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Dr Ashan Gunarathne

Consultant Interventional Cardiologist and Honorary Assistant Professor of Cardiology

MBBS, MRCP, MD

Specialises in

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I am an Honorary Assistant Professor and Consultant Cardiologist at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH) specialising in coronary and structural interventions.

I first completed my Cardiology training in the East Midlands then went on to obtain further training in performing complex coronary and structural interventions (CTOs, TAVI, LAAO, PFO) during my fellowship. Subsequently, I completed a higher academic research degree leading to many peer reviewed publications in high impact factor journals as well as a Doctor of Medicine degree (MD) from the University of Birmingham.

Qualifications notwithstanding, I also pioneered a myriad of state-of-the-art, novel structural interventional services to the NUH, acting as the clinical lead for left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) service. I affiliated to the University of Nottingham as an assistant professor and is currently working as Clinical Lead for the Undergraduate Cardiology teaching Programme.

Additionally, I am a keen researcher and have contributed many clinical national and international cardiology clinical trials as a local Principal Investigator. I am an author of more than 50 publications and book chapters and have delivered academic lecturers in both national and international conferences and eager to continue and expand research in Nottingham.

I am both passionate and exemplarily skilled at coronary and structural interventional procedures, having performed more than 2,000 of these over the last seven years whilst working as an interventional cardiologist. I pride myself on being an pioneer within the medical field, with the expertise to perform novel innovative procedures such as left atrial appendage occlusion and transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair (keyhole). I have a wealth of experience and expertise in diagnosis and treatment of patients with cardiac symptoms such as chest pain, breathlessness and palpitations (angina, atrial fibrillation, heart failure) and offer a comprehensive patient centred service to manage these patients safely and effectively.

On a similar scale, I am passionate about contributing towards national and international educational programmes. I am the course director of the Introduction to Cardiac Structural Intervention (ICSI -UK) International cardiology course. I have served as a committee member of the Royal College of Physicians National Trainees committee (RCP-UK), as well as being deputy chair for the MRCP management committee board and a representative of British Junior Cardiologist Association-UK for the Euro-PCR Young Cardiologists of Tomorrows committee.

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Treatment information

Some of the principal treatments carried out by Dr Ashan Gunarathne at Spire include:

Cardiology

Other treatments

  • Angina
  • Atrial fibrillation
  • Coronary and structural interventions
  • Ischemic heart disease
  • Left atrial appendage occlusion (atrial fibrillation related)
  • Palpitations
  • Valve disease

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Important information about Covid-19 tests

COVID-19 testing or antibody tests are not available as a standalone service at Spire Nottingham Hospital.

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Additional information

Atrial fibrillation
Cardiology
Interventional cardiology

MRCP / University of Birmingham / 2005
Member of the Royal College of Physicians

MBBS / University of Peradeniya / 2000
Bachelor of medicine and Surgery

Professional memberships

British Society of Coronary Interventions (BCIS)

British Medical Association (BMA)

Royal College of Physicians (RCP)

Professional leadership

Service lead for Structural Intervention: Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion at University Hospital Nottingham NHS Trust

Principal Investigator (PI) research projects:

  1. International research collaborations: UK-Local Principal Investigator (PI) for the EURObservational Research Programme, European Society of Cardiology, NSTEMI study
  2. ACURATE neo™ transcatheter aortic heart valve U & Ireland registry.

Recent research projects: As a supervisor and Investigator: ( Since 2020)

  1. TVT , Chicago, June 2022 : Oral presentation : The impact of learning-curve-experience on transcatheter aortic valve replacement outcomes:
  2. Euro-PCR Conference 2020 : A single centre experience with the second-generation ACURATE neo transcatheter bioprosthesis: Abstract presentation:Journal of Euro Intervention supplement (1): 4:2020 : Hashim H, Baig K, Gunarathne A
  3. British Cardiovascular Society Annual Conference 2021: Long term outcomes of rotational atherectomy in patients with severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction and chronic kidney disease: a 10-year United Kingdom tertiary centre experience: June 2021:Heart 107(Suppl 1):A50-A51: Joon T, Uddin A, Gunarathne A
  4. European Society of Cardiology 2021 conference & British Cardiovascular Society Annual Conference 2021: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) services in the United Kingdom: a tertiary centre experience:Heart 107(Suppl 1):A13.2-A14 : Joon T, Baig K, A, Gunarathne A
  5. British Cardiovascular Society Annual Conference 2022: Outcome of stemi patients admitted through inter-hospital transfer vs direct admission to ppci centre: Abstract presentation: British Cardiovascular Society Annual Conference 2022: Heart (British Cardiac Society): Tarek N, Gunarathne A

Books and chapters:

  1. Gunarathne, A., & A. Gershlick ; Coronary embolization-How, When & Why; Complications of percutaneous Coronary Intervention: The Survival Handbook , Springer Link, 2016
  2. Nicholson, T., Gunarathne, A., Singer, D.R.J.,Pocket Prescriber (2009); Hodder Arnold, London.
  3. Nicholson T., Gunarathne,A., Singer, D.R.J. ,Pocket Prescriber (2010). Mobile version - www.skyscape.com June 2010.
  4. Gnarathne, A. & Freestone B, Standard Computerized Revalidation Instrument for Prescribing & Therapeutics (SCRIPT): Chapter on Heart failure: (http://www.safeprescriber.org/) : 2010

Journal peer reviews:

  1. Act as a peer reviewer for Journal of Human Hypertension, Thrombosis Research, Archives of Medicine & American Journal of Hypertension

Journal publications:

  1. Gunarathne A, et al., The impact of learning-curve-experience on transcatheter aortic valve replacement outcomes: Insights from the United Kingdom and Ireland all-comers second-generation ACURATE neo™ transcatheter aortic heart valve registry. Catheter Cardiovasc Interv. 2022: 99:1172-1180.
  2. Rampat R, Khawaja MZ, Byrne J, Gunarathne, A., et al., Conduction abnormalities and permanent pacemaker implantation after transcatheter aortic valve implantation using the repositionable LOTUS device: UK experience. JACC Cardiovasc Interv 2017 :10:1247-1253
  3. Sundeep Kalra, Sami Firoozi, Blackman DJ, Krishnamurthy., Gunarathne, A., et al., . Initial experience of a second generation Self-expanding Transcatheter Aortic Valve: The Uk & Ireland Evolut TM R Implanters’ registry. JACC Cardiovasc Interv 2017:10;3:276-282
  4. Rampat R, Khawaja MZ, Byrne J, Gunarathne,A., et al., Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Using the Repositionable LOTUS Valve: United Kingdom Experience. JACC Cardiovasc Interv.2016 Feb 22;9:367-72
  5. Gunarathne , A, & Gershlick A: Clinical utility of Prasugral in acute coronary syndromes, Invited review, Expert Review of Therapeutics, Expert Rev Cardiovasc Ther. 2016 Oct 4
  6. Gunarathne A, Alahmar A, Gershlick AH. Data supporting the use of the radial approach as the default strategy in octogenarians undergoing primary-PCI? Int JCardiol. 2016 Apr 1;208:60-4.
  7. Pujara,K, Gunarathne,A., Gershlick,A.,Coroanry Artery disease & Inflammation. British Journal of Cardiology, Aug 2015
  8. Gunarathne, A., Hunt J, Gershlick A. (2013). Aorto-right atrial and right ventricular fistulae: a very rare complication of native bicuspid aortic valve endocarditis. Heart, Jul 13.
  9. Garala K, Gunarathne, A., Jarvis M, Stafford P. Left atrial-oesophageal fistula: a very rare, potentially fatal complication of radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation. BMJ Case Rep. 2013 Nov 20;2013.
  10. Gunarathne, A., Patel, J.V., Kausar, S., et al.(2009).Glycaemic status underlies increased arterial stiffness and impaired endothelial function in migrant South Asian stroke survivors compared to European Caucasians: pathophysiological insights from the West Birmingham Stroke Project. Stroke, 40:2298-306
  11. Gunarathne, A., Patel, J.V., Gammon, B., et al. (2009).Ischemic stroke in South Asians: a review of the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and ethnicity-related clinical features. Stroke,40:e415-23.
  12. Gunarathne, A., Patel, J.V., Hughes, E.A., et al. (2008).Measurement of stiffness index by digital volume pulse analysis technique: clinical utility in cardiovascular disease risk stratification. American Journal of Hypertension,21:866-72
  13. Gunarathne, A., Patel, J.V., Gammon, B., Hughes, E.A., (2008). et al. Impact of mean arterial blood pressure on higher arterial stiffness indices in South Asians compared to White Europeans. Journal of Hypertension, 26:1420-6.
  14. Gunarathne, A., Patel J.V., Hughes, E.A., et al.(2008)Increased five year mortality in the migrant South Asian stroke patients with diabetes mellitus in the United Kingdom: The West Birmingham Stroke Project. International Journal of Clinical Practice, 62:197-201
  15. Gunarathne, A., Patel J.V., Hughes, E.A.,(2008).Secular trends in the cardiovascular risk profile and mortality amongst inner city multi-ethnic population in the UK (1997-2005). Journal of Human Hypertension,8:2
  16. Patel JV, Lim HS, Gunarathne A, Tracey I. Ethnic differences in myocardial infarction in patients with hypertension effects of diabetes mellitus. QJM. 2008 Mar; 101: 231-6.
  17. Gammon, B. and Gunarathne, A. (2008). It’s time to re-appraise recruitment of South Asians to clinical trials in the UK. British Medical Journal,336:7634
  18. Patel, J.V., Gunarathne, A., Lane, D., et al. (2007).Widening access to cardiovascular healthcare: community screening among ethnic minorities in inner-city Britain - the Healthy Hearts Project. BMC Health Services Research, 23:192.
  19. Gammon, B. and Gunarathne, A.(2007).The provision of culturally sensitive care to linguistically and culturally diverse groups. British Journal of Cardiac Nursing,2:487 - 495
  20. Kakar, P., Gunarathne, A., Lip, G.Y.(2006) Stroke: ethnic differences do exist. Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics, 6:1769-71.
  21. Singer, D., D.Dutton, Gunarathne. A.(2010) Clinical utility of arterial stiffness in clinical practice. National Association of Primary Care Review, 2010-March
  22. Koganti S, Gunarathne A, Desai P, Banerjee P. A rare type of 'coronary arterial - left ventricular fistula' via thebesian veins in a Fragile X syndrome carrier. Cardiol Journal. 2011;18:318-9.
  23. Patel JV, Sosin M, Gunarathne A. Elevated angiogenin levels in chronic heart failure. Ann Med. 2008; 40:474-9.

Consultant Interventional Cardiologist, University Hospital Nottingham NHS Trust.

I enjoy squash, badminton and cricket.

Telephone 0115 937 7735