus.Proccess:Blood pressure cuff, pulse oximeter and ECG leads will be connected. Your vital signs will be continuously monitored during the test.Denture must be removed.Right before the procedure, local anesthesia will be applied to the pharynx.You will be asked to lie in left lateral position.Low dose intravenous sedation may be given.The probe, which is at the tip of the endoscope, will be lubricated and slowly introduced into your esophagus with the assistance of the physician and your swallowing motion.The study takes around 10-15minutes, please relax during the examination. Dribbling out of saliva is expected.After the examination, the probe will slowly be retracted.Risks:Major complications: death, esophageal perforation, significant arrhythmias, congestive heart failure and aspiration, occurs with a frequency of 0.3% with reported mortality of less than 0.01%.Sore throat and blood stained saliva is common and will recover in 1-2 days.

Cardiac catheterization is used to investigate the structure and function of the heart. Coronary Angiogram is used to investigate for any narrowing of the coronary arteries (arteries that supply blood to heart muscle). When indicated, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) can be performed at the same setting of cardiac catheterization and coronary angiogram.Cardiac catheterization can provide in-depth and specific information of various cardiac diseases. Coronary angiogram can provide a clear picture of the severity of narrowing of coronary arteries. In general, both are superior to non-invasive procedures and can help doctor make a definite plan of management. In emergency situation caused by acute coronary syndrome (heart attack), the procedure is essential in diagnosis. It is also a stepping stone to coronary intervention, which serves to open up the artery and improve the heart function. This approach, despite its high risk, can be life saving and the consequence can be detrimental if it is delayed.Proccess:This is an invasive procedure that is generally performed under local anesthesia in the Cardiac Catheterization & Intervention Laboratory (CCIL).Electrodes are adhered to the chest to monitor the heart rate and rhythm. Blood oxygen monitor through your fingertip will be set up. Measurement of blood pressure from your arm will be taken during the examination.A small wound is made either from the wrist or the groin for access to arteries or veins. Catheters are advanced to the heart under X-ray guidance.Pressures within the heart are measured.Contrast is injected and films are taken. Narrowing of the coronary arteries is identified.In general, a special catheter is placed in a coronary artery with narrowing. A guide wire is passed through the narrowing. The guide wire is used as a track to allow a balloon to go to the narrowing. The balloon is inflated to open up the artery. A stent is then deployed permanently inside the artery to keep it patent.During the procedure, you will be asked to hold your breath or cough. Transient chest pain may be experienced during balloon dilatation. If you experience severe or persistent chest pain, dizzy spell or any discomfort, you are required to inform the staff.Other techniques may be adopted to improve the success and outcome of the procedures. Please discuss with your doctor the procedure involved as new advance in PCI cannot be fully discussed in this information sheet.After Surgery:Usually you can be discharged 1 day after the procedure.The wound will be inspected and covered with light dressing. Please keep the wound site clean and change dressing if wet. In general, showers are allowed after 2 days.Please avoid vigorous activities (household or exercise) in the first 7 days after the procedure.Bruising around the wound site is common and usually subsides 2-3 weeks later. If you notice any signs of infection, increase in swelling or pain over the wound, please come back to the hospital or visit a nearby Accident and Emergency Department immediately.

Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart rhythm disturbance. There are seventy thousand people with AF in the HK.Atrial fibrillation makes your risk of a stroke five times higher.When your heart beats normally, its muscle walls squeeze (contract) to force blood out of the heart and around the body.If you have atrial fibrillation, your heartbeat is irregular and fast, your heart may not have a chance to empty properly before filling up with blood again. Blood can collect inside the upper chamber of the left side of the heart, and this increases the risk of blood clots forming.If blood clots form in your heart, there is a risk they can travel in your bloodstream towards your brain. If a clot blocks one of the arteries leading to your brain, it could cause a stroke. About 90% of the blood clots that cause stroke are also formed in the left atrial appendage(LAA). Stroke prevention is the most important part of atrial fibrillation treatment.Promotion VideoProccess:During the process, the patient needs general anesthesia or monitoring anesthesia, which is done in the cardiac catheterization laboratory with the help of transesophageal ultrasound and X-ray fluoroscopy. The cardiologist will insert a catheter into the femoral vein on the inner thigh of the patient, and implant the occluder into the left atrial appendage through atrial septal puncture. The occluder is like a parachute blocking the entrance of the left atrial appendage. After the parachute opens, it will interact with the heart muscle Connected, like a natural barrier, to prevent the blood from staying in the clot. After the operation is completed, the patient can get out of bed on the same day. Normally, the patient will be hospitalized for about 2 to 3 days.After Procedure:Like other surgeries or treatments, LAA closure surgery also has risks. The doctor will compare the risks of left atrial appendage occlusion and other appropriate treatments with the patient.During this period, please continue to take anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs according to the doctor’s instructions.Swimming is not allowed within one week after discharge. Use shower as much as possible for bathing, and keep the wound area clean and dry; avoid lifting heavy objects and avoid excessive strenuous activities within one week.

Atrial fibrillation is a common heart rhythm disorder in which patients typically experience an irregular, extremely fast heart rhythm. Here there are the three types:Paroxysmal: last for not more than 7 days, usually within 24 hoursPersistent: last for longer than 7 daysPermanent: last for more than a yearIt is estimated that about 1% of the people in Hong Kong suffer from atrial fibrillation. Based on the current population of about 7 million, that is, more than 70,000 people. Atrial fibrillation may not lead to immediate death, but it is an important chronic disease and leading to severe complications:‧5 times higher in risk of stroke‧3 times higher in risk of heart failure‧About 70% higher in risk of heart attack‧About 40% higher in risk of dementia‧About 4 times higher in risk of deathPulsed field ablation releases a series of high-amplitude electrical field lasting for several microseconds to the target tissue.Strong electric field will make irreparable electrical pores in cell membrane, and the contents of the cell will flow out slowly, finally the cell is destroyed.Pulsed Field Ablation has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and can be used in patients with persistent or permanent atrial fibrillation. Our center is the first private hospital in Hong Kong to introduce this technology. As the instrument was available in February 2023 , it has been officially put into service.Compared with other ablation techniques, pulse field ablation is easier to operate, and it only takes about 3 minutes to complete the isolation of a pulmonary vein, so the procedure time is shorter and use of anesthetic medication can be minimized.Promotion VideoProccess:This invasive procedure is generally performed in the Cardiac Catheterization & Intervention Laboratory (CCIL). You may undergo general Anesthesia (GA) or Monitored Anesthesia Care (MAC).Electrodes are adhered to the chest to monitor the heart rate and rhythm. Blood oxygen monitor through your fingertip will be set up. Measurement of blood pressure from your arm will be taken during the examination.Small wounds are made over the groin for access to veins.Electrical Field energy will be delivered to the target site as ablation to destory abnormal cells.The duration of the procedure could last around 3 hours.You will be sent to the ward for observation for another 12-24 hours.After Procedure:Usually you can be discharged 1 day after the procedure.The wound will be inspected and covered with light dressing. Please keep the wound site clean and change dressing if wet. In general, showers are allowed after 2 days.Please avoid vigorous activities (household or exercise) in the first 7 days after the procedure.Bruising around the wound site is common and usually subsides 2-3 weeks later. If you notice any signs of bleeding, infection, increase in swelling or pain over the wound, please come back to the hospital or visit a nearby Accident and Emergency Department immediately.During subsequent follow-up, our medical staff will explain to you the results of the procedure and discuss on any subsequent plan of management. You are advised to ask your close relatives to join the interview.

Heart rhythm is mainly controlled by the conduction system of the heart. Any abnormality in the conduction system may result in abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia).Electro-Physiology Study (EPS) is a test to find out the cause of arrhythmia. A patient suffering from arrhythmia may have palpitation, chest discomfort, dizziness or vertigo. In severe condition, the patient may lose consciousness or have sudden death. Radio frequency (RF) energy has been used since 1990 to ablate cardiac arrhythmia. This energy is released at the tip of the catheter to local cardiac tissue, within which the conduction property will be lost. The result will be the successful cure of the arrhythmia.Proccess:This invasive procedure is generally performed under local anesthesia in the Cardiac Catheterization & Intervention Laboratory (CCIL). You are alert during the procedure, but we may give you sedation if needed.Electrodes are adhered to the chest to monitor the heart rate and rhythm. Blood oxygen monitor through your fingertip will be set up. Measurement of blood pressure from your arm will be taken during the examination.Small wounds are made over the groin, under the clavicle or around the neck for access to arteries or veins.Catheters are advanced to the heart under X-ray guidance. At specific sites inside the heart, we will record electric information; we then deliver tiny electric current to alter your heart rate and try to trigger arrhythmias.You may experience discomfort when your heart is being excited to certain rate; when an induced arrhythmia is persistent, we may use direct current (DC) cardioversion to convert it.RF energy will be delivered to the target site for around 60 seconds via special RF catheter. You may experience slight chest discomfort during delivery of energy.After RFA, another EPS will be carried out to confirm the success of the procedure.The duration of the procedure could last from 3 hours to over 5 hours depending on the nature and complexity of the arrhythmia.You will be sent to the ward for observation for another 12-24 hours.After Procedure:Usually you can be discharged 1 day after the procedure.The wound will be inspected and covered with light dressing. Please keep the wound site clean and change dressing if wet. In general, showers are allowed after 2 days.Please avoid vigorous activities (household or exercise) in the first 3 days after the procedure.Bruising around the wound site is common and usually subsides 2-3 weeks later. If you notice any signs of infection, increase in swelling or pain over the wound, please come back to the hospital or visit a nearby Accident and Emergency Department immediately.During subsequent follow-up, our medical staff will explain to you the results of the procedure and discuss on any subsequent plan of management. You are advised to ask your close relatives to join the interview.

Mitral regurgitation (or “MR”) is a condition affecting one of the valves in your heart, the mitral valve. The valves in your heart control the flow of blood through the four chambers of your heart. Each heart valve is made up of thin, but strong flaps of tissue. As blood flows through the four chambers of the heart, the valves open and close to ensure that blood flows in the right direction. The mitral valve is located between your heart’s two left chambers and allows blood to flow forward through your heart during a normal heart- beat. When the mitral valve fails to close completely, blood flows backward in the opposite direction. This backward flow is called mitral regurgitation. Cause:There are several causes of mitral regurgitation. These include:Heart disease (such as heart failure), or other conditions that causing heart valve annulus dilatationDeterioration of heart tissue leading to valve prolapseCongenital heart valve abnormalities` (abnormal at birth)Rheumatic Heart DiseaseDegenerative change due to aging Symptom: In order to compensate the effect of mitral / tricuspid regurgitation, the ventricles would increase its pumping action to maintain enough blood supply to our body. Heart muscle would then be overloaded and becomes enlarged in size and weak. This extra burden on the heart and lungs may lead to heart failure in the long run. There would be insufficient blood supply for the body requirement, and may eventually lead to arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat), stroke, and even sudden death. Patients with mitral / tricuspid regurgitation might not experience symptoms, or some may have:Tiredness and weaknessShortness of breath (dyspnea), especially on exertion (vigorous movement) or while lying downCough (especially at night or when lying down)Lower Limb edema (swelling)Poor appetiteArrhythmiaPalpitation (feeling of rapid heartbeat) The MitraClip procedure: A MitraClip procedure is carried out under a general anaesthesia in catheterization laboratory with assistance of trans-esophageal echocardiography (TEE) and X-rays. During the procedure, doctors access the mitral valve with a thin tube (called a catheter) that is guided through a vein in patient’s leg to reach the heart. The MitraClip is then clipped to the mitral valve and help it close completely. A procedure usually takes three to four hours on average but it can vary due to different anatomies. The length of hospital stay is around one to five days following the procedure. MitraClip surgery risks and postoperative instructions: The MitraClip is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and has been used with more than 80,000 patients worldwide.Your doctor will discuss how the risks of MitraClip therapy compare with other options that may be available to you.The length of hospital stay is around one to five days following the procedure.The MitraClip device is very small–less than the size of a typical fingertip. You will not be able to feel its presence.Your doctor may also prescribe a blood thinner after you have received the treatment. It is very important to carefully follow your doctor’s instructions regarding any medicines you need to take.Most patients who undergo MitraClip therapy do not need special assistance at home after the procedure, outside of ongoing needs for any unrelated health conditions.

Patients may have unexplained recurrent symptoms of dizziness, palpitation or loss of consciousness. There are many causes, such as arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythm). Sometimes, a definitive diagnosis cannot be made after conventional investigations. Implantable loop recorder (ILR) is used to check whether the symptoms are due to arrhythmias. It is a small device implanted usually under the skin of the left chest wall. It consists of 2 internal electrodes, through which the heart rhythm can be monitored. The battery can last for >12 months. Proccess: This invasive procedure is performed under local anesthesia in the Cardiac Catheterization & Intervention Laboratory (CCIL). You are alert during the procedure, but we may give you sedation to calm you down.A small incision (about 2 cm long) is made over the left chest wall.The ILR is inserted through the incision into the pocket underneath the skin.The wound will be closed with suturing material and covered with dressing.The procedure usually takes about 20-30 minutes. After Procedure: You may be discharged from hospital on the day or 1 day after the ILR implantation.The wound should be covered with light dressing. Please keep the wound site clean and avoid making the dressing wet during a bath. Always change dressing if wet.You may need to come back to the centre for suture removal 1 week after the procedure. You may remove the dressing 2-3 days after suture removal.Follow your doctor’s instructions or refer to the information booklet from the ILR company to minimize the risk of electromagnetic interference. In general, strong electro-magnetic field or radiofrequency signal will interfere your ILR. Please keep a distance of >15 cm (6 inches) from an active mobile phone. Household electrical or electronic appliance usually does not affect ILR.Depending on the type of ILR used, you may be given a hand-held activator for recording of events. We will explain to you how to operate.When a cause is found using the device, we may remove the ILR and give you the appropriate treatment accordingly.When battery is depleted, it can be removed or replaced as decided by your doctor.

Heart rhythm is mainly controlled by the conduction system of the heart. Any abnormality in the conduction system may result in abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia). Arrhythmias with slow heart rate cause dizziness, syncope, heart failure or occasionally cardiac death. Permanent cardiac pacemaker (PPM) is an implantable device used for long-term treatment of arrhythmias with slow heart rate. It consists of a battery-powered generator and leads which connect the generator to the patient’s heart. If the heart rate is slow, the pacemaker will stimulate the heart at a desirable rate. Proccess: This invasive procedure is performed under local anesthesia in the Cardiac Catheterization & Intervention Laboratory (CCIL). You are alert during the procedure, but we may give you sedation to calm you down.Electrodes are adhered to the chest to monitor the heart rate and rhythm. Blood oxygen monitor through your fingertip will be set up. Measurement of blood pressure from your arm will be taken during the examination.Skin disinfection will be performed and a small skin incision (about 3-5 cm long) will be made under your left (sometimes right) clavicle.Contrast may be injected intravenously to visualize the veins in your arm and needle puncture under the clavicle may be required to obtain an access to your vein.1 to 2 leads will be advanced to your heart chambers through your vein under X-ray guidance.The generator will be connected with the lead(s) and implanted in a pocket created under the skin or muscle.The wound will be closed with suturing material and may covered with pressure dressing.The procedure usually takes around 2 to 3 hours. After Procedure: You may be discharged from hospital 1-2 days after the PPM implantation.The wound will be inspected and covered with light dressing. Please keep the wound site clean and change dressing if wet. In general, showers are allowed after 7 days.You may need to come back to the centre for suture removal 1 week after the procedure. You may remove the dressing 2-3 days after suture removal.Please avoid lifting the affected arm for 4 weeks and avoid vigorous arm movement in the first month after the procedure.You will be arranged to attend regular pacemaker analysis, re-programming and battery power assessment.Please carry your pacemaker identity card at all times.Follow your doctor’s instructions or refer to the information booklet from the pacemaker company to minimize the risk of pacemaker malfunction due to electromagnetic interference. In general, strong electro-magnetic field or radiofrequency signal will interfere your pacemaker. Please keep a distance of >15 cm (6 inches) from an active mobile phone. Household electrical or electronic appliance usually does not affect pacemaker.The generator will need to be replaced in 5-10 years’ time when the battery is depleted.

Heart failure patients have symptoms of shortness of breath and body swelling caused by decreased pumping of blood from the heart. Initial management includes treating underlying cause, adopting a healthy lifestyle and taking medications. Patients with persistent symptoms despite the above treatments may consider echocardiography. It is essentially an implantable cardiac pacemaker that consists of a battery-powered generator and leads which connect the generator to the patient’s heart. But there is a special lead placed in the left heart, so that the device can stimulate both the left and right heart in a coordinated (synchronized) manner. The synchronized contraction will increase pumping of blood from the heart. Recent studies have shown that in selected groups of patients, CRT improves heart failure symptoms, quality of life, exercise capacity and heart function. Proccess: This invasive procedure is usually performed under local anesthesia in a Cardiac Catheterization & Intervention Laboratory(CCIL). You are alert during the procedure, but we may give you sedation to calm you down.Electrodes are adhered to the chest to monitor the heart rate and rhythm. Blood oxygen monitor through your fingertip will be set up. Measurement of blood pressure from your arm will be taken during the examination.Skin disinfection will be performed and a small skin incision(about 3-5cm long) will be made under your left(sometimes right) clavicle.Contrast may be injected intravenously to visualize the veins in your arm and needle puncture under the clavicle may be required to obtain access to your vein.3 leads will be advanced to your heart chambers through your vein under X-ray guidance. One lead is placed in the right atrium and one in the right ventricle. A special lead is implanted in a vein called the coronary sinus that lies on the surface of the left ventricle. Contrast injection is required to show this vein.The generator will be connected with the lead(s) and implanted in a pocket created under the skin or muscle.The wound will be closed with suturing material and covered with pressure dressing.The procedure usually takes around 3-4 hours. AfterProcedure: You may be discharged from hospital several days after the CRT implantation.The wound should be covered with light dressing. Please keep the wound site clean and avoid making the dressing wet during shower. Always change dressing if wet.You may need to come back to the ward or clinic for suture removal 1 week after the procedure if any. You may remove the dressing 2-3 days after suture removal.Please avoid lifting the affected arm for 1 month and avoid vigorous arm movement in the first week after the procedure.You will be arranged to attend regular CRT analysis, re-programming and battery power assessment. To maximize the benefits of CRT, the settings will be optimized with the help of echocardiogram.Please carry your CRT identity card at all times.Follow your doctor’s instructions or refer to the information booklet from the CRT Company to minimize the risk of CRT malfunction due to electromagnetic interference. In general, strong electro-magnetic field or radiofrequency signal will interfere your pacemaker. Please keep a distance of >15cm(6 inches) from an active mobile phone. Household electrical or electronic appliance usually does not affect pacemaker.CRT generator will need to be replaced in 5-10 years’ time when the battery is depleted.

Heart rhythm is mainly controlled by the conduction system of the heart. Any abnormality in the conduction system may result in abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia). Life-threatening arrhythmias such as ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF) cause not only palpitations, dizziness and syncope but also sudden death. Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) is an implantable device used for treatment of VT and VF. It is essentially an implantable cardiac pacemaker which consists of a battery-powered generator and leads that connect the generator to the patient’s heart. The lead placed in the right heart has defibrillation function. As soon as a VT or VF is detected, the ICD will automatically try to correct it by anti-tachycardia pacing, cardioversion or defibrillation. It has been proven in various clinical trials that ICD is better than the best anti-arrhythmic drugs in prolonging survival among patients with a high risk of sudden cardiac death due to VT or VF. Proccess: You may be discharged from hospital a few days after the ICD implantation.The wound should be covered with light dressing. Please keep the wound site clean and avoid making the dressing wet during shower. Always change dressing if wet.You may need to come back to the clinic for suture removal 1 week after the procedure if any. You may remove the dressing 2-3 days after suture removal.Please avoid lifting the affected arm for 1 month and avoid vigorous arm movement in the first week after the procedure.You will be arranged to attend regular ICD analysis, re-programming and battery power assessment.Please carry your ICD identity card at all times.Follow your doctor’s instructions or refer to the information booklet from the ICD company to minimize the risk of pacemaker malfunction due to electromagnetic interference. In general, strong electro-magnetic field or radiofrequency signal will interfere your ICD. Please keep a distance of >15 cm (6 inches) from an active mobile phone. Household electrical or electronic appliance usually does not affect ICD.You should report to your doctor or nearby Accident and Emergency Department if you suffer from syncope or electric shocks delivered by the ICD.ICD generator will need to be replaced in 3-6 years’ time when the battery is depleted. AfterProcedure: You may be discharged from hospital several days after the CRT implantation.The wound should be covered with light dressing. Please keep the wound site clean and avoid making the dressing wet during shower. Always change dressing if wet.You may need to come back to the ward or clinic for suture removal 1 week after the procedure if any. You may remove the dressing 2-3 days after suture removal.Please avoid lifting the affected arm for 1 month and avoid vigorous arm movement in the first week after the procedure.You will be arranged to attend regular CRT analysis, re-programming and battery power assessment. To maximize the benefits of CRT, the settings will be optimized with the help of echocardiogram.Please carry your CRT identity card at all times.Follow your doctor’s instructions or refer to the information booklet from the CRT Company to minimize the risk of CRT malfunction due to electromagnetic interference. In general, strong electro-magnetic field or radiofrequency signal will interfere your pacemaker. Please keep a distance of >15cm(6 inches) from an active mobile phone. Household electrical or electronic appliance usually does not affect pacemaker.CRT generator will need to be replaced in 5-10 years’ time when the battery is depleted.