Specialist Cardiac Treatment
As an interventional cardiologist Dr Robinson delivers the full range of non-invasive and invasive cardiac treatments. He is responsible for delivering a high volume of coronary angiograms and stent procedures for his Colchester Cardiology and his Essex Cardiology practice. He also works closely with a team of Cardiac Surgeons and Cardiac Electrophysiologists. His expertise includes complex coronary stent treatments such as the stenting of a venous bypass graft shown below.
Ablation
If fast heart rhythms and palpitations can’t be controlled with medication, ablation may be required. This procedure performed under local anaesthetic involves passing wires up into the heart. From these wires recordings can be made to locate the electrical abnormality within the heart and then to deliver radiofrequency energy to destroy the electrical abnormality.
For more information visit the British Heart Foundation
Cardiac Valve Surgery
Narrowed or leaking heart valves can cause symptoms of breathlessness, chest pain of loss of consciousness. If valve disease is severe, cardiac surgery may be indicated. Valves can either be repaired or replaced and replacement valves may be tissue (from animals) or mechanical (plastic or metal).
For more information visit the British Heart Foundation
Cardioversion
A cardioversion is performed to restore the normal cardiac rhythm. A short acting general anaesthetic is given and then a controlled electric shock is delivered to the chest wall. The procedure only takes a few minutes and is done as a day-case. Cardioversion is usually successful in restoring normal cardiac rhythm.
For more information visit the British Heart Foundation
Coronary Bypass Surgery
Dr Robinson works with an expert team of cardiac surgeons and cardiac anaesthetists. If medication or coronary stents are not appropriate Coronary Bypass Surgery may be indicated. Cardiac surgeons use artery grafts from inside the chest (Internal Mammary Arteries), from the hand (Radial Arteries) or veins from the leg (Saphenous Veins) to bypass obstructive narrowings in the heart arteries.
For more information visit the British Heart Foundation
Coronary Stent Insertion and Angioplasty
Dr Robinsons expertise and specialist training is in the use of coronary stents for the treatment of coronary narrowings.
The procedure is performed under local anaesthetic and under X-Ray control. Most commonly the stent procedure is performed after a coronary angiogram although they can be performed at the same sitting. A tube or catheter is passed up to the heart and through this a wire, the balloon are passed down the heart artery. A further balloon with a metal scaffold (stent) is then passed to the artery and the balloon inflated to place the stent in the wall of the artery. The procedure is useful for the treatment of chest pain (angina) and heart attacks.
For more information visit the British Heart Foundation
TAVI
For some patients, particularly with a narrowed Aortic Valve (Aortic Stenosis), a new valve can be placed with minimal access techniques and under local anaesthetic (TAVI). TAVI is often suitable for patients who are elderly or who would be high risk for open heart surgery. This procedure has revolutionised the treatment of Aortic Stenosis.
Dr Robinson works with a team who are expert and experienced in the delivery of TAVI.
https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/treatments/tavi