What is a stress echo? A Dobutamine Stress Echocardiogram is a non- invasive test used to assess coronary artery disease in patients who are unable to exercise on a treadmill.…

What is an Echocardiogram (ECHO)? An echocardiogram is a scan of heart using ultrasound waves, similar to those used for the scans to monitor the growth of a baby in…

What is an exercise tolerance test/ETT? An exercise tolerance test is also known as an exercise stress test or treadmill test. It is usually done when coronary artery disease is…

What is an ECG? The ECG (Electrocardiogram) is used to record the electrical activity of the heart. Why do I need to have an ECG? The procedure is used to…

At the Chiltern Hills Heart Clinic we aim to provide a rapid and thorough service for the investigation of patients with suspected cardiac disease. Dr Ramrakha and his team provide…

Percutaneous occlusion of the left atrial appendage (LAA) for the prevention of thromboembolism in patients with atrial fibrillation. Why do patients with atrial fibrillation have strokes? Atrial fibrillation (AF) is…

What is an Ablation? Cardiac ablation is a procedure used to try to cure the symptoms from an abnormal heart rhythm either by curing the arrhythmia (by eliminating the “short…

What treatments are available for a PFO? If someone has a cryptogenic stroke and a PFO is documented by transoesophageal echo (TOE) – a form of imaging the heart where…

What is a Cardioversion? Cardioversion is an electrical shock treatment used to jolt the heart back into normal rhythm (sinus rhythm). It is used to treat different types of abnormal…

What is a Pacemaker? The human body has its own natural pacemaker within the heart which keeps it beating in a regular pattern by electrical impulses. If this is not…