Cardiology 

Services Provided

The hospital provides Consultant lead in-patient, day care and out-patient Cardiology Services for patients referred from General Practitioners and Consultants.

In-Patients and day care patients are admitted to St. Vincent's Private Hospital for investigation and treatment which can include Implantation of Cardiac Arrhythmia Devices, Cardioversion, Electrophysiology Studies and Cardiac Angiography.

Out Patient Services include Exercise Stress Tests, Electrocardiographs (ECG), Echocardiograms, Holter Monitors and Blood Pressure Monitors as outlined below:

Exercise Stress Test

An exercise stress test (also known as, treadmill test, stress test or stress ECG) is a screening tool to test the effect of exercise on your heart.  The test gives a general sense of how healthy your heart is.

Electrocardiograph (ECG)

An electrocardiograph (ECG) is a test that records the electrical activity of the heart.

The ECG is used to measure the rate and regularity of heartbeats as well as the size and the position of the chambers, the presence of any damage to the heart, and effects of drugs or devices used to regulate the heart (such as a pacemaker).

Holter Monitor

A Holter Monitor is a machine that continuously records the heart’s rhythms.  The monitor is usually worn for 24 hours during normal activity.

Echocardiogram (Walk in Service)

An Echocardiogram or ‘echo’ is a test that uses sound waves to create a moving picture of the heart.  The picture is more detailed than an x-ray image and involves no radiation exposure.  This test is performed to evaluate the valves and chambers of the heart in a non-invasive manner.  The echo allows doctors to evaluate heart murmurs, check the pumping function of the heart, and evaluate patients who have had heart attacks.   It is a very good screening test for heart disease in certain groups of patients.

Blood Pressure Monitor

Blood pressure is the force that pushes blood through the blood vessels in your body.  In people who have high blood pressure, blood is pushed through the blood vessels with greater force than normal. Another word for high blood pressure is ‘hypertension’.

Blood pressure is recorded as two numbers separated by a slash, for example, 120/80.  The first number is the systolic (‘sis-tol-ik’) pressure; it is the force when the heart pumps.  The second number is the diastolic (‘die-uh-stol-ik’) pressure; it is the force when the heart relaxes between beats.  Knowing both of your pressure readings can help your doctor tell if you have high blood pressure.  

Consultants

Special Interests

Dr. Charles McCreary's special interests are Acute Coronary Syndrome and Interventional Cardiology 

Prof. Ken McDonald's special interest is in Heart Failure
Dr. Peter Quigley's special interests are Acute Coronary Syndrome and Interventional Cardiology 
Dr. Martin Quinn's special interests are Acute Coronary Syndrome and Interventional Cardiology 
Prof. David Keane's special interest is in Electrophysiology Studies
Dr. John Erwin's special interests are Electrophysiology Studies and Interventional Cardiology 
Dr. Rory O'Hanlon's special interests are Sudden Heart Failure and Cardiomiopathy

Meetings

Ward Contact Details

While Cardiology patients are normally admitted to the  Redwood Ward some patients may be admitted to Day Care

Postal address:

Cardiology Department

St. Vincent's Prvate Hospital

Herbert Avenue

Merrion

Dublin 4

Opening Hours

The Cardiology Department  is open from  8.30 am to 4.30 pm, Monday to Friday.

Appointment Procedures / Contact Information

For out-patient consultant referrals please contact one of our consultants listed above. For out-patient investigation appointments in the Cardiology Department call (01) 2609301 (8.30 am to 4.30 pm Monday to Friday). Referral letters can be faxed to (01) 2609533 or you can use the referrals forms which are available from the Cardiology Department. If you need to change your cardiology out patient appointment, please provide at least 24 hours advance notice. The email address for the department is  cardiology@svph.ie  

Charges (2009)

Echocardiography                    €315.00

Electrocardiogram                    €  70.00    (Walk in Service)

Holter Monitor                         €195.00

Blood pressusre monitor           €190.00

Stress test                                €200.00

Pace maker testing and ICD     €  55.00

In-Patient and Day Care Cardiac Investigations and Treatment are generally covered by the Medical Insurers for those patients who have appropriate cover. Please contact your insurance company regarding cover of the above charges. Also as charges may change from time to time please check the current prices when you are accessing the services

Patient Information

Patient Information Leaflets are available from the Cardiology Department on request.

Also please visit the Irish Heart Foundation website 

Research

Ponikowski P, Anker S, Szachniewicz J, Okonko D, Ledwidge M, Zymlinski R, Ryan E, Wasserman S, Baker

Nigel, Rosser D, Rosen S, Poole-Wilson P, Banasiak W, Coats A, McDonald K.

Effect of Darbepoetin alfa on exercise tolerance in anaemic patients with symptomatic Chronic Heart

Failure: a randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-controlled trial.

J Am Coll Cardiol. 2007. 49:7: 753 – 762.

McDonald K, Conlon C, Ledwidge M.

Disease management programs for heart Failure: Not just for the ‘sick’ heart failure population.

Eur J Heart Fail. 2007. 9: 113 – 117.

Travers B, O’Loughlin C, Murphy N.F., Ryder M, Conlon C, Ledwidge M, McDonald K.

Fluid restriction in the management of decompensated heart failure: no impact on time to

clinical stability.

J Card Failure 2007. 13: 2: 128 – 132.

O’Hanlon R, O’Shea P, Ledwidge M, O’Loughlin C, Lange S, Conlon C, Phelan D,Cunningham S, McDonald

K. J.

The biological variability of B-type natriuretic peptide and N-Terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide in

stable heart failure patients.

J. Card Failure 2007. 13: 1: 50 - 55

Martos R, Baugh J, Ledwidge M, O’Loughlin C, Conlon C, Patle A, Donnelly S, McDonald K.

Diastolic Heart Failure: Evidence of increased myocardial collagen turnover linked to diastolic

dysfunction.

Circulation 2007.115: 888 –8 95

Angiography Sessions (New Private Hospital)