Heart of Melbourne Launches its Structural Heart Program at Knox Private Hospital with Successful TAVI Cases
- Heart of Melbourne
- May 18
- 2 min read
Heart of Melbourne is proud to announce the launch of its own dedicated Structural Heart Program at Knox Private Hospital, marking a significant step forward in delivering world-class cardiovascular care in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne. The program began on a strong note, with the team successfully performing two Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) procedures—both completed with excellent results.
What is TAVI?
TAVI (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation) is a minimally invasive procedure used to treat severe aortic stenosis—a condition where the aortic valve becomes narrowed, restricting blood flow from the heart to the rest of the body. Traditionally, this required open-heart surgery, but TAVI offers an alternative for patients who are at intermediate or high surgical risk.
During the procedure, a new valve is inserted via a catheter, usually through a small incision in the groin (femoral approach), and guided to the heart using advanced imaging techniques. Once in place, the new valve takes over the function of the old, narrowed valve—restoring normal blood flow and improving symptoms like chest pain, breathlessness, and fatigue.
Expanding Access to Advanced Structural Interventions
With the establishment of this new program, Heart of Melbourne is now offering patients access to a growing range of minimally invasive structural heart procedures, including:
MitraClip – for patients with mitral regurgitation (a leaking mitral valve).
Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion (e.g., Watchman device) – to reduce stroke risk in patients with atrial fibrillation who cannot take long-term blood thinners.
Paravalvular Leak Closure – to fix leaks around previous valve replacements.
ASD and PFO Closures – closing congenital holes in the heart to prevent stroke or improve heart function.
A Milestone for Local Cardiac Care
The integration of Heart of Melbourne Structural program with Knox Private Hospital with successful outcomes highlights the strength of the multidisciplinary team, advanced imaging, and state-of-the-art catheter lab facilities. By bringing this level of expertise and innovation closer to home, Heart of Melbourne is improving access to life-changing therapies for patients in the region.
Stay tuned as this program grows, delivering cutting-edge heart care with compassion and precision.
For referrals or more information, contact Heart of Melbourne – Structural Heart Program at Knox Private Hospital.
