Spotlight on cardiology

Our cardiology service is led by Drs Liz Bode and Mattia Basili, both Specialists of the European College of Internal Medicine – Companion Animals – Cardiology.

Liz and Mattia are happy to see any cardiac patients requiring Specialist level care. They perform investigations on dogs and cats with a variety of problems including:

• Heart murmurs
• Respiratory issues
• Arrhythmias
• Exercise intolerance
• Collapsing episode
• Pleural
• Pericardial and abdominal effusion
• Infectious diseases such as Dirofilaria Immitis (also known as heartworm infestation).

Liz and Mattia have access to excellent facilities*, including a fully-equipped cardiology suite, allowing them to perform a variety of interventional cardiology procedures to treat conditions such as:

• Valvular stenosis (i.e. pulmonic stenosis) via balloon valvuloplasty (BVP)
• Third-degree atrioventricular block or advanced second-degree atrioventricular block through implantation of pacemakers
• Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) using devices such as Ampltzer canine duct occluder (ACDO).
• Implantation of loop recorders (ie.Reveal LINQ^TM device).

Moreover, both Liz and Mattia will soon be able to  perform cutting-edge interventional procedures currently provided by only a few centres in the UK. These include pulmonic stenting for the treatment of severe cases of pulmonic stenosis with hypoplasia of the valve annulus and tracheal and bronchial stenting for dogs affected by tracheal and bronchial collapse.

The cardiology team is also supported by the wider ChesterGates team, which continues to expand, offering Specialist support in many other disciplines, as well as 24/7 clinical support.

Liz and Mattia are always happy to answer any questions and offer advice on difficult or challenging cases; please feel free to contact them at info@chestergates.org.uk for any enquiry and they will be happy to help!

*Specialist facilities include a fully-equipped cardiology suite with a touchscreen echocardiography machine 12-lead electrocardiograph, Holter monitors that allow recording of the heart rhythm from 24 up to 72 hours, a Doppler blood pressure machine, a digital radiography a 16-slice CT scanner a 1.5 tesla MRI and a fluoroscopy machine.