Electrophysiology (EP)
Helping the beat go on.
Get treatment for arrhythmias.
What is EP?
EP is a specialized branch of cardiology dedicated to understanding the heart’s electrical activity. By mapping and analyzing these electrical signals, we can pinpoint the source of arrhythmias and develop an effective treatment plan tailored to your needs. This helps us prevent complications and improve your quality of life.
Conditions we treat
Atrial fibrillation (Afib)
Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of arrhythmia, characterized by an irregular quivering that starts at the top of the heart. It typically results from underlying heart conditions, with treatments aimed at controlling heart rate, minimizing symptoms and reducing the risk of stroke.
Atrial flutter
Atrial flutter disrupts your heartbeat. The upper chambers quiver rapidly and irregularly, hindering your heart's ability to pump blood effectively.
Fainting (syncope)
Typically caused by a decrease in blood flow to the brain, syncope is a sudden, temporary loss of consciousness.
Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs)
PVCs are extra heartbeats originating from the heart’s ventricles, disrupting the regular heart rhythm and sometimes causing a sensation of fluttering or a skipped beat in the chest.
Slow heart rate (bradyarrhythmia)
Slow heart rate is a condition characterized by a slower than normal heart rate, typically below 60 beats per minute, due to an irregular heart rhythm.
Superventricular tachycardia (SVT)
SVT is a rapid heart rhythm that occurs above the heart’s ventricles. It’s the most common type of arrhythmia in infants and children but can also affect adults, especially women during pregnancy.
Ventricular tachycardia
Ventricular tachycardia is a rapid heart rhythm that occurs in the heart’s ventricles. It’s a serious arrhythmia that can be life-threatening and is most often seen in individuals with heart diseases such as coronary artery disease or previous heart attacks.
Treatments
Ablation therapy
Ablation therapy corrects abnormal heart rhythms by destroying the abnormal electrical pathways. Guided by advanced imaging, catheters deliver energy to target tissue, creating scar tissue that disrupts abnormal electrical signals. Methods include radiofrequency (gentle heat), cryoablation (extreme cold) and pulsed field ablation.
Cardiac monitors
Cardiac monitors are devices that monitor heart activity over time, aiding in diagnosis and treatment planning. They include loop recorders, event recorders and Holter monitors. The patient wears or has the device implanted for continuous monitoring, providing valuable data on heart rhythm abnormalities. This allows for accurate diagnosis of cardiac conditions, contributes to personalized treatment plans and improves patient outcomes.
Diagnostic electrophysiology studies (EPS)
EPS studies use thin tubes called catheters that are guided through the veins to measure the heart’s electrical activity, helping to identify the type and origin of arrhythmias.
Implantable device implantation
While the patient is under anesthesia, a surgeon implants a device – ensuring proper placement and function – to restore or maintain normal heart rhythm, reduce risk of complications and improve quality of life.
Left atrial appendage occlusion (e.g. WATCHMAN)
A left atrial appendage occlusion assists in reducing the risk of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation by closing off the left atrial appendage. In doing this, blood clots are prevented from forming, reducing the risk of stroke.
