Cardiology

Cardiology is the specialty that is concerned with heart disorders and problems.

A Cardiologist or Heart Specialist specialises in the diagnosis and treatment of  coronary artery disease, heart failure, diseases of the heart valves and heart rhythm disturbances . More information on common cardiac conditions are provided on the heart foundation website

Services provided at NZGS:

Electrocardiogram (ECG)

An Electrocardiogram known as an ECG is a test that records how your heart beats and provides results showing your heart's electrical activity. The ECG machine uses Electrode patches which are attached to your skin to measure the electrical impulses given off by your heart. It can give information of previous heart attacks or problems with the heart rhythm.

Duration: Usually 10 minutes

Holter Monitor

A Holter monitor is a small, wearable device that records the heart's rhythm. It's used to detect or determine the risk of irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias).

A Holter monitor test may be done if a traditional electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) doesn't provide enough details about the heart's condition. If the irregular heartbeats are infrequent, a longer term monitor called an event recorder may be needed.

Echocardiogram

Echocardiography is also referred to as cardiac ultrasound and is performed by a specially trained technician. This test  uses sound waves to generate images of your heart that are displayed on a monitor.

During the test, you generally lie on your back or left side; gel is applied to your skin to increase the conductivity of the ultrasound waves. A technician then moves the small, plastic transducer over your chest. The test is painless and can take from 20  to 40 minutes. The machine analyses the information and produces the images which are then  reported  by the technician and reviewed by the cardiologist who will provide a final report .

Echocardiography can help in the diagnosis of many structural heart problems including assessment of the size of the chambers and pumping action of the heart, defining the extent of previous heart attacks, assessing valve disorders, holes between heart chambers.

Gerry Devlin Medical Director of the National Heart Foundation

Gerry Devlin

MB BCh BAO BA MD FRACP FCSANZ FESC

Gerry is the current Medical Director of the Heart Foundation and the Clinical leader of the New Zealand cardiac network. He is an Honorary Associate Professor with the University of Auckland. Having worked as a Cardiologist and Interventionalist for 22 years at Waikato DHB Gerry moved at the end of 2018 to take up a new challenge as a

Cardiologist in Gisborne. Gerry is an experienced general cardiologist, with a special interest in the prevention and management of coronary artery disease, hypertension and heart failure. Gerry is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin Ireland and moved to New Zealand in 1988. He successfully completed his FRACP in 1995 and is also a Fellow of the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand. He became a Fellow of the European Society of Cardiology in 2012 and completed an MD thesis with the University of Auckland in 2013. Gerry is a busy clinical researcher with over 100 publications. Research interests include acute coronary syndromes, heart failure and systems of care.

Frequently Asked Questions Cardiology