Dr Hesham Abdelaziz

I am a Consultant Cardiologist and Director of the Interventional Cardiology Service at the Lancashire Cardiac Centre, Blackpool Victoria Hospital. I specialise in the management of coronary artery disease, advanced percutaneous coronary intervention, valvular heart disease, and transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). I provide expert, evidence-based cardiac care with an emphasis on safety, precision, and achieving the best possible outcomes for my patients.

In clinic, I assess symptoms including chest pain, breathlessness, palpitations, dizziness, blackouts, fainting episodes, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), reduced exercise tolerance, and fatigue. I manage a wide range of cardiac conditions, including coronary artery disease, heart rhythm disorders, heart failure, cardiomyopathy, valvular heart disease, postural hypotension, and uncontrolled hypertension.

I have extensive experience in the interventional management of coronary and valvular heart disease, having performed a large number of coronary angioplasty, stenting, and TAVI procedures throughout my career. I am recognised as one of the highest-volume operators in my hospital for both simple and complex percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI), as well as TAVI procedures for patients with symptomatic severe aortic valve disease.

I perform a comprehensive range of percutaneous coronary interventions using state-of-the-art technologies. These include balloon angioplasty with specialised balloons, coronary stent implantation, rotational and orbital atherectomy for heavily calcified arteries, and intravascular lithotripsy using shockwave technology. I routinely use advanced intracoronary imaging techniques, including optical coherence tomography (OCT) and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), together with detailed physiological assessment such as fractional flow reserve (FFR), instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR/RFR), and microvascular measurements to guide treatment and optimise outcomes.

I am particularly recognised for the management of high-risk and complex coronary interventions, including patients who are not suitable surgical candidates, those with previous failed coronary artery bypass grafts, chronic total occlusions, and challenging coronary anatomy.

As an expert TAVI operator, I offer this service to patients with severe aortic valve disease, including those who have previously undergone surgical or transcatheter aortic valve replacement. Using a minimally invasive approach performed under local anaesthetic, TAVI provides an effective alternative to open-heart surgery or repeat cardiac surgery for appropriately selected patients.

I am the Programme Director and Lead Operator for Chronic Total Occlusion (CTO) Percutaneous Coronary Intervention, which represents one of the most technically demanding areas of coronary artery disease management and requires highly specialised skills and extensive experience. I am also among a small number of specialists in the UK and internationally who are trained to perform both simple and complex coronary interventions without the use of contrast dye, significantly reducing the risk of kidney injury in patients with impaired renal function.

I hold both a Master of Science degree in Cardiovascular Medicine (2010) and a PhD in Cardiovascular Medicine (2014). I have published multiple scientific papers in high-impact journals and have delivered numerous presentations at national and international conferences. I previously served as Lead for Audit and Quality Improvement within the Cardiology Department at Blackpool Victoria Hospital and remain actively involved in advancing interventional cardiology practice, research, and patient care.