DR LLOYD DAVIS —

See below to find out about some of the services I provide. 

Cardiology Consultation

I’m dedicated to providing an expert opinion based on the latest scientific literature to help patients have the best outcome and options of care.  

To help reduce risk of infection and the need to travel, I am happy to do this on line if possible.  You will need a referral from your GP.  Please send this in.  I will also need to know the details of all of the medications you are taking and the results of any tests that you might have had with your local doctor.  Please ask your doctor to forward these by Healthlink, or fax or mail.  

In-rooms initial consultations cost Au$250 some of which is refunded by Medicare.  Remote consultations are bulk billed if you are an Australian Citizen.  They can be done over the phone but I would like to be able to do this via Skype or FaceTime if available

Cardiac Stress Test

• In my rooms we use a walking - treadmill test during which we monitor your heart function using an ECG and serial blood pressure measurements.  In some cases an ultrasound of your heart is also performed before and after exercise.  

• The test is extremely safe.  It is a good way of stratifying your risk for heart attack and assessing response to treatment.   

• You will need a pair of comfortable walking shoes. Shaving your chest beforehand is appreciated but not essential. Ladies should wear a top and a loose shirt/blouse.

Hypertension Evaluation

I try to work with your local doctor to make sure that your blood pressure is optimally controlled.

Pacing

• Pacemakers are small devices usually implanted under the shoulder that listen to the heart beat and remind it to beat if it forgets.  They are usually implanted to prevent blackouts though some types are also used to help patients with heart failure or who are at risk for life threatening arrhythmias

• At Westmead and Westmead Private Hospitals patients usually stay for the  day and night of the procedure  

• The pacemaker is usually monitored over the internet and with a yearly in rooms visit.​

• After the procedure you should leave the dressing in place for one week and then peal it off in the shower.  Swimming and bathing but not showering should be avoided for one month.  Driving should generally be avoided until your first pacemaker check at one month.  Please ask your doctor or myself about when you specifically can drive as the time off driving differs depending on the device and the underlying heart condition

• All procedures have risks. You should discuss the risks and benefits of the procedure with your doctor.  In general the major risks for pacemaker implantation are of lead dislodgement requiring a repeat procedure to reposition or reinsert the lead in up to 5% of cases.  You can decrease the risk by avoiding lifting the arm on the side of the implant above shoulder height for 3 weeks.  The risk of major problems such as death, stroke, cardiac perforation, pneumothorax or a hole in the lung requiring drainage to help the hole heal up or other major problem is about 0.5%.  Most patients do well.  If in doubt you should always seek a second opinion to discuss the pros and cons of having a device before having it inserted

• See the patient information brochure to read more or talk about it with your doctor

Arrhythmia Evaluation, Management and Ablation

Arrhythmias often present as the feeling of an unusual heart beat - palpitations.  These can be very unpleasant. This is an area of cardiology that I sub-specialise in.   Most arrhythmias/palpitations are able to be controlled with changes in lifestyle and medications or cured with a simple catheter procedure called radiofrequency ablation.  Talk to your doctor and contact me to schedule an appointment if you would like to find out more.