Electrophysiologists assess, diagnose, and manage arrhythmias. Touro’s
Heart & Vascular Care in New Orleans includes a board-certified electrophysiologist
to diagnose a wide variety of arrythmias and heart rhythm disorders. An
electrophysiologist, sometimes called an “electrician of the heart”,
can treat symptoms such as an unexplained irregular heartbeat, fainting,
skipping a beat, or palpitations. Some of the most common heartbeat issues
are the result of angina, cardiomyopathy, congenital heart defects, heart
attacks, heart failure, heart valve disorders, myocarditis and pericarditis
and can lead to stroke, heart failure, and dangerous blood clots.
Atrial fibrillation (Afib) the heart beats fast with an irregular rhythm causing the heart’s
upper and lower chambers to not work together as they should.
Tachycardia the heart beats too quickly
Bradycardia the heart beats too slow
Ventricular tachycardia a very fast heartbeat from the lower chambers of the heart that can lead
to ventricular fibrillation
Supraventricular tachycardia a sudden, extremely fast heart rate that occurs suddenly from the upper
chambers of the heart, different from atrial fibrillation
Conduction disorders the heart beats abnormally
Premature contraction the heart beats early
Atrial Fibrillation or Afib?
Arrhythmias are heart beats that are too fast, too slow, or beat in an
irregular way. Atrial fibrillation (Afib) is the most common type of arrhythmia
where the heart beats fast with an irregular rhythm causing the heart’s
upper and lower chambers to not work together as they should. When this
happens, the lower chambers do not fill completely or pump enough blood
to your lungs and body. Afib can develop with no obvious warning signs
or you may experience dizziness, lightheadedness, fluttering, pounding
in the chest or even chest pain. Blood may pool in your heart, which increases
your risk of clots, strokes or other complications.
Electrophysiology Studies
Touro uses electrophysiology, non-surgical diagnostic tools, to diagnose
abnormal heartbeats or arrhythmias with minimum downtime. Electrophysiology
studies (ESP) are tests that help our electrophysiologist physician understand
the nature of abnormal heart rhythm. An EP study determines why and where
the abnormal heartbeat is coming from. Electrical signals usually travel
through the heart in a regular pattern. When this doesn’t happen,
cardiologists insert a catheter into a blood vessel that leads to your
heart. This specialized electrode catheter designed for EP studies sends
electrical signals to your heart and records its electrical activity.
Irregular Heart Rhythm Treatment
Treatment for heart arrhythmias depends on what’s causing the irregular
heartbeat. Heart arrhythmia treatment is usually only needed if the irregular
heartbeat is causing significant symptoms, or if the condition is putting
you at risk of more-serious heart problems. Some of the most common treatments include:
Electrical Cardioversion
Electrical cardioversion is a procedure used to reset an abnormal heartbeat
to a normal rhythm when the heart is beating very fast or irregular. With
electrical cardioversion, a high-energy shock is sent to the heart to
reset a normal rhythm. It’s different from chemical cardioversion,
in which medicines are used to try to restore a normal rhythm. Cardioversion
treats atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, atrial tachycardia and ventricular
tachycardia.
Special cells in the heart create electrical signals that travel along
pathways to the chambers of your heart. These signals make the heart’s
upper and lower chambers beat in the proper sequence. Abnormal cells may
create disorganized electrical signals that cause irregular or rapid heartbeats.
Catheter ablation uses radiofrequency energy (like microwave heat) to
destroy a small area of heart tissue that is causing rapid and irregular
heartbeats. Destroying this tissue helps restore your heart’s regular rhythm.
Cardiac resynchronization uses an implanted pacemaker in the chest to restore
normal heartbeat timing. Pacemakers work only when needed. If your heartbeat
is too slow, the pacemaker sends electrical signals to your heart to correct
the beat. Some newer pacemakers also have sensors that detect body motion
or breathing rate and signal the devices to increase heart rate during
exercise, as needed.
An implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD} is placed under the skin
to keep track of your heart rate. If an abnormal heart rhythm is detected
the device will deliver an electric shock to restore a normal heartbeat
if your heart is beating chaotically and much too fast. ICDs are useful
in preventing sudden death in patients with known, sustained ventricular
tachycardia or fibrillation.
