Dr Vallely performs TAVIs as part of a “Heart Team”, which means that cardiothoracic surgeons, cardiologists, anesthetists, geriatricians, and nursing staff are all involved in the patient’s care.

A pacemaker is a small electronic device that is used to help people with arrhythmias to maintain a regular rhythm.

CABG involves bypassing blocked arteries using a graft. The graft goes around the blocked artery to create new pathway for oxygen-rich blood to flow to the heart again. The procedure is performed off-pump to reduce risk of stroke and neurological injury.

Depending on the type of mitral valve disease, the valve can either be repaired or replaced with an artificial prosthesis. Repair is preferred over replacement since it provides better long-term survival, heart function and long-term management of the condition.

MitraClip is a minimally-invasive alternative for high-risk patients who require correction of abnormal blood flow through the mitral valve.

An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) is a small electronic device that is used to monitor a person’s heart rhythm, and if an abnormally fast rhythm is detected it can deliver an electric pulse to restore it to normal.

Cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT), also called “biventricular pacing”, is a special type of pacemaker that is used in heart failure to make the left and right ventricles contract in a more co-ordinated fashion.

Aortic valve replacement is the most effective method of treating severe aortic valve disease. It involves removing the diseased valve and replacing it with an artificial valve.

Minimally invasive thoracic surgery refers to surgery of the lungs and chest that is performed though small incisions. It is performed using a thorascope (a camera allowing your surgeon to see inside the chest).

The mediastinum is a group of structures in the middle of chest. It incudes the heart, the large blood vessels to and from the heart, the oesophagus, the trachea (wind pipe), nerves, the thymus and lymph nodes.

MPM is an aggressive cancer affecting the membrane covering the lungs and the inner side of the ribs (called the pleura). The primary cause of MPM is inhalation of asbestos.

Minimally invasive thoracic surgery refers to surgery of the lungs and chest that is performed through small incisions. It is performed using a thorascope – a camera that allows your surgeon to see inside the chest.

Mini-Mitral surgery corrects two common conditions affecting the mitral valve, either stenosis or regurgitation. The procedure is used to treat symptoms of shortness of breath, light-headedness, fatigue, chest pain or palpitations.

CABG involves bypassing blocked arteries using a graft. The graft goes around the blocked artery to create new pathway for oxygen-rich blood to flow to the heart again.

Aortic valve replacement (AVR) is considered the most effective method of treating aortic valve diseases.