Diagnosis and Treatment at the
Heart Rhythm Center

To locate the cause of heart rhythm disorders, patients may receive diagnostic electrophysiology studies (EPS). The one-to-three hour EPS procedure – performed while the patient is awake, but sedated – involves the insertion of "pacing" catheters into the heart to pinpoint the origin of the abnormal rhythm.

Our electrophysiologists use a cardiac mapping system to provide rapid diagnosis of any arrhythmia. Patients are tested for the presence of a tangle of nerves, called ganglia, which can then be mapped for elimination and potential cure of abnormal heart signals.

Minimally invasive procedures and surgery

When medication is not enough to control irregular heartbeat, our physicians use the latest technology to pinpoint and treat the problem. The Heart Rhythm Center team conducts these minimally invasive procedures in our dedicated electrophysiology laboratories and operating rooms.

Ablation therapy uses heat from specialized lasers or radiowave (radiofrequency) energy to seal the source of the rhythm problem and quiet overactive nerve stimulation. Pulmonary vein isolation targets and eliminates the most common source of cardiac nerve overactivity.

Our electrophysiologists are highly skilled in implanting cardiac pacemakers and cardioverter defibrillators to anticipate and restore the heart's normal rhythm. In addition, they replace pacemaker wires, a procedure known as cardiac device lead extraction, to help ensure patient safety. Another minimally invasive procedure restores heart rhythm and decreases the risk of stroke by removing the left atrial appendage. 

Heart Rhythm Center specialists are experts at MAZE surgery, an innovative, videoscopic remedy for atrial fibrillation that avoids opening the chest or stopping the heart, as in conventional open surgery.

Learn about home heart monitoring at the Heart Rhythm Center.