Dr Azad Ghuran is a consultant cardiologist. He works for East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust (Lister Hospital, Stevenage and Queen Elizabeth II Hospital, Welwyn Garden City).

He qualified from the University of Edinburgh in 1993 and completed his post graduate higher specialist training in general medicine and cardiology in hospitals around London including St George's Hospital London, King's College Hospital London, and the Sussex Cardiac Centre in Brighton. He secured a one-year interventional fellowship to work at the Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis (OLVG) hospital in Amsterdam where radial angioplasty was first performed (in 1992) and pioneered. Radial coronary intervention is technically more challenging but more rewarding as there is improved patient comfort, a significant reduction in bleeding complications, allows early mobilisation (some patients can actually walk out of the operating theatre after the procedure) and facilitates day case procedures.

Throughout his training, Dr Ghuran has worked with eminent European and world leaders in cardiology. He is trained in performing multi-vessel and complex coronary artery intervention (angioplasty/stents) using both the radial and femoral approach, although he prefers the former. He has a diverse clinical background and is experienced in most aspects of general cardiology. This is reflected by his range of interests that also include coronary microvascular disease and coronary artery spasm, pacemakers, valvular heart disease, syncope (collapsing with loss of consciousness), hypertension, heart failure, and arrhythmia (palpitations) management.

Dr Ghuran adopts a multidisciplinary approach in managing his patients, often liaising with other sub-specialists in cardiology, physicians, surgeons, dieticians and physiotherapists. This approach is advantageous as it provides the best possible care for his patients. He has published many articles in the field of cardiology including one book: 'Emergency Cardiology', five book chapters and many peer-reviewed articles. He has also reviewed articles for several foremost cardiology journals and has presented at conferences nationally and internationally in the field of cardiology. Dr Ghuran takes an active role in medical education, training general practitioners, junior doctors, nurses, technicians, paramedics and medical students.

Diseases, Medical Tests and Treatments

Cardiology procedures including;

• Coronary angiograms (radial and femoral route)
• Percutaneous Coronary Intervention/ stent implantation, rotablation, intravascular imaging, re-opening coronary arteries that are chronically occluded, pressure wire study (FFR, RFR)
• Assessment of microvascular angina and coronary artery spasm
• Pacemakers implantation and management
• Insertion of implantable loop recorders
• Echocardiograms

Chest pain/angina/ coronary artery disease

Coronary artery microvascular disease and coronary artery spasm

Valvular heart disease (abnormal and faulty heart valves)

Syncope (fainting, loss of consciousness, collapsing),

Hypertension and blood pressure control

Heart failure

Palpitations

Atrial fibrillation and arrhythmia management

Cardiovascular risk screening and assessment

Emergency and General Cardiology

Teaching