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The electrical impulses of the heart cause it to contract and relax. This enables the heart to pump blood throughout the body and to vital organs. Irregular or abnormal electrical impulses can cause the heart to beat too slowly or too fast. These electrical heart rhythm abnormalities are known as arrhythmias. Electrophysiology focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of arrhythmias and other heart rhythm disorders related to the heart’s electrical system.
Electrophysiology Lab
The Electrophysiology (EP) Laboratory at UP Health System is equipped with the latest technology to diagnose and treat an array of abnormal heart rhythm conditions. The state-of-the-art facility is the only one of its kind in the region. Our team is specially trained to perform a wide range of minimally invasive procedures designed to monitor, manage, and cure rhythm abnormalities.
Arrhythmias
Arrhythmias are perhaps the most common electrical impulse conditions. They can be harmless, serious or even life-threatening conditions. The impact of an arrhythmia largely depends on the structural condition of the heart, as well as the presence of heart disease. Arrhythmia warning signs include palpitations, skipped beats, fluttering, slow heartbeat (Bradycardias), rapid heartbeat (Tachycardias), inability to tolerate exercise or exertion, fainting or almost fainting.
Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT)
Cardiac diseases often affect the area above the ventricles in the artia, causing an elevated heartbeat. The artia of the heart receives blood returning to the heart from other areas of the body.
Ventricle Tachycardia (VT)
Ventrical Tachycardia (VT) is a rapid heartbeat that begins in the ventricles, muscular chambers that pump blood out of the heart to the lungs and other organs.
Bradycardia
Contrary to tachycardia, bradycardia is a slow or irregular heart rhythm typically fewer than 60 beats per minute. The slowed heart rate causes a decrease of blood flow to the body and may cause dizziness, lack of energy, shortness of breath or fainting during periods of normal activity or exercise. Intracardiac Electroanatomical Mapping can be used to diagnose problem areas in the heart, and devices such as pacemakers can be used for treatment.
Electrophysiology Study
An Electrophysiology (EP) study is a test which records the electrical activity of your heart. This test is used to help determine the cause of a rhythmic disturbance that your heart may be having and can also determine the origin of the problem. After having this test done, the doctor will have a better understanding of your condition and will be able to find the best treatment for you.
Our advanced arrhythmia management team works in a state-of-the-art lab to provide the highest quality of care for our patients.
Cardiac Ablation
Cardiac ablation is a non-surgical procedure where a thin flexible catheter, called a therapeutic catheter, is inserted into a vessel in the groin and threaded up into the heart. Heat or a cooling agent is sent through the catheter to extinguish the electrical triggers and circuits which cause arrhythmias.
Pacemaker Insertion
Pacemakers may be used for the treatment of Bradycardias including those caused by sinus node disease and conduction disease. Pacemakers monitor and regulate the rhythm of the heart and transmit electrical impulses to stimulate the heart if it is beating too slowly. Pacemakers offer single and dual chamber options, minimize ventricular pacing, rate response, and mode switching.
Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICD)
These defibrillators are used for primary and secondary prevention of sudden cardiac death. All defibrillators have pacing functionality and assist in finding balance for the heart. ICDs are 99% effective in stopping life-threatening arrhythmias and are the most successful therapy to treat ventricular fibrillation, the major cause of sudden cardiac death. ICDs continuously monitor the heart rhythm, automatically function as pacemakers for the heart rates that are too slow, and deliver life-saving shocks if a dangerously fast heart rhythm is detected.
Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (Biventricular Pacing)
This therapy is used for patients with heart failure. The inserted device can be a defibrillator or just a pacer. The implanted device paces both the left and right ventricles (lower chambers) of the heart simultaneously. This resynchronizes muscle contractions and improves the efficiency of the weakened heart.
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement
A minimally invasive surgery that repairs the heart valve without removing the original, damaged valve. It calls for wedging a replacement valve in the aortic valve’s place. Similar to a stent, the TAVR procedure delivers the replacement valve to the valve site through a catheter.
WATCHMAN
WATCHMAN offers an alternative to the lifelong use of warfarin for people with atrial fibrillation not caused by a heart valve problem (also known as non-valvular AFib).
This permanent heart implant effectively reduces the risk of stroke—without the risk of bleeding that can come with the long-term use of warfarin (the most common blood thinner). What’s more, WATCHMAN can eliminate the regular blood tests and food-and-drink restrictions that come with warfarin. (Warfarin is also known as Coumadin®.)
Lariat
The left atrial appendage (LAA) is a small sac in the left atrium’s muscle wall. In patients with AFib, blood can collect in the pouch, leading to a dangerous blood clot. The Lariat procedure addresses this issue by securely closing this appendage.
The procedure is performed under general anesthesia and with the use of two separate catheters – one to insert the pre-tied suture loop known as the Lariat Suture Delivery Device and another to guide it into place. After completion, the LAA, the source of up to 85% if AFib-related blood clots, is permanently closed off and future stroke risk greatly reduced.
What is Atrial Fibrillation?: Dr. Rudy Evonich, UPHS - Marquette Heart & Vascular
For more information or to make an appointment, please call (906) 449-3440.