Professional profile

Dr Smitha Pulapalli has been working in the NHS for over 18 years.

She has performed over 6,000 cardiac procedures so far in her field of interest and each year cares for over 2,000 patients with all types of general cardiological problems.

Dr Pulapalli currently works as a Cardiac MRI Consultant in King’s College London at Guys and St Thomas’ Hospital.

She played a pivotal role in the development of the echocardiography department at Tunbridge Wells Hospital and made a major contribution in the modernisation of the department, which has recently achieved accreditation by the British Society of Echocardiography.

Dr Pulapalli is an educational supervisor for foundation trainees, a mentor for cardiac physiologists and an examiner for the British Society of Echocardiography. She has performed several audits which led to change in practice and improved the local echocardiography service, and also developed and introduced cardiac CT and the cardiac MRI service at Maidstone Hospital. 

Treatment information

Dr Pulapalli is able to perform all types of cardiac imaging including:

  • Cardiac MRI
  • Cardiac CT angiogram
  • Structural CT to assess valvular heart disease
  • Transthoracic echocardiography
  • Trans-oesophageal echocardiography
  • Exercise stress echocardiography
  • Dobutamine echocardiography
  • Bubble echocardiography
  • Complex contrast echocardiography 

Dr Pulapalli is able to diagnose and manage heart disease, and treat conditions such as angina, abnormal heart rhythms, heart failure, valvular heart problems.

She can help evaluate risk from heart disease where it runs in the family and devise a plan to minimise the risk.

The tests she can perform and provide an expert opinion on include:

  • ECG
  • Holter monitoring analysis
  • Trans-thoracic Echocardiography (2D and 3D)
  • Exercise treadmill testing
  • Stress echocardiography (both exercise and Dobutamine)
  • Cardiac MRI which includes complex cardiomyopathy scans
  • Stress perfusion MRI
  • CT TAVI (in preparation for assessment for trans-aortic valvular implantation)

Qualifications and professional memberships

  • British Society of Echocardiography in trans-thoracic and trans-oesophageal echocardiography
  • Certified by the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging in Cardiac MRI
  • British Society of Cardiovascular Imaging in Cardiac CT.
  • Member of Royal College of Physicians

Recognised insurers

Dr Smitha Pulapalli is recognised by:

  • BUPA
  • AXA
  • AVIVA
  • Helix
  • Cigna
  • WPA