Dr Mark Abelson is an innovative cardiologist and a pioneer in his field. Since 2007, he has used mechanical intervention to treat acute stroke. Dr Abelson is the only cardiologist in Africa to offer acute stroke intervention as a life-saving procedure for patients suffering from large artery occlusion strokes. He performs carotid artery stenting to treat symptomatic carotid narrowings and is one of the few doctors to utilise reverse flow technology to protect the patient’s neurological function while placing the stent. In 2010, he was the first cardiologist in South Africa to offer left atrial appendage occlusion to patients with atrial fibrillation as an alternative to oral anticoagulant therapy (e.g. warfarin, Pradaxa, Xarelto, Eliquis). This is particularly in patients who have excessive bleeding on these drugs or are at high bleeding risk. He is the South African proctor teaching his fellow cardiologists to insert the Amulet left atrial appendage occlusion device.
Dr Abelson has published his work on mechanical intervention and left atrial appendage occlusion and contributed to research papers in peer-reviewed academic journals. He has been invited to speak at both local and international conferences on his specialities of carotid artery stenting, mechanical embolectomy for large vessel strokes, and implantation of the left atrial appendage occlusion devices.
