Overview
Caring for patients having difficulty with the heart's rhythm and electrical signaling, our experts in Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing are the leaders in the diagnosis and care of patients with atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, Wolff Parkinson White syndrome, flutter and other abnormal heart rhythms. The Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing section has five state-of-the-art laboratories that offer a wide range of electrophysiology and mapping and ablation procedures to patients with suspected rhythm abnormalities. Other services include an Atrial Fibrillation Clinic, remote monitoring devices, genetic testing, a full range of pacemaker and cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) devices, biventricular pacemakers, removal of leads, advanced mapping and ablation therapy, Syncope Clinic and Device Clinic.
In the Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing section, we offer a variety of highly specialized approaches to heart-rhythm problems. The procedures may be used to diagnose a heart problem or to treat it. Arrhythmia treatment depends on the type and severity of the arrhythmia. In some cases of arrhythmia, no treatment is necessary. These include:
- Center for Atrial Fibrillation, comprised of electrophysiologists, cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, imaging specialists and specially trained nurses and researchers, specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of atrial fibrillation using the newest medications, cardioversion, ablation (PVAI) and surgical procedures.
- Sophisticated remote monitoring devices to help diagnose arrhythmias that come and go. New implantable devices are also available to help physicians monitor volume changes in the heart for those with heart failure and provide ongoing monitoring for those with complex arrhythmias or devices.
- Physicians and nurses in our Device Clinic perform over 50,000 device checks each year in person and remotely to monitor the function of implanted devices.
- Genetic testing to determine the presence of inherited arrhythmia disorders.
- Medical management and follow-up of patients with arrhythmias, using the most current medical regimens available.
- A full range of the newest pacemaker and cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) devices to provide individualized treatment for many irregular heart rhythms.
- Biventricular pacemakers, to improve left ventricular function, in patients with heart failure. This treatment complements pacemaker and ICD therapy used to treat arrhythmias associated with heart failure.
- Removal of leads from damaged and infected pacemakers or defibrillators.
- Advanced mapping and ablation therapy in state-of-the art electrophysiology labs, for atrial and ventricular tachycardia.
- Syncope Clinic uses a full range of diagnostic tests including the head upright tilt test and hemodynamic, blood volume and autonomic reflex testing to evaluate patients with syncope (fainting) or other neurogenic disorders.
Learn more about treatment outcomes from the Section of Electrophysiology and Pacing
