“The human story is what is meaningful to me and I experience that best when I am with patients. Being an interventional cardiologist in particular enables me to bring together my technical talents and interest in patient care in a way that maximises both.” – Dr. Gunasekara
Meet our cardiologist
Dr. Athula Gunasekara provides a range of Interventional Cardiology services in addition to Adult General Cardiology. His expertise includes Complex Coronary Intervention; Peripheral Vascular Intervention; and Percutaneous Therapy for structural and valvular heart disease.
Along with being a specialist in performing Coronary Angiography and Coronary stents via radial artery access -TRI (which is a less traumatic and much preferred method for patients with minimal vascular access complications) Dr.Gunasekara is an expert in re-opening chronically occluded coronary arteries (CTO) with specialized novel techniques.
Additionally, he is competent in using special devices and techniques for complex and calcific coronary artery lesions, such as Rotational atherectomy/Cutting balloons and intra-vascular ultrasound to facilitate coronary intervention and optimizing results. His training in CT coronary angiography, a non-invasive imaging modality, has been a valuable addition to his practice for making clinical decisions in intermediate-risk patients and high-risk asymptomatic patients.
He also provides highly specialized procedures such as Watchman device implantation, and Renal Sympathetic Denervation (RDN).
Dr. Gunasekara also provides a comprehensive vascular service. Screening for peripheral vascular disease (PVD) and intervention is a routine part of his practice. He has participated in numerous workshops both locally and internationally. He has conducted international workshops in complex coronary intervention; rotational atherectomy; and intra-vascular ultrasound. Dr. Gunasekara is a frequent invitee to India for teaching complex intervention techniques. He also delivers presentations to local GPs on a regular basis.
In summary, Dr. Gunasekara offers an extensive range of Interventional Cardiology services including:
Coronary Angiography and Intervention via Radial Artery approach
Rotational Atherectomy
Intervention of Totally occluded coronary arteries (CTO intervention)
Peripheral Vascular intervention
Watchman Device implantation
Renal Denervation
Dr. Gunasekara graduated from the University of Queensland in 1997. After completing his general cardiology training, he further trained in Interventional Cardiology at Westmead Hospital, Sydney.
In 2008 he further developed his interest and expertise in Interventional Cardiology; endovascular procedures; and structural heart disease at the prestigious Mount Sinai Cardiovascular Institute in New York, USA under the mentorship of Dr. Samin Sharma.
Since then he has continued to train with internationally recognized experts in the field of Interventional Cardiology in the USA; Japan and Europe and is able to offer highly specialized diagnostic and interventional techniques to his patients.
Professional Memberships Dr. Gunasekara is a member of the Royal Australian College of Physicians; The Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand; and the American College of Cardiology.