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Wakefield Hospital - Cardiothoracic Surgery

Private Surgical Service, Cardiothoracic Surgery

This is where you will come to have your surgery performed. The visits to your surgeon before and after surgery will be at their consulting rooms.

Description

Wakefield Hospital is the largest private hospital in the Wellington region. It is located in the suburb of Newtown and is owned and operated by parent company Evolution Healthcare (NZ) Limited.

Based in the heart of Wellington, Wakefield Hospital offers a wide range of high-quality private healthcare services with a team of experienced specialists and the latest in techniques and equipment available. We have a proud history of offering our patients the very best of care in our modern and comfortable facilities.

Private healthcare allows choice, flexibility and access to specialists who use the latest techniques in treatment. You are free to nominate your specialist and can expect your consultation and treatment in a timely manner without waiting list restrictions. Early treatment and intervention is often pivotal in ensuring the best outcome for patients.

Consultants

Procedures / Treatments

Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery (CABG)

When the arteries that supply the heart with blood (coronary arteries) become blocked with fatty substances, surgery may be required to restore blood flow to the heart muscle. Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery uses pieces of arteries from the arm or chest or from veins in the leg to create a detour around the blocked coronary artery. The procedure involves making a cut through the front of the chest and breastbone (sternotomy) to expose the heart. The heart is then stopped and its function taken over by a heart-lung machine. Once the new blood vessels are in place, the heart is restarted, the heart-lung machine disconnected and the breastbone closed with wires. The operation usually takes between three and five hours.

When the arteries that supply the heart with blood (coronary arteries) become blocked with fatty substances, surgery may be required to restore blood flow to the heart muscle.

Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery uses pieces of arteries from the arm or chest or from veins in the leg to create a detour around the blocked coronary artery.

The procedure involves making a cut through the front of the chest and breastbone (sternotomy) to expose the heart. The heart is then stopped and its function taken over by a heart-lung machine. Once the new blood vessels are in place, the heart is restarted, the heart-lung machine disconnected and the breastbone closed with wires. The operation usually takes between three and five hours.

Heart Valve Surgery

There are four major heart valves that control blood flow through the heart. If the valves become narrow (stenosis) so that blood flow through them becomes difficult, or leaky so that some blood flows in the wrong direction, they may need to be repaired or replaced. Valves may be damaged by diseases such as rheumatic fever or bacterial infection, degenerate with age or may not be formed properly at birth. Heart valve surgery involves making a cut through the front of the chest and breastbone (sternotomy) to expose the heart. The heart is then stopped and its function taken over by a heart-lung machine. Part of the heart is then opened and the valve repaired or possibly replaced using a human donor valve, a valve from a pig or cow or an artificial valve. The heart is then restarted, the heart-lung machine disconnected and the breastbone closed with wires. The operation usually takes between three and five hours.

There are four major heart valves that control blood flow through the heart. If the valves become narrow (stenosis) so that blood flow through them becomes difficult, or leaky so that some blood flows in the wrong direction, they may need to be repaired or replaced. Valves may be damaged by diseases such as rheumatic fever or bacterial infection, degenerate with age or may not be formed properly at birth.

Heart valve surgery involves making a cut through the front of the chest and breastbone (sternotomy) to expose the heart. The heart is then stopped and its function taken over by a heart-lung machine. Part of the heart is then opened and the valve repaired or possibly replaced using a human donor valve, a valve from a pig or cow or an artificial valve. The heart is then restarted, the heart-lung machine disconnected and the breastbone closed with wires. The operation usually takes between three and five hours.

Aortic Aneurysm Repair

An aneurysm is a weak, bulging area that can develop on the wall of a blood vessel particularly in the aorta, the large artery that carries blood from the heart for delivery to the rest of the body. Once an aneurysm has been identified, surgery may be performed to avoid the danger of the aneurysm bursting. Aortic aneurysm surgery involves either: Open chest surgery in which the part of the aorta with the aneurysm is removed and replaced with an artificial graft or Insertion of a stent graft (an artificial tube) at the site of the aneurysm so that blood can flow through the tube and bypass the aneurysm. This is a less invasive procedure and involves small cuts or incisions in the upper thigh.

An aneurysm is a weak, bulging area that can develop on the wall of a blood vessel particularly in the aorta, the large artery that carries blood from the heart for delivery to the rest of the body.

Once an aneurysm has been identified, surgery may be performed to avoid the danger of the aneurysm bursting.

Aortic aneurysm surgery involves either:

  • Open chest surgery in which the part of the aorta with the aneurysm is removed and replaced with an artificial graft or
  • Insertion of a stent graft (an artificial tube) at the site of the aneurysm so that blood can flow through the tube and bypass the aneurysm. This is a less invasive procedure and involves small cuts or incisions in the upper thigh.
Congenital Cardiac Surgery

Sometimes people are born with abnormalities of the heart or major blood vessels. Surgery may be required to repair these defects and may be performed during childhood or left until adulthood. Congenital heart surgery can involve: Repairing the abnormality e.g. repairing defects in the internal walls of the heart with stitches or a patch made from the patient’s own tissue or from an artificial source or A procedure that will make the patient feel more comfortable but that will not necessarily correct the defect e.g. inserting a tube to connect the aorta to the pulmonary artery to increase the blood flow to the lungs.

Sometimes people are born with abnormalities of the heart or major blood vessels. Surgery may be required to repair these defects and may be performed during childhood or left until adulthood.

Congenital heart surgery can involve:

  • Repairing the abnormality e.g. repairing defects in the internal walls of the heart with stitches or a patch made from the patient’s own tissue or from an artificial source or
  • A procedure that will make the patient feel more comfortable but that will not necessarily correct the defect e.g. inserting a tube to connect the aorta to the pulmonary artery to increase the blood flow to the lungs.

Visiting Hours

Daily 9:00am to 9:00pm.

Please note that Level 2 (the Cardiac Ward), ICU and HDU are closed for a rest period between 1:00pm and 3:00pm daily.

Refreshments

Snacks can be purchased from the cafeteria between 9:00am and 2:00pm Monday to Friday.

Parking

Free parking is provided within the hospital grounds.

Accommodation

Wakefield Hospital has a limited number of standard apartments on site which can be booked for family if required. These units sleep up to four people and must be booked through our reception prior to your hospital admission.

To book an apartment please email us or contact the hospital reception on (04) 381 8100 - Extn 0.

Pharmacy

Nearest community pharmacy here

Contact Details

Wakefield Hospital

Wellington

Toll Free Phone: 0800 WAKEFIELD (0800 925 334)

Florence Street (off Riddiford Street)
Newtown
Wellington

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Street Address

Florence Street (off Riddiford Street)
Newtown
Wellington

Postal Address

Wakefield Hospital
Private Bag 7909
Wellington 6242

This page was last updated at 11:20AM on May 30, 2024. This information is reviewed and edited by Wakefield Hospital - Cardiothoracic Surgery.