What Is Cardiac Electrophysiology?

Cardiac electrophysiology is a specialty that focuses on diagnosing and treating heart rhythm problems. Your heart has an electrical system that controls how fast and how regularly it beats. When that system is not working correctly, your heart may beat too fast, too slow, or irregularly.

A cardiac electrophysiologist is a heart specialist who studies the heart's electrical signals. They identify what is causing an abnormal heartbeat and create a treatment plan to help your heart beat more normally.

What Causes an Irregular Heartbeat?

Many things can affect your heart rhythm, including:

  • Heart disease
  • Changes in blood chemistry or electrolyte levels
  • Damage to the heart from a heart attack
  • Other conditions that affect the heart's electrical system

How Are Heart Rhythm Problems Treated?

Treatment depends on the cause of the problem and may include:

  • Prescription medications
  • Healthy lifestyle changes
  • Minimally invasive procedures
  • Surgery, when needed

Your care team will work with you to choose the treatment that best fits your condition and health goals.

Conditions Treated by Cardiac Electrophysiologists

Cardiac electrophysiologists diagnose and treat many types of heart rhythm disorders, including:

  • Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia
  • Atrial fibrillation (AFib)
  • Atrial flutter
  • Bradycardia (slow heart rate)
  • Familial arrhythmia syndromes
  • Heart block
  • Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
  • Heart block
  • Idiopathic ventricular fibrillation
  • Long QT syndrome
  • Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS)
  • Short QT syndrome
  • Sick sinus syndrome
  • Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT)
  • Syncope (fainting)
  • Ventricular dyssynchrony
  • Ventricular fibrillation
  • Ventricular tachycardia

What Does a Cardiac Electrophysiologist Do?

A cardiac electrophysiologist looks closely at how your heart beats and checks for problems with its electrical system. They use specialized tests to find the exact area of the heart causing the abnormal rhythm. Once they understand the problem, they recommend the most effective treatment options.

Advanced Heart Rhythm Care at Saint Alphonsus

Saint Alphonsus Heart Institute is the only hospital in the region that uses robotic technology for cardiac electrophysiology procedures.

The institute uses Stereotaxis Robotic-Arm Magnetic Technology, which helps physicians treat irregular heart rhythms with greater precision. This advanced system allows doctors to guide treatment more accurately using computer-assisted technology and minimally invasive techniques.

Benefits of this technology may include:

  • More precise treatment
  • Smaller incisions
  • Less discomfort
  • Faster recovery times
  • A quicker return to everyday activities

By combining expert care with advanced technology, the team at Saint Alphonsus Heart Institute helps patients receive personalized treatment for heart rhythm disorders.