Cardiac Electrophysiologist

Cardiac Electrophysiology

Cardiac electrophysiology is a field that focuses on diagnosing and treating disorders of the electrical system of the heart.

Rhythm Disorders
Rhythm disorders can affect individuals across all age groups, from unborn fetuses to elderly patients in their 90s.
- Symptoms of Rhythm Disorders:
  - Palpitations: fast or irregular heartbeats, sometimes accompanied by a sensation of missed beats
  - Blackouts and falls: may result in injuries
  - Shortness of breath or Angina (due to abnormal heart rhythms)
  - Life-threatening arrhythmias which can cause strokes or lead to other complications
These conditions are managed by electrophysiologists. Rhythm disorders vary widely; many are benign, while others pose risks like Cerebrovascular stroke or heart failure.
Diagnosis and Treatment:
The treatment has to be individualized and includes:
- Medications
- DC cardioversion: uses electrical shocks to restore normal heart rhythm
- Radiofrequency ablation: a commonly used, minimally-invasive procedure that uses radio waves to destroy the cardiac tissues causing arrhythmias. It is done when the patient is unresponsive to medication or the drugs have many side effects.
- Implanted devices: pacemakers, ICDs, or CRT devices.
Why is RF Ablation preferred?
- It is curative for many arrhythmias and reduces symptoms in some patients
- Medications for arrhythmias often have limited efficacy and significant side effects
- 3D mapping technology allows precise treatment of complex arrhythmias