Dr Alessandro Giardini

Dr Alessandro Giardini has worked at Great Ormond Street Hospital since 2007 where he is the Director of Inpatient Services. He oversees the care of all children admitted to the hospital for investigation and treatment of congenital or acquired heart defects.

Dr. Giardini completed medical school in Bologna, Italy, where he also got his PhD in the pathophysiology of heart failure in patients with congenital heart disease. He completed his specialist training in Paediatric Cardiology at the University of Bologna, Italy, and at the University of California in San Francisco.

As he is an expert in the diagnosis and management of children with congenital heart disease, in particular hypoplastic left heart syndrome. He is the lead for cardiology in-patient services. He also runs specialist clinics for children with paediatric hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Exercise physiology and the investigation and treatment of syncope and chest pain are also interests.

Dr. Giardini is particularly renowned in providing guidance for children with documented cardiac disease as well as those who complain of symptoms which arise during exercise, such as chest pain, palpitations or fainting/syncope. Dr. Giardini provides cardiology advice and assessment to children and adolescents who actively participate or are planning to participate in sports or those children who are practicing a sport at an athletic or competitive level. He is patient-focussed and very compassionate and understanding with children.

Dr Giardini says: "For me, families are an essential part of the One Team concept that underlies everything we do in treating children in the cardiac ward. Our care is highly technical but must be delivered in a humane, personalised way".

Research Interests Include;

• Usefulness of exercise testing to predict the risk of children and adolescents with congenital heart disease.
• The genetic causes of congenital heart disease (in collaboration with USA centres).
• Results of surgery for children with single ventricles, hypo plastic left heart syndrome and Fontan operation.
• Postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS) and syncope/loss of consciusness
• Chest pain